Team GB head coach Hege Riise names 18-person squad for Tokyo Olympics; eleven Manchester City players feature; only three non-English players in squad; Team GB face Japan, Canada, and Chile in group stage
Thursday 27 May 2021 17:44, UK
Eleven Man City players have been named in Team GB's women's football 18-person squad for the Tokyo Olympics.
Hege Riise, who was named Team GB women's head coach in March, has made her selections ahead of the tournament, which begins on July 21.
In April, Team GB learned their group-stage opponents will be Japan, Canada, and Chile as they take a women's football team to the Olympics for only the second time.
Riise - also England Women interim coach - named an 18-player squad alongside four reserves.
Caroline Weir (Scotland), Kim Little (Scotland), Sophie Ingle (Wales) are the only non-English players in the squad, while there are no players from Northern Ireland selected.
Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Ellen White, and Kim Little will all play in their second Olympics.
Riise described it as "the hardest decision I have ever made", but said that "we ended up with a squad we are really happy with".
Asked if the target was a gold medal, Riise added: "That is what we are planning for - of course, you can never take away a dream and if you dream big then it is better to achieve it.
"I think we all know that we have little time to become the best in the world but we'll take on that challenge and do the best we can.
"We hope to perform better and better and hopefully at the end we can be at our best and see how far it takes us.
"It's a short period for us together to prepare for the tournament - we probably need some time to all get on the same page but once that is done I feel comfortable we can achieve some good things.
"We know the players, we know their mentality and their leadership skills which is why they are in the squad.
"I think the mix of experienced players with those who haven't played in the Olympics before is something we are excited about."
Full squad:
Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Kim Little (Arsenal), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Caroline Weir (Manchester City), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Nikita Parris (Lyon), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Ellen White (Manchester City).
Reserves:
Sandy MacIver (Everton), Lotte Wubben Moy (Arsenal), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Ella Toone (Manchester United).
