Crushed lioness earns the pride of her nation
‘These moments will help shape you ...it’s hard now but it’s how you react...’
WHEN Laura Bassett scored a fateful own goal to knock England out of the World Cup, she was inconsolable.
The 31-year-old defender tried to clear a cross in the dying moments of yesterday’s semi-final against Japan, but the ball hit the crossbar and ended up in the net. Her mistake handed Japan a 2-1 victory and meant the England women’s team would not make history by reaching the final for the first time.
But any fears that the public would blame her for the team’s exit proved to be unfounded. Far from being vilified, she will return home to a hero’s welcome after attracting global sympathy.
Messages of support flooded in, with fans urging Bassett to be proud – a stark contrast to the vilification that greeted David Beckham, Gareth Southgate and Chris Waddle after they hastened England’s exit from previous international tournaments.
Gary Lineker, the pundit and former England player, praised the team’s performance on Twitter, writing: “Despite the gut-wrenching nature of the defeat, England’s women were terrific and should hold their heads high. Great effort.”
Another former England player, Rio Ferdinand, tweeted: “Beautiful to see the women’s game get the exposure it fully deserves here in the UK.... inspirational squad.” He then addressed Bassett directly, telling the player to hold her head high, adding: “These moments will help shape you for future success... it’s hard now but it’s how you react...”
England midfielder Jack Wilshire told Bassett through Twitter: “You’ve still made us proud.”
Bassett’s team-mates also rallied around her, with Casey Stoney tweeting: “If anyone did not deserve that today it was Laura Bassett. She is the most honest, hardworking, professional who is an amazing team-mate”.
A travel agent even offered Bassett a seven-night complimentary stay in the Caribbean, while the comedian John Bishop added his voice to the support, tweeting: “Gutted for Laura Bassett and all the England women’s team but they should hold their head up high. It’s been a tremendous effort.”
A handful of negative comments aimed at Bassett on social media were drowned out. One Twitter user accused her of letting down herself, her team-mates and her country, only for strangers to respond by branding him a “disgrace”.
Bassett’s parents, Keith and Marie, watched the game from their home in Bulkington, Warks. Mrs Bassett described the own goal as “absolutely gut-wrenching”.
“As a defender you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” she said. “It was just a fluke strike that hit the bar and went in the goal instead of going over – such bad luck.
“There’s no blame on her whatsoever. She has good people around her and she will bounce back. We’re so immensely proud of her.”
The Bassetts had watched the first three games of the tournament in Canada but returned home before the quarter-final, hoping to fly out again for the final if the team made it that far.
Instead, Bassett was cheered on from the stands by her brother, Dan, a football coach based in Texas, and her boyfriend, Marc Skinner, who coaches at an academy in Solihull.
They were so determined to comfort Bassett after seeing her in tears on the pitch that they bypassed security to reach the team dressing room after the game.
Bassett, who has more than 50 England caps, and plays for Notts County, worked at a transport logistics firm in Coventry before turning professional. She took up football after watching her father and brother play for a local club in Bulkington.
Richard Stokes, a neighbour, said: “We can see what other people don’t see – her training at 7am, always out running. She works incredibly hard. We’re immensely proud of her.”