In 2022, Beth Mead finished runner-up in the Ballon d'Or Feminin, just a few months after being named as the Women's Euro 2022 player of the tournament as she scored six goals while leading England to glory in the tournament.
However, just a year before lifting the Euro 2022 trophy, temporary England and Team GB manager Hege Riise had left her out of the Team GB Olympic Games 2020 squad, suggesting her playing style was too aggressive to be selected.
Understandably, this hurt Mead. Speaking to FourFourTwo in the latest issue available to order, Mead says she had thoughts she "hated" while the Games were on, her feelings conflicted on how she wanted the team to perform.
She indicated this was a normal reaction for a player in her situation to be feeling, though, it's just whether or not they're happy to admit it.
“I found it very hard, because I hated the thoughts I was having while the Olympics were being played,” the 27-year-old told FourFourTwo. “I wanted the girls to do well, but I also didn’t, because of Hege [who had dropped her from the GB squad for being 'too aggressive'].
“I found myself thinking thoughts I never thought I would. But I feel most players in that position would think exactly the same; it’s just whether they admit it or not.
"Reflecting on it now, how I felt was quite normal under the circumstances. There was no malice towards anyone else who was part of that team. But it was tough.”
Team GB ended their group stage in the Olympics with seven points, comfortably earning themselves progression to the knockout stage. Mead's admission of bittersweet feelings towards the squad centres on the fact she hadn't been selected in the team, but had still played with the majority of the players at either club or international level.
Ultimately, Team GB were knocked out in the quarter-finals in a thrilling 4-3 encounter against Australia, which they lost in extra time.
Fortunately, with Mead a part of the squad, the English players from that team managed to bounce back a year later and win Euro 2022 at Wembley, securing their legacy within English football.
Beth Mead's new book Lioness: My Journey to Glory is out now and available to order.
