“It's simple to take a look at the time and suppose there's not sufficient left,” says England wildcard Michelle Agyemang. “That's the great thing about the sport. It solely takes 10 seconds to make an impression. Any time is nice sufficient for me so I'm grateful for that chance.” The 19-year-old ahead is true to her phrase – it took her solely 41 seconds to attain on her England debut, lowering the deficit towards Belgium from 3-1 to 3-2 in April. On Saturday, she was given 4 minutes of regular time towards France to make a distinction. She made an impression however, regardless of a battling remaining 10 minutes, the Lionesses couldn't salvage some extent.
“There's fireplace within the stomach,” says Agyemang of the temper in camp since that opening-game defeat put their European title defence in jeopardy. “You may see that everybody's keen to go and get the outcome that we'd like within the subsequent recreation. It's been the identical aim from day one. We nonetheless need to win the match and that one outcome doesn't essentially change something. There's nonetheless one thing that we're going after, which is the trophy. The Netherlands recreation is a stepping stone in our approach and we need to get previous that and get in direction of the trophy.”
It's a giant stepping stone – the Netherlands are a formidable drive. The 2017 champions boast a stellar lineup, lots of who're acquainted to Agyemang, with Victoria Pelova and Daphne van Domselaar at Arsenal together with her and Daniëlle van de Donk, Jill Roord, Dominique Janssen and Vivianne Miedema former Gunners. “We all know that they've high quality however we do as effectively,” says Agyemang. “We consider in ourselves that we will go and get the job executed. We all know that we now have a giant recreation forward of us. Now we have what we'd like so we simply have to go and execute the way in which we all know we will after which we'll get what we deserve.”
Agyemang is sort of unnervingly assured for somebody so younger. On the pitch her persona is totally different. “She's a extremely candy woman,” says Lucy Bronze. “She's so candy and unassuming as an individual however then on the pitch she's most likely one among my favorite ones to play towards as a result of I can simply run into her lifeless arduous. She likes to present it again. She's been informed that she must go a bit of bit simpler however I stated: ‘No, simply stick with it Micha, I desire it, I need you to present all the things, it makes it more durable for us.'”
Agyemang laughs when Bronze's feedback are relayed to her. “It's an fascinating one as a result of we did have that dialog, me and Sarina,” she says. “I've been engaged on that in coaching and I believe I've improved however Lucy was saying she thinks it's a super-strength of mine. I do know Lucy is bodily as effectively, so we like going at it in coaching and it's enjoyable to have that kind of opponent after which you'll be able to replicate it within the recreation. I prefer it and he or she likes it as effectively.”
Sitting surrounded by a big group of the English media, Agyemang has needed to adapt rapidly to her rising profile. Three years in the past she was a ball woman at Wembley for England's 4-0 win towards Northern Eire and now she is at her first main match. For a while, her abilities have been talked about, each within the England youth ranks and at Arsenal. Dealing with the hype and the strain that comes with it's taken considerably in her stride.
“Once I was youthful I didn't actually just like the cameras and stuff like that however I believe it's part of the sport and the way in which the ladies's recreation is rising – you'll have to converse,” she says. “You may't disguise from the cameras. I'm engaged on it.
“For me, by way of strain, I believe a lot of the strain comes from myself. I don't attempt to hearken to the noise. I admire the assist from everybody. I believe specializing in what I can do is most vital, after which the noise will come round it doesn't matter what occurs. I simply give attention to how I can enhance my recreation and the way I may also help the crew is my most vital factor.”
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The place can she enhance her recreation? “That's query,” she says, pausing for thought. “Getting that consistency. Once I get on the pitch, with the ability to be as efficient in minute one, even when that's the final minute of the sport, or if I'm beginning, getting that consistency from minute one to 90. Simply with the ability to have an effect on the sport from minute one to the tip.”
Has she deliberate a celebration for her first main match aim? “No,” she says. “I at all times used to seek out it fairly embarrassing. Once I did have fun I'd at all times look again and suppose it was actually cringe. So I chorus from celebrating. If it comes out, if it comes out. It's not pre-planned in any respect.”
