Beth Mead can’t stop smiling after returning to Lionesses camp
England Women will be going all out against Scotland to try and seal Team GB’s participation at the Olympic Games next year. The Scotland players find themselves in an unusual position because they could ruin their own hopes of playing in Paris by defeating England this evening.
England, who are currently second in their Nations League group, level on points with the Netherlands, are the nominated qualifying team for Great Britain for the 2024 Olympics, with players from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also eligible to represent the team. But Team GB will only be able to play at the Olympics if England can top the group above the Netherlands. To do so, they must win by three more goals than the Netherlands against Belgium if both teams claim victories from their final match. They will also qualify if the Lionesses beat Scotland and the Netherlands fail to beat Scotland. Ahead of the crunch clash, Express Sport has looked at the love lives of some of the England stars fighting for Great Britain’s place at the Olympics.
Beth Mead
England’s 2022 Player of the Year played a major role as the Lionesses stormed to Euros glory last summer but was forced to miss the World Cup after a devastating knee injury. She has since returned to the fold and could play a key role this evening as Team GB’s Olympics fate lies in England’s hands.
Mead previously opened up about her sexuality and revealed that she is dating Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema. The 28-year-old admitted she found it hard to come out but is now happy to keep her legions of fans updated with her life off the pitch and regularly posts pics with her girlfriend.
Speaking to Sky Sports last year, she said: “Actually, I’ve never physically come out and said I’m gay, I’m with a girl because I’ve not had to. I’m just being me. I’ve put pictures with my partner on social media. To me, I’ve tried to make it the norm rather than make it a statement.
“Obviously for the men right now, they have to put it out in the media to then see what reaction they get and I get the culture in the men’s game is still very different and it is much, much harder. But for me, I want to bridge that gap and help men as much as women. It’s a tough process. It is emotionally and physically draining, and I get all aspects for people, but for me, you can’t help who you fall in love with and if you are happy at the end of the day.”
Alex Greenwood
Perhaps one of the most well-documented all-football relationships is Greenwood linking up with Jack O’Connell, the Sheffield United star who was forced to retire due to injury this summer.
The pair have been together since their childhood after meeting in sixth form in their hometown of Bootle, Merseyside, and as their football careers have grown together, so has their unbreakable bond. Nowadays, fans on social media can keep track of their lifestyle as they post images on Instagram from their holidays.
Given that both Greenwood and O’Connell’s lives revolve around football, it’s no surprise that it is a hot topic of conversation in their household as Greenwood explains: “I’m obsessed with football. Often, at home, all Jack and I talk about is football, we watch it and analyse it all the time. People ask what I do to get away from the game but I don’t want to escape it.”
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Chloe Kelly
Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly is enjoying life in the northwest after spending most of her life in west London, and she often takes the opportunity to swoon over her long-term boyfriend Scott, who she lives with in Manchester along with their dog, Otis.
The England star is also very active on social media and occasionally shares a glimpse into her relationship as she and her beau set off on date nights together. Only just before the World Cup, Kelly and her man went out on the town before she set off for the month-long tournament.
“Much needed downtime with my [love heart emoji] before a big summer ahead,” she posted in June.
It’s not known if Scott will be heading out to watch her play, but even if he is forced to watch from home, Kelly will be enjoying her first World Cup experience knowing she has support at home from her partner.
Jess Carter
Carter met Ann-Katrin Berger when she joined Birmingham City Women in May 2016. A year later, it came to chance that Ann was looking for a housemate and Carter moved in as a friend in Solihull, having initially felt she was straight.
After their realisation that their friendship was something more, the pair started dating: “It developed really quickly and naturally after that,” she told The Guardian.
Not long after they became a couple, Berger underwent treatment for thyroid cancer. “I was scared it would be too much for Jess, but she was so supportive,” Berger said. In June 2018, Jess moved to London to play for Chelsea and Berger later joined in 2019, with the pair now living together in London and still playing for the Women’s Super League outfit.
Rachel Daly
Daly has been in a relationship with fellow footballer Millie Turner since 2021 and things can get awkward between them, as they both play in the Women’s Super League. However, the couple represent different clubs, with Daly playing for Aston Villa and Turner contracted to Manchester United.
But away from the pitch, things have looked rosy for Daly and Turner. They live with their rescue dog Dexi, the pooch famous enough to have its own Instagram account.
Daly and Turner are not afraid to document their adventures on social media as they are regularly seen on a beach or in the water somewhere. But with only Daly called up for the 23-player squad at the World Cup, Turner will be supporting her from the sidelines this summer.
Lauren Hemp
At just 22 years of age, Hemp is one of the younger members of the squad and seems to have a bright future in the game.
The forward has already been recognised for winning the PFA Young Player of the Year four times in her career and now plays with Manchester City. She also started the first game against Haiti before she was substituted, showing she is a key player in Wiegman’s plans.
Hemp is just one of many players dating a fellow footballer, as she is currently in a relationship with Ellie Butler, who plays in the WSL with Coventry. The pair have been together since 2021 and their dance moves on TikTok have only helped improve their popularity.
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