The success of Euro 2022 will face its first real test as attention pivots to the women’s domestic game for the return of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League this weekend.
Lionesses captain Leah Williamson is back with her beloved Arsenal, who open their campaign at home to Brighton on Friday evening, while reigning champions Chelsea close out the weekend against newly-promoted Liverpool on Sunday.
The league’s big kick-off was delayed after the death of The Queen last Thursday, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur’s matches at their men’s stadiums among the fixtures postponed.
Instead, Arsenal will be welcomed to a sold-out Meadow Park with kick-off at 19:30pm as they search for their first title in four seasons, while Hope Powell’s Seagulls look to improve on their seventh-place finish last time out.
For Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall, the winning experience of three European champions in his squad – Williamson, player of the tournament Beth Mead, and Lotte Wubben-Moy – bolstered by Brazilian Copa America winner Rafaelle Souza, can help turn any doubters in his squad into believers.
He said: “I think with mental strength, it starts with believing because of course, if you can see the goal you will have different emotions going through your body.
“You can let those emotions take over your thoughts and then influence your actions, and you can give up or think up it's going to be one of those days, we're going to concede another goal, or you can remember and say ‘now, wait a minute.’
“I think positive experiences help a lot in order to deal with adverse situations because once you have seen that work, why would you choose to always believe in the negative scenario instead of another?
“That's what I want us to do, to believe in the positive outcome every time. Is it going to happen every time? I don't know but I will believe it will.”
Chelsea have the chance to win a sixth title, and fourth in a row, while also defending their FA Cup crown, with a Champions League trophy still evading Emma Hayes’ Blues.
Manchester City have already experienced more misery in Europe, knocked out of this season's Champions League by former player Caroline Weir and her Real Madrid side, while the Continental Tyres League Cup holders have seen England stars Georgia Stanway, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh also leave to pursue new challenges in Germany and Spain.
In return, Dutch defender Kerstin Casparij is among the players who will line up in Gareth Taylor’s squad when they take on Aston Villa at 12:30pm on Sunday, with Yui Hasegawa brought into the midfield after Walsh’s departure to Barcelona on a record transfer fee for women’s football.
In Saturday’s sole game, Manchester United host Reading at 12pm at Leigh Sport Village with fan favourites Alessia Russo and Ella Toone looking to continue their fruitful partnership for the home side.
Sunday’s two 3pm fixtures will see Leicester, who narrowly avoided relegation in their first season in the top division last time out, welcome Tottenham, while West Ham take on Everton after the Hammers recorded their highest WSL finish in sixth.
With the wait for the return of the WSL extended even longer, now is finally the chance to see if the success of the Euros has trickled down to the domestic game as Williamson so passionately called for after her side’s memorable summer triumph.
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