Karen Carney believes the Lionesses can rule the world for the next FIVE years.
Former England star Carney, 34, believes Sarina Wiegman is building a dynasty which can last well beyond the Euros. England’s thrilling journey to the final at Wembley on Sunday has captured the imagination of the whole country with record TV audiences and sold out stadiums.
The tournament has been a game changer and Carney believes Wiegman is assembling something special on the foundations laid in the Euros. Carney, a brand ambassador for Booking.com, said: “I think people have fallen in love with it. The team has surprised me. It can’t have gone any better.
“It’s a young squad, they could win this, experience the winning feeling and then have a World Cup in a year’s time which could help them dominate for the next four or five years. The world is their oyster, it’s an incredible opportunity for them to really start something special and leave a lasting legacy.
“For everyone who has got the women’s game to this point, it will be so important and also for the foundations for the future of the game. That would change things forever. People’s perceptions, how we’re spoken about and to win it would take it to another level.
“It would be brilliant because the WSL has been outstanding. Look at all the England players - they were all brilliant in the WSL last season, Beth Mead breaking records and it’s a credit to our league. Then we’ll go back into a new WSL season, straight to a World Cup and it’s frightening where the game could go next. It’s so exciting.
Wiegman has been the driving force behind England’s march to the Euros final but ex-Birmingham and Chelsea star Carney believes it is also in the strength of the team unit and squad depth.
“They blitzed Sweden and they are the No2 team in the world. But the reason why teams win is because they are a team,” said Carney. "If you look at Mary Earps, she made so many good saves. But there were so many good performances. I was at the game, I presented Player of the Match after the game. I was lucky to be in a box, Phil Foden was next door and I asked him: ‘Who would you give it to?’
“He didn’t know and we stood there, you could go through the whole team and it was so hard to pick it because everyone has been amazing from Lucy Bronze to Beth Mead, Keira Walsh was unbelievable, Fran was exceptional and Georgia was great. Sarina is so humble. I saw her after the game, I congratulated her afterwards and she said: ‘No, this is you.’ What have I done?! I’ve spoken to players and they say they are so well drilled, they know their jobs and exactly what they are supposed to do.
“You can just see they’re so well drilled. For someone so little, she’s got such a big aura. She’s so special. I’ve only met her a few times but each time she’s blown me away. Everyone has warmed to her. After the Spain game, she showed such emotion. Me and Kelly Smith met her at the Euros draw last November and we both came away from the conversation saying: ‘I’d bloody love to play for her.’”
Carney also believes the atmospheres and sold out stadiums will only help the growth of the women’s game in England. She added: “It will be such an occasion at Wembley. I even saw Geri Haliwell at the semi final, it’s just mad who is supporting the team, the ticket requests must be crazy.
“I’ve been to hundreds of games and there’s lulls in the games but that’s not happened once. Every England game has been so entertaining, goals, incidents and drama. It’s been brilliant atmospheres. There’s been a different vibe in the crowds, that’s amazing and it’s been so, so good. I’ve completely fell in love with it again.
“I’d love for the players to win. Whenever you finish playing, people just ask you what you’ve won. To have that winner’s medal, no-one will ever be able to take that away.”
Carney was talking as research from Booking.com showed more than eight in ten England fans (85%) say the growth of the women’s game has made traveling to play professional football in top leagues around the world a realistic career ambition for women and girls.
