The moment Lionesses’ hearts broke: Emotional England Women collapse as they’re told they will NOT play at the Olympics in their post-match huddle, despite winning 6-0 against Scotland
- England beat Scotland but their Olympic hopes are over
- Team GB’s hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024 were dashed by a late goal from the Dutch.
- This should be a time for players to show respect and control. Only the captain should approach the referees – Listen It all begins
England star Lucy Bronze collapsed on the pitch in disappointment after it was confirmed that Team GB will not compete in the women’s football tournament at the Olympics next summer.
The Lioness was tasked with securing a place at the 2024 Paris Games as a nominated country in the Olympic qualifying cycle.
England needed to finish top of their UEFA Women’s Nations League group to stay in contention for qualification, with the two finalists joining hosts France at the Games in February.
Sarina Wiegman’s side needed to improve on the Netherlands’ result by three goals on Tuesday night to reach the Nations League final.
England appeared to have done enough, thrashing Scotland 6-0 at Hampden Park, only for the Netherlands to score in the 95th minute to beat Belgium 4-0.
England were left heartbroken after a late Dutch goal ended Team GB’s Olympic hopes.
Lucy Bronze scored England’s sixth goal against Scotland, but the result was not enough.
The footage shows the heartbreaking moment England were briefed at a general meeting about the Dutch goal that ended Britain’s Olympic hopes.
A member of the Lionesses staff, who was watching the final stages of the Netherlands match on a mobile phone, told the team: “They scored.”
Striker Lauren Hamp could be seen turning away in disappointment as Bronze collapsed on the pitch and buried her face in her hands.
Bronze was previously seen as the player who kept Team GB’s hopes alive.
The defender scored in the third minute of stoppage time to return England to the top of the table, but another turnaround soon followed as the Dutch regained top spot.
England were left to rue an earlier group defeat to the Netherlands, as well as a shock 3-2 defeat to Belgium in October.
Team GB could qualify for the Olympics under the previous qualifying format, in which the three UEFA places were determined based on the teams’ performances at the Women’s World Cup, where England finished second.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” Wiegman said after the match. “This is the greatest emotion I feel right now. I think we delivered tonight. The team showed great character.
Damaris Egurrola scored the decisive goal late on, allowing the Netherlands to leapfrog England.
The Dutch team celebrated as their Olympic hopes were kept alive at the expense of Team GB.
“When Lucy scored that goal I thought, ‘We can get this’, but that’s football. The Netherlands scored a late goal and that’s how close it was. We waited for long minutes.
“We really thought we had it. I didn’t really know what to say (to the players) because I’m really proud of this performance, but we’re not done yet and I’m really disappointed.”
Team GB have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 women’s football tournament for the first time following an agreement between the four British football associations.
Their only appearance was in London in 2012, where Team GB were given a spot as the host nation.