It was an afterthought as England’s campaign ended at the Women’s World Cup this summer, but reaching the last four opened a door widely assumed to have closed for good seven years ago. England cannot play in the Olympic Games but their success in France means Team GB, coached by Phil Neville, will appear in Tokyo. A concept branded unsatisfactory by three of the four constituent parts will trigger further debate as the Games draw closer.
The competitive anomaly is highlighted by the fact Scotland were one of the teams England pushed aside in the World Cup group phase. Whether the Football Association has done likewise to its equivalents in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales is up for debate but the Olympic situation is confusing. The FA and Neville are upbeat but this enthusiasm isn’t broadly shared; far from it. Between the associations, this is an uncomfortable alliance and one that wasn’t expected to arise after what was portrayed as a one-off for Team GB in football at the 2012 London Olympics. This can be construed as a risky game in the context of whether the countries involved can field their own teams for ever.
Related: Women's World Cup – the best shots by female photographers | Picture essay
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