Lucy Bronze has described England flying to Australia for the Women’s World Cup with discussions over performance-related bonuses still unresolved as “frustrating”, but said that pushing for better is “something we’ve always had to do as players.”
The Guardian reported last Monday that the Lionesses were disappointed at being told they would not receive bonuses from the Football Association in addition to the prize money ring-fenced for players by Fifa. It is understood there is a feeling within the squad that in not committing more than Fifa’s allocation, the FA has put England on a par with the teams least supported by their federations rather than some of the world’s best, such as US, whose governing body has committed to additional bonuses.
“It is frustrating, but I think that’s the way the women’s game has predominantly been,” said Bronze, speaking from the Sunshine Coast Stadium where England are training before the tournament. “As a team we’ve always been pushing in the background, it’s only been recently that it’s been made more public and people are more aware of it, but it’s something we’ve always had to do as players.
“Someone like Steph Houghton, previously, is someone who did a lot of work behind the scenes that probably wasn’t reported on and people didn’t know as much about. I think we’re in a similar situation now, and I think the point of the players, and everyone involved in women’s football, is about taking it to the next level and pushing the ceiling, not wanting to have a ceiling put on our game, and making sure we leave the game in a better place than we found it.”
The Lionesses trained in front of more than 3,000 spectators in the early afternoon sun, where the only pitch invader was a long-beaked “bin chicken” (Australian white ibis). One young girl standing pitchside also offered her entire life savings of A$8 in exchange for Bronze’s shirt.
After training, the players were treated to a welcoming ceremony by the Gubbi Gubbi people, the traditional custodians of the land in south-east Queensland, before also being welcomed by the mayor of the Sunshine Coast, Mark Jamieson, and Vicki Treadell, the British High Commissioner to Australia.
“I’m very confident that our sporting facilities, our friendly hospitality and our beautiful winter climate will provide them with the perfect environment to put the finishing touches on their World Cup preparations,” Jamieson said. “Today’s open training session is a rare and wonderful opportunity for our community.”
Bronze said: “It’s like being at home, because in England we get this kind of support for open training days. There’s so many fans, you can interact and speak with them, which doesn’t necessarily happen when you go halfway around the world.”
The England full-back also praised the contribution of Megan Rapinoe, after the United States legend’s announcement that she will retire at the end of the season. “The word icon gets used a lot but she’s an icon on and off the field,” Bronze said.
“The way she’s stood up and spoken out on so many issues is incredible, it’s changed the lives of so many people around the world, not just in football but in society as well. On the pitch she’s been an absolute superstar as well, a player that I’ve played against a few times in head-to-heads.”
Bronze believes football is a better place for Rapinoe’s efforts, as well as those of the USA women’s team in general. “Figureheads like Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd previously as well, those kinds of players that are in the best team in the world and are the best players in that team, use their limelight to increase everything in women’s football,” Bronze said.
“Whether they’re arguing for equal pay, talking about standards at tournaments, or helping other teams out. Alex Morgan is another name that comes out in that conversation. They have built the stage by winning and then off the back of that they use it to support other people and grow the game in a way we don’t see anybody else capable of doing.”
