Maya named as Lionesses aim to keep Olympic ambitions alive
Maya Le Tissier has retained her place in the England squad as the Lionesses aim to keep their Olympic ambitions alive.
In the last international window of the year, England face decisive Uefa Women’s Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands and Scotland, knowing that they need to win both to have a chance of topping the group and progressing to the semi-finals.
England are the nominated nation on behalf of Team GB to seal qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but they must win their Women’s Nations League group, which is set to go down to the wire. Belgium are currently first on nine points, followed by the Dutch on seven with England on six.
‘We know we’ll need to win our last two games of 2023 and we’ll give everything we have for that outcome,’ said Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman.
‘This group have shown resilience and strength of character time and time again and I have absolutely no doubts we’ll be ready to go when the whistle blows for both fixtures.’
The reigning European champions play the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday 1 December before facing Scotland at Hampden Park the following Tuesday.
News of her selection will come as a boost for Le Tissier after her Manchester United side suffered their first defeat of the season in the Women’s Super League on Sunday.
The Reds were beaten 3-1 by City in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in front of a record United WSL crowd of 43,615.
United are now fourth in the table on 12 points.
