It was an iconic moment for women’s football. Karen Carney, England’s
17-year-old wunderkind, scored the winning goal in the last minute of the
opening match of the European Championship, in front of 30,000 at the City
of Manchester Stadium, and then mouthed a celebratory obscenity live on BBC
Television.
As introductions to the football public go, it was not such a bad career move
- just ask Micah Richards. But while the Manchester City defender has earned
a £20 million price tag after his faux pas as a teenager followed an FA Cup
equaliser against Aston Villa last year, Carney’s 15 minutes of fame have
rippled to the edge of football’s consciousness.
Now, however, as England’s women prepare to take part in their first World Cup
finals in 12 years, starting in China today, the Arsenal winger has gained a
perspective that will allow any ephemeral glory, any gut-wrenching
first-round exit, to form part of a larger picture.
Football is the most popular female sport played in the UK. Arsenal are the
European champions and England face Japan, Germany and Argentina over the
next week bristling with hope that they can reach the last eight and take
the sport’s profile up another notch. The matches will be televised live on
BBC Two and there is much to celebrate. But nothing will turn the Birmingham
girl’s head.
“I went into the Euros [in 2005] unknown and then I’d scored a goal and it all
blew up,” she said. “It took me by surprise. It’s difficult, but I wouldn’t
change anything. I’d be walking down the streets and people would recognise
me. Afterwards [when England had missed qualification for the quarter-finals
by one goal], I was preparing for the under19s’ Euros and I was running
round the roads, getting all these cars hooting their horns, people shouting
out, ‘We saw you play.’ I started wearing my iPod so I could keep my head
down.
“It was nice, and you are striving for recognition, but it was also quite
funny. Then it all finished. The next season I was fighting relegation with
Birmingham City and the media attention dropped away.
“It really hit home when, having played in the biggest [women’s] tournament
this country’s ever seen, I didn’t have a team to play for because my home
team folded [when Birmingham’s men were relegated from the top flight] when
they couldn’t raise the £75,000 needed.
“It was hard to motivate yourself. You think, ‘What’s it all for?’ Then I
moved to Arsenal and we went an entire season unbeaten in every competition.
When we got to the Uefa Cup final, we got a keyring. The Arsenal men got a
Rolex watch when they got to their Champions League final. We don’t want
Rolexes, but we do want more recognition.
“It’s not about wanting fame; we want to be successful. That way we can raise
the profile of the game and give the next generation more of a chance. If we
can be successful in this World Cup, it’ll mean more than just one England
team doing well.”
Carney, an aspiring coach who is studying sports science at Loughborough
University, has her personal reasons to do well in Shanghai. “In the Euros
my mum was going through cancer. Although my family were supporting me, I
had to support them, too,” she said. “I’m always conscious I want to give
them something back. When I scored that goal, it was more for them than
anything. They’re paying loads of money to come out to China, so I feel I
want to succeed for them. Mum’s fine now. She’s been on the up ever since
the Euros.”
Carney is confident England can improve on their efforts from two years ago.
“We’re so much stronger, the fitness has improved so much,” she said. “In
the Euros, I think we were a good side but we didn’t have any experience. We
had a lot of good young players who’d never been involved in anything so
high-profile before.
“I think our World Cup will depend on our first game. You can’t go into the
Germany game thinking we’ve got to beat the world champions to stay alive –
although I don’t think there’s any doubt we could – but you don’t want that
added pressure, so I think we’ve got to get a result out of Japan.
“You’ve got to go into it looking at each game as it comes along. Every team
in this World Cup has the capability of winning the tournament, so we’ve got
to go into every game with that attitude and hopefully we’ll do well. Beat
Japan and it’s game on.” Three to watch
Marta Succeeded Birgit Prinz when voted the best player in the world
for 2006. Marta has the ingenuity and traditional Brazilian flair to light
up this tournament. At only 21, the Umea star, who played against Arsenal
for the Swedish side in the Uefa Cup final last season, has a fine
understanding with Cristiane, the lethal goalscorer. Marta is the Brazil
women’s answer to Kaká.
Birgit Prinz The 29-year-old Germany goal machine has a prolific record
and recently went past the 100-mark for her country. Three times the world
player of the year, she was top scorer in the United States four years ago,
when Germany added the World Cup to their European crown. Pacy and strong,
she is a clinical finisher.
Abby Wambach The American found recognition in the previous World Cup
finals where her performances overshadowed those of Mia Hamm, as the
long-time world’s best player faded towards retirement. Wambach averages a
goal every 90 minutes for the US and, at 27, is at her peak. Lean, tall and
powerful, the striker scored the extra-time winner that made her country the
Olympic champions when defeating Brazil in Athens three years ago.
Past winners
1991 (held in China): United States 1995 (in Sweden): Norway 1999
(in US): United States 2003 (in US): Germany
Fixtures
Group A
Today: Germany v Argentina (in Shanghai).
Tomorrow: Japan v England (in Shanghai).
Friday: Argentina v Japan (in Shanghai); England v Germany (in
Shanghai).
Sept 17: Germany v Japan (in Hangzhou); England v Argentina (in
Chengdu).
Group B
Tomorrow: United States v North Korea (in Chengdu); Nigeria v Sweden
(in Chengdu).
Friday: Sweden v United States (in Chengdu); North Korea v Nigeria (in
Chengdu).
Sept 18: Nigeria v United States (in Shanghai); North Korea v Sweden
(in Tianjin).
Group C
Wednesday: Ghana v Australia (in Hangzhou); Norway v Canada (in
Hangzhou).
Saturday: Canada v Ghana (in Hangzhou); Australia v Norway (in
Hangzhou).
Sept 19: Norway v Ghana (in Shanghai); Australia v Canada (in Chengdu).
Group D
Wednesday: New Zealand v Brazil (in Wuhan); China v Denmark (in Wuhan).
Saturday: Denmark v New Zealand (in Wuhan); Brazil v China (in Wuhan).
Sept 19: China v New Zealand (in Tianjin); Brazil v Denmark (in
Hangzhou).
Quarter-finals
Sept 22: First match: First in group A v second in group B (in Wuhan).
Second match: First in group B v second in group A (in Tianjin).
Sept 23: Third match: First in group C v second in group D (in Wuhan).
Fourth match: First in group D v second in group C (in Tianjin).
Semi-finals Sept 26: Winner of first quarter-final v winner of third
quarter-final (in Tianjin).
Sept 27: Winner of second quarter-final v winner of fourth
quarter-final (in Hangzhou).
Third-place play-off
Sept 30 (in Shanghai).
Final
Sept 30 (in Shanghai).
