Tuesday 30 June 2015 08:04, UK
Geraint Hughes meets the two England defenders who have been key during the run to the Women's World Cup semi-finals.
Only twice has any senior England’s side reached a World Cup semi-Final.
I probably don’t need to tell you the first came in 1966 and it was 1990 that it last happened.
So who were the central defensive partnerships for those semis? That’s not difficult surely? In ’66, it was the man Pele described as the best defender he had ever played against - Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton was his partner. Not bad at all.
In 1990, after some tweaks during the group stages Bobby Robson went for a three-man central defensive unit. Terry Butcher, Des Walker and Mark Wright. Again far from shabby.
So to 2015 and what is proving to be the heart of England’s defence at Canada 2015 in more ways than one is captain Steph Houghton and her central partner Laura Bassett.
If you can think of two characters that are completely different yet complement one another than perhaps these two fit that mould.
Houghton, the captain who leads by example by putting her body on the line, giving her pep-talk during the team huddle seconds before kick-off where she wags her finger and reminds everyone of their job, but is actually quite a shy and reserved character off the field and then Bassett, older in age and experience, who uses her wisdom to great effect. Not in awe of her captain, just respectful, so feels if she has to she will wave her arms, bark orders and generally get her point across she will do.
Get the two together away from the football pitch and considering a World Cup semi-final is almost upon them, they are great fun. Hilarious in fact as I asked a question who’s the bossier of the two? The captain, yes the captain nervously points a finger at Laura Bassett.
Bassett sees the finger pointing at her and roars with laughter – but has to agree; “yeah I suppose I do wave my arms around a lot and I talk a lot, but it’s the way I am. I’m vocal on the pitch.”
Houghton, who is probably one of the politest people you could meet, is struggling to hide laughter as her centre-back partner is being forced to admit she might be a little loud on the pitch. Houghton responded; “Bas probably does make a bit more noise, but we kind of know what each other is doing. During this tournament, it’s become natural. I know where she is going to be and for me if I’m going in for a challenge I know she has my back, I don’t have to think about it.”
They could be a double act on the stage. So different, yet alike, laughing with one another, bouncing off each other. I’ll admit the interview or more like a chat I’m having with them is no Frost/Nixon, but that’s not the plan. Houghton and Bassett, like Morecambe and Wise... Sort of.
What if it goes wrong on the pitch? What if one makes a mistake? How does the other let it be known? Easy, Houghton explained: “I won’t shout at her, I won’t do that. We would just look at one another and we would know. We don’t need 5 people and the analysts to tell us, we would know right away. It’s a quick look and that won’t happen again.” Bassett just laughed: “I might say something!” On she went though; “I’m hugely respectful of Steph, it’s not a question of having to tell her something, we would both know. We’d say something and it would be done.”
What is really nice and all I can say from my perspective is that being able to speak these two players in a relaxed environment away from football, they come across as human beings.
We chatted about missing family and boyfriends, going to coffee shops for a change of scene and a chance to talk about things other than football which has been greatly encouraged it appears by the management.
Bassett spoke about being enthralled by her box sets of ‘Scandal’, For Houghton, it is just the escape of football for five minutes that does her the power of good. They aren’t room mates, but they are England’s centre backs, they are England’s engine room, they are England’s heart and soul.
So what irritates them most about each other? Houghton’s first to respond; “when she shouts at me!” Bassett quick as a flash; “when she doesn’t listen to me!” Cue more raucous laughter. With those two, England, even if they lose against Japan, will – to quote that often used footballing cliché - leave nothing out on the pitch. In this case, I believe it to be true.
