FEMALE players have to start accepting flak for poor performances — but at the same time, support networks must be put in place.
Our Lionesses and the Team GB squad have two months to prepare themselves for a wave of increased pressure and scrutiny.
The SheBelieves Cup is around the corner at the start of next month, followed by the Tokyo Olympics in July and the home Euros in 2021.
If female players want to share the positives of men’s football such as increased exposure, megabucks salaries and shiny training facilities, then they have to accept the ugly side too.
Men get slaughtered day in, day out, so if women want to be treated the same, they also have to assess when performances haven’t been up to scratch.
The criticism is about to be hotter than ever — it’s vital we prepare our girls for the road ahead.
HAVE TO ACCEPT CRITICISM
I’m speaking from experience, the press roasted me for my first performance as a right-back in the 2005 home Euros. I even remember reading articles saying I’d never make it in that position.
But instead of feeling sorry for myself I thought, ‘Right I’m going to show you’ — and I did.
I wanted the people writing those articles to be proved wrong and that’s how our girls should do it, by having fire in their bellies.
After the World Cup in France last summer, a baby-faced Keira Walsh, 22, admitted how hurt she was at being at the sharp end of criticism.
She even doubted whether she wanted to play football anymore.
But I was one of the pundits during that World Cup who was questioning her performance, I would have told her straight up if I was her team-mate also.
PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN HELP
I think the tough side of me thought, ‘Yes, you are a young player — but you are also a professional athlete now and you’ve got to expect the flak, it’s part and parcel of the job. You’re representing your country’s badge, this isn’t a joke, this is real’.
The other side of me wanted to make sure she had some support and someone to talk to — and that’s where clubs and the PFA should come in.
I’m thrilled to see that a lot of the WSL clubs have employed psychologists and specialists this season to help with players’ well- being — and to guide them through this increased pressure.
After the World Cup I had to reassess myself as a pundit, because often I felt like I was being too harsh in calling out all the negatives of boss Phil Neville’s squad.
Fellow pundit Jordan Nobbs wasn’t as tough on them, because I guess she’s still part of the team — and I respect that.
But then I remembered I was once vice-captain of the Lionesses and I would be saying the exact same thing if I was in the dressing room with my team gathered around me after a painful result.
People often expect me not to scrutinise female players as I do with the men. But I 100 per cent will — I’m not going to be soft just because it’s women.
These female footballers are in a professional environment now, so cannot be surprised when criticism comes their way.
The scrutiny this year is going to be ten times more intense than it has ever been before — and they better get ready for it.
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