Nutty Amy keeping it real for Maddie
GOALKEEPER Maddie Hinch says she is buoyed by the ‘nutty’ support of her No2, as England women aim for a win over Ireland today to keep alive their World Cup hopes.
Hinch, 29, cut a dejected figure following their 1-1 draw with USA, a result which then saw the part-time Irish qualify automatically for the last eight.
Victory this evening will ensure England’s own path to a play-off match, which will likely mean a crunch quarter-final battle with world No1 side Holland.
As the world’s best goalkeeper, Hinch has high expectations of herself and admitted that Amy Tennant is a key addition when ‘days are tough’.
‘She’s great for the group and supports me every step of the way,’ said Hinch.
‘Goalkeepers tend to carry a bit of a crazy tag and she is certainly one of the nuttiest in our group. But we need that in a team environment.
‘When the team atmosphere is down, we look to Amy to pick the group up and she is important in that aspect.’
This was evident the day after England’s semi-final defeat at the Commonwealth Games, when a video went viral of Tennant dancing with volunteers dressed as zebras in the athletes’ village.
Hinch said: ‘Amy said, “let’s get lunch”. I wasn’t up for getting involved but the next thing she’s jumping up and down with zebras.
‘I was laughing so much and it showed there was no point going round sulking 24 hours before a bronze-medal match.
‘Amy was incredibly supportive and has been an unbelievable addition to the squad.
‘She has accepted the role. She’s playing with open arms but, at the same time, she has the inner drive to really want to play.’
Hinch says that Ireland, in their first World Cup for 16 years, are playing with ‘energy and belief’, attributes that England could well do with. But team-mate Laura Unsworth believes England are ready to cut loose and get their tournament started. ‘If we can keep creating chances, which we are doing, and put them away, then results look a little bit different,’ said the 30-year-old.
‘We are going to make the most of it. Playing in front of 10,000 is a rare occurrence and everyone is in a good place from the last two matches.’