England defender Lucy Bronze admitted it is a “shame” women often find themselves entrenched in battles for change amid reports the Lionesses are unhappy with the situation around performance-related bonuses at the World Cup.
Bronze and her team-mates arrived in Australia on Friday to begin preparations for this summer’s showpiece, which under a new model will see players guaranteed remuneration directly from FIFA with amounts increasing the deeper teams go in the tournament. They range from 30,000 US dollars (£23,367) per athlete for the group stage to USD 270,000 (£210,305) allotted to each champion.
Previously, it was up to individual national governing bodies to decide how money was allocated, with some still agreeing to fund additional payments in 2023 beyond the new deal – though multiple media outlets have suggested the Football Association has no current plans to do the same.
When asked about the bonus talks, Bronze told Sky Sports: “I think a lot of these issues happen in women’s football – you don’t just see it for our team.
“There are many teams where players or associations or teams are having to fight to make changes in the game.
“We are pushing the game on, we’re trying to hit new levels and that’s what we want to do as players both on the pitch and off the pitch.
“It’s a shame that women in sport in general have to do that, but I think it’s a role than many athletes, many women take on in society and in sport.”
The PA news agency has contacted the FA for comment.
Players from Canada, France, Jamaica, Spain and South Africa are among the women who have recently raised concerns or taken action over issues ranging from personnel to pay and conditions, while 2023 will be the first World Cup for double defending champions the United States following their landmark legal battle to secure equal compensation with their male counterparts.
It will also mark a final World Cup for US forward Megan Rapinoe, who on Saturday announced she would be hanging up her boots at the end of this season.
The outspoken Ballon D’Or Feminin winner, 38, is one of the most recognisable faces in the game, both for her often colourful hairstyle and equally vibrant personality, as well as her leadership and advocacy work including the equal pay fight.
Bronze, speaking at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Stadium, added: “Icon gets used a lot but she’s an icon on and off the field.
“People talk about her hair but the way she’s stood up and spoken out on so many issues is incredible, it’s changed the lives of so many people around the world, not just in football but in society as well, and I think there’s been many times where she’s taken stick for it but she just carries on because she knows what she’s doing, she’s doing it for the good things.”
Sunday’s England training session was held in front of about 3,000 spectators, which Barcelona’s Bronze felt helped lend her side a sense of familiarity despite the 10,000-plus mile distance and nine-hour time difference from London.
She said: “I think in a way it’s like being at home because in England we get this kind of support for open training days.
“It feels like an English summer, there’s so many fans, you can interact and speak with them, which doesn’t necessarily happen when you go halfway around the world, you can’t always connect as much as that. It’s nice, it’s just like another day in England in a way.”
Head coach Sarina Wiegman named an unchanged starting XI for the entirety of her side’s winning Euro 2022 campaign, but the team that will line up against Haiti for their July 22 World Cup opener in Brisbane will necessarily look very different following the retirement of Ellen White and injuries to captain Leah Williamson, forward Beth Mead and midfielder Fran Kirby.
Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly, meanwhile, has been swapped from the back to the front, named among Wiegman’s forwards for England’s pursuit of a maiden global title, while Niamh Charles, Laura Coombs, Lauren James, Esme Morgan, Katie Robinson and Katie Zelem will all be playing at their first major tournament.
Following the opener, England face Denmark in Sydney before wrapping up the group stage against China in Adelaide with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout rounds.
'I felt like Ronaldo' - Bellingham revels overhead-kick equaliser for England
Jude Bellingham says he "felt like Ronaldo" while scoring a stunning overhead kick to send England to extra-time against Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions looked to be heading out of the European Championships on Sunday until Bellingham scored a 95th-minute equaliser.
Harry Kane then scored the winner in the first minute of extra time, with the captain later describing Bellingham's strike as one of the best in England's history.
Bellingham has admitted that while he was in the air, he compared himself to former Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored an iconic overhead kick for Los Blancos in the 2018 Champions League final.
"It was really instinct more than anything," Bellingham said while speaking on England's 'Diary Room' show. "It kind of fell in the perfect spot, and it was a little bit behind me.
"When I was in the air, I thought, 'I'm six feet off the ground, and it's like Ronaldo!' But I've watched it back, and I still had one hand on the ground, so it wasn't the most acrobatic.
"But it was a nice contact. Definitely one of the most important and memorable moments of my career so far."
The England performance was drawing comparisons to their early exit at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016 until Bellingham's intervention, with his strike their first on target.
The Madrid man reflected on how close England came to an exit, but praised the team's belief for getting them over the line.
"It was an emotional rollercoaster really, and probably not the most enjoyable way that you want to win a game," he added.
"You want [to] feel comfortable and in control, but you've got to find ways to win, even if it means overhead kicks in 90 plus five minutes.
"The difference in emotion is huge – it's one minute being dead and buried, as I saw the Slovakia bench all ready to run on, and you feel a bit disheartened and a bit gutted.
“It's not the way I would've wanted it to end – I'm having a good time here with all the lads and the staff and one moment later, it all changes.
"You start believing that we could create one more chance and, luckily, we got it in."
England will play Switzerland in their quarter-final on Saturday, with the Netherlands or Turkiye awaiting in the semi-finals if they make it through.
Malta, PFJL emphasize nourishing champions with Malta ‘Kickin’ Cuisine’ Cooking Programme
One of the key components of building a successful career in any sport is a proper diet and good nutrition.
Malta and the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) during their recent event, "Kickin' Cuisine to Fuel Your Game," a cooking programme held at The Summit in Kingston on Saturday, June 29, made their attempt to impart this wisdom on some of the country’s young footballers.
As part of the Malta Sparks campaign, this initiative is geared towards the development of tactical, nutritional, holistic, and psychological skills of U-17 footballers from the prominent teams including Arnett Gardens, Waterhouse, Portmore United, and Harbour View under the Professional Football Jamaica Limited League's Elite Development programme.
The event highlighted Neville Bell as Malta’s new Brand Ambassador, offered sports nutrition tips from Rohan Francis, and featured interactive Malta Shake and Go as well as a meal preparation segment by Chef Asia Thomas.
The day ended with a lively dance-off and trivia competition for exciting Malta prizes.
Marta named in Brazil's Olympics squad as Elias hails 'greatest athlete of all time'
Marta will play in her sixth Olympics after she was named in Brazil's squad for the Paris Games by coach Arthur Elias, who described her as "the greatest athlete of all time".
The Selecao's all-time leading scorer with 118 goals, the 38-year-old will appear at her final tournament with her country, having announced in April she will retire from international duty at the end of the year.
Marta has already made Olympics history. In Tokyo, she became the first player - male or female - to score at five successive Games, while she was part of the side that won silver medals in 2004 and 2008.
And Elias welcomed the inclusion of the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, who has scored four times for Orlando Pride in the NWSL this season.
"She brings a lot to the table, she's the greatest athlete of all time," he said. "She's playing well, she deserved to be on this list.
"Marta's performance, her behaviour - with or without the ball - makes all the athletes see her as an example.
"I have the challenge of finding a way of playing to maximise her game. But she knows that you can only win with everyone."
Brazil begin their campaign against Nigeria on July 25, while they will also play Japan and 2023 World Cup winners Spain in Group C.
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