England ready for finals spark dreams and give hope, but is it a team for everyone?
The “white” band in the host country sparked controversy during the European Commission.
Across France, the tone is different.
– In the French national team, we have diversity that may not already be found in other teams, striker Kadidiatou Diani tells Sportbladet.
Regarding England’s progress in the European Commission, controversy erupted. It was started by TV commentator Ilide Barbour regarding England’s great victory over Norway (8-0) in the group stage.
Ilida Barbour said: – All eleven starting players and five substitutes were white and this indicates a lack of diversity in women’s football in England.
In the men’s squad that reached the EC final last summer, 11 of the 26 players were of non-English descent. In lionesses, the corresponding number is only three: Nikita Paris, Demi Stokes and Jess Carter.
The reversal sparked a backlash on social media with respected commentators outside of football criticizing both Elide Barbour and the BBC. But several former England players – such as Alex Scott and Anita Asante – defended the commentator and the perception that England’s European Championship team does not match the demographics of the host nation.
Anita Asante, with her pasts in Gothenburg and Rosengard in Kobarberg, during the tournament developed her view on the issue in the Guardian and noted that the England team do not have role models for everyone.
“Young girls who can’t find their lookalike lack the heroines to look up to and that is important,” Asante said.
NFL girls’ team development director Kay Cossington told ESPN she understands Anita Asante’s reasoning, but that change won’t happen “overnight.”
“Good for our country”
France’s semi-final team includes many colorful players in its squad. Many of them were born in France, but are from the country’s former colonial origins or from other backgrounds.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kadidiato Diani was born in Paris into a family of Malian origin. When Sportbladet interviewed her after the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, she said there is versatility that she appreciates in French football.
In the French national team, we have diversity that may not already be found in other teams. It’s our strength and owning it can make a difference and I think that’s good for our country, she says and continues:
– All young girls in France can meet the players of our national team. Regardless of origin, everyone is French and proud to represent our country.
Are you surprised when you see other teams like England?
– I didn’t think much about this issue personally, but if the other national teams don’t have the same diversity, I don’t know why, but it’s really important for our group.
She thinks the road to PSG and the national team was rather classic on her part.
– When I was young I didn’t think much about my future, but when I grew up I realized that I could become a professional and play in the national team. For me, it wasn’t that difficult at all. I played with the boys when I was little, and then as I got older I quickly joined the zone team, she says.
Hanna Baptiste, a former England international, told The Athletic during the debate that she supported the England team, but appreciated the France team.
Why can France get it right while we are struggling when we are a country of great diversity? She said.
“Can take a lot of bullshit”
The proportion of players of color in England has been halved. It was the highest number in 2007, according to The Athletic.
During EC, Swedish goalkeeper Zesera Mosovic shared a photo of herself with his teammates and the phrase “Me and my blondes”. Written with a twinkle in the eye. she is with Indigenous Kosovars The only players with a foreign background in the tournament lineup. Immediately abroad, but still participating in the national team in recent years, there are also, for example, Madeleine Januji and Giulia Ziguti Olmi.
Kosovar Aslani has been and remains over the years a role model who, just like Mosovic, championed diversity. She brought up the topic in a big interview with Feminia before the Summer Tournaments.
We think we’re very good at taking care of girls of foreign origin, but we’re not. Every time I go out and meet the teams, I hear from the girls and their parents that they don’t get the same conditions at their clubs. That everyone is tougher on them, that they don’t suit them and they have to take a lot of bullshit. what a shame. If you want to bring out more talent, we have to give them the conditions and I believe in coaching equality and inclusion, because there are an incredible number of leaders in federations who don’t have that mindset, unfortunately, she told the newspaper.
Yvonne Eckroth, director of the U23 national team and the elite girls’ soccer division of the Swedish Football Association, agrees that there are many steps that need to be taken to increase diversity but that a number of initiatives and projects are under way or have already been implemented. implemented and it sees a positive development.
In the national under-23 team in 2021/22 there were between two and five players of foreign origin.
Rosa Kvaje, Monica Gosu Bah, Nasrin Akgun are talented people who have formed the framework of the national under-19 team (despite their long-term injury).
Of the 125 players called up to the F15 national camp, more than 20 are of foreign descent.
– It is a positive trend that this summer’s camps attest, even if it is difficult to judge by name alone, but one can conclude that associations and counties have an increasing diversity in their activities, comments Yvonne Eckroth and continues:
– It is positive that the diversity is increasing every year on the part of girls, which means that the work of the associations is paying off. More players are reaching an age where they continue to play football and not just when they are children. Our grid in terms of choices and seeing the players who are up front now before the group is well meshed. The national team selections are determined by the national youth team association leaders who work closely with the national football coaches in eight regions and who in turn work with the provincial football developers. They, in turn, work with clubs and women’s football associations in general. This means that association with respect to diversity becomes crucial. Thus the national teams reflect the present in Swedish football in these eras.
“This is the big challenge.”
However, Yvonne Eckroth points out that Swedish football must work on a broad front to lower thresholds. The Swedish Football Association has a number of projects targeting the counties, and the SvFF’s investment in school football is a way to capture and deliver football to all and also the initiative on coaching the coaches.
What are the main challenges when it comes to getting girls and young women of foreign origin to play football?
With many initiatives we can get them to start playing football, the big challenge is getting them to keep going, says Yvonne Eckroth.
why?
– Of course it depends on different things like culture, career, study options, finances and that there is a welcoming environment, role models and leaders. But we also persevere on our projects and initiatives. Changing cultures and lifestyles takes time and the football movement must take that time.
source: ESPN, goalkeeper, athlete, FEMENA