LISTEN!
It’s been a few years since the Big Paper and Big Website began “cramming women’s football down people’s throats” by publishing sporadic, easily avoidable columns about a burgeoning sport that is leaving some readers on the brink of stroke seemed to be drifting, although they would like to ignore them. In fact, such was the disinterest of some readers in what was going on in the Women’s Super League or the international arena that week in and week out the same fools felt compelled to post comments on Below The Line pointing it out , how hilarious they found the idea, Women Who Play Soccer, advising everyone involved to “get back in the kitchen” because the dishes don’t wash themselves.
Rather heartwarmingly, it seems that while the amount of women’s football content that some reluctant fans have been force-fed has steadily increased in recent years on TV, radio and various other media platforms, the amount of nagging about it seems to have waned. So much so that when the Guardian announced yesterday that it was launching a Women’s Football Weekly podcast to mark the upcoming European Championship, the volume of justified contradiction from your typical Twitter “proud dad” (posing alongside young daughters who might want to play the game) barely registered.
Hosted by Faye “Holy!” Carruthers, with Big Paper’s women’s football correspondent Suzy Wrack in the deceptively simple and universally underestimated sidekick role, Women’s Football Weekly will start on July 4 and run throughout Euro 2022 so you know what they’re talking about . Also, we really encourage you to download and try this new podcast, but it’s not mandatory. No one from Big Paper will be standing under your bedroom window forcing you to listen like John Cusack in Say Anything.
Of course, with the European Championship fast approaching, the final adjustments to our new podcast aren’t the only preparations being fine-tuned ahead of England’s final friendly against Switzerland tomorrow. Head coach Sarina Wiegman says she is close to knowing her starting XI for the tournament opener against Austria. “We’re close but it’s tough,” she said of her likely starting lineup. “And even though we’re close, you still have the opportunity to change it up a little bit because the level is so high and it’s so close [between the players] that we have many options.” A bit like these dishes, this team will not pick themselves.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Football Weekly takes a look at the experiences of LBGTQ+ fans and journalists here. For more information on the new Women’s Football Weekly pod, click here.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“From the outset, FIFA had a responsibility to ensure human rights due diligence was carried out and a positive legacy was left for all. Now we’re less than 150 days on the road and we’re still fighting for basic safety guarantees” — Anne Lieberman, a founding member of the LGBTIQ Human Rights Sports Coalition, expresses her concern after Qatari authorities again failed to offer guarantees for LGBTQ+ supporters traveling to the World Cup of human rights.
FIVE LETTERS
“Re: Newcastle’s third strip (yesterday’s Fiver), excuse my ignorance but given that black and white TVs are no more, what’s the point of a third strip? Maybe in case the others don’t dry in time?” – Dave McNulty.
“You’re right, you’ve seen the Newcastle third kit before somewhere: it’s just an innocent homage to our ‘classic’ 99-00 away kit. Any other resemblance is surely just coincidence, or better yet, imagination. Nothing to see here” – JD Laux.
“As one of the few remaining Newcastle fans still reading The Fiver I will definitely be buying the new change shirt. If it annoys a big-paper left-wing journo enough to choke on his free champagne on his way to the World Human Rights Cup, it’s worth it” – Jonathan Alderslade.
“Reading of plans to develop Villa Park into a ‘thriving community destination’ (yesterday’s bits and bobs) it seems that Villa is a bit late. The city’s other football team, Birmingham (very popular with Jasper Carrot) had this sorted out 40 years ago. I know this because my older brother had his wedding reception there. Doubly ironic since he was a Villa supporter” – Kevin Dwyer.
Send your letters to [email protected] And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our Letter of the Day is…JD Laux, who wins a copy of Suzy Wrack’s A Woman’s Game.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
People convicted of football-related online hate crimes can now get a ban from going to games.
Manchester City have signed Australian striker Mary Fowler from Montpellier, with manager Gareth Taylor giddy calling the 19-year-old “one of the most exciting young talents in football”.
Chelsea are This spend nearly £55m from Todd Boehly’s dosh on Leeds’ Raphinha, despite Barcelona and Arsenal still in the running.
Nikita Parris reckons England fans will be making waves around Euro 2022 because ‘English culture loves football’. “The audience makes a difference,” she said. “Being down in games gives you extra energy.”
England beat Italy 2-1 to secure a place in the final of the European Under-19 Championship against Israel – and look how happy coach Ian Foster was.
Sven Botman will see Newcastle’s 99-00 tribute kit for himself after Lille agreed to part ways with the Dutch centre-back for £32m.
Like a sluggish Love Island lothario, Frenkie de Jong has finally turned heads at Manchester United interest.
And Gareth Bale’s week gets even better – the Wales captain was credited with the goal that sealed his place at the Human Rights World Cup. The winner against Ukraine in Cardiff was initially lost to Andriy Yarmolenko’s own goal but has now officially been declared Bale’s 40th goal for his country.
WANT MORE?
Do you want an extensive interactive guide to all 368 players at Euro 2022? Well then go here. Meanwhile, today’s separate team guides have a Nordic vibe – find out about Denmark and Finland.
France should be among the favorites at Euro 2022 but well-known stories of tensions at the training camp could derail their campaign. Júlia Belas Trindade has more.
There are only six Ben Davies! There are only six Ben Davies! But it’s not the most common name in football. Here is the knowledge with more.
In 2009, Bordeaux beat Juve and Bayern in the Big Cup. Now they are struggling to stay afloat in France’s third tier, reports Raphaël Jucobin.
Spurs and Chelsea facing a tug of war over Milan Skriniar? It’s the latest rumor mill.
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