Rachel Daly Disappointed to Be Benched for England’s World Cup Opener
England’s opening game of the World Cup against Haiti on Saturday saw Rachel Daly expressing her disappointment about not being selected to start. The 31-year-old had been the first-choice No. 9 for England, having won the WSL Golden Boot last season. However, England head coach Sarina Wiegman opted to start Arsenal striker Alessia Russo instead.
Daly had started the majority of England’s recent matches and had also played every game of last summer’s Euros at left-back. Despite her disappointment, Daly replaced Russo after 75 minutes in the game, which England won 1-0 after a first-half penalty from Georgia Stanway.
In a post-match interview, Daly was asked if she was frustrated to be benched, to which she replied, “I think anyone would be. No one is happy to sit on the bench. If you are, then you are not in the right place, not in the right career.” She also mentioned that it’s a tough position for Sarina Wiegman to be in, having to pick the team, but she respected the coach’s decisions and would support Russo.
Wiegman stated that all three strikers in the England squad were options to start. While the coach typically does not deviate from a winning team during tournaments, Daly still felt like the competition for positions was ongoing. She acknowledged the competitive nature of the squad and praised Wiegman as a fantastic manager who had to make difficult decisions.
Despite taking 21 shots in the game against Haiti, England only managed to score from a penalty, extending their run without a goal from open play to 337 minutes. Russo missed several chances, and Daly also saw a late header saved. When asked about the team’s lack of goals, Daly attributed it to being a relatively new side with many players lost due to injury and retirement. She remained optimistic, stating that they were still building and more goals would come.
England’s next game is against Denmark in Sydney on Friday evening. The team will be looking to improve their goal-scoring record and secure another victory in the tournament.
In conclusion, Rachel Daly’s disappointment at being benched for England’s World Cup opener highlights the competitive nature of the squad. Despite her frustration, Daly showed support for her teammate and respected the coach’s decisions. England’s struggle to score goals from open play is a concern, but Daly remains optimistic about the team’s progress. As they face Denmark in their next game, England will be aiming to find the back of the net more frequently and continue their journey in the World Cup.