For a brief moment Mark Sampson appeared close to tears as he reflected on his Lionesses’ World Cup exit following Laura Bassett’s stoppage time own goal in the World Cup semi-final against Japan.
“What a tough one to take,” said England’s coach. “This is an England team that have given their all. As people my players have sacrificed so much for this tournament. But they will go home knowing they couldn’t have given any more. Blood, sweat, tears, smiles – we gave it all.”
He is convinced this gargantuan effort will not be in vain and attaches no blame to Laura Bassett for her own goal. “I know there’ll be a lasting legacy for the women’s game back home,” said Sampson. “Laura Bassett at the moment is in a hard place, she really is,” he acknowledged. “But Laura Bassett eptiomised pride, passion, never-say-die and play for your team.
“She’s hurting now but she’ll wake up tomorrow and 22 team-mates and the staff will give her a hug and tell her how proud we are of her. I know Laura and the players will be welcomed back home to England as heroes.”
The support for the centre half seems emblematic of this team’s extraordinary spirit. “It was a horrible moment for Laura,” said Sampson. “Every single member of our group are devastated to go out but Laura is one of us. Without Laura we wouldn’t have been in the semi-final. She’s been outstanding throughout the tournament. When she comes home she’ll be a hero. And this group of players are friends for life now.”
He felt the Lionesses could easily have won but paid tribute to their opponents. “I will pay huge credit to Japan,” said Sampson. “We saw why they are the World Champions but we had the hearts of Lions to stay in there. The country should be proud.
“This England team dug deeper than any other team I’ve seen. This team will go home knowing there’s nothing more they could have done, We created chances, we dominated territory, we deserved something out of the game.”
