Saturday 4 July 2015 18:58, UK
Laura Bassett says she is still deeply hurting after her stoppage-time own goal ended England Women’s World Cup dream.
Speaking for the first time since turning into her own net right at the death of their semi-final against Japan, to lose 2-1, Bassett says the pain is still raw and admitted she wishes no-one knew her name.
Three Lions head coach Mark Sampson has confirmed the 31-year-old defender will start in Saturday’s third-place play-off against Germany and Bassett thanked the support of her teammates for being there “when it mattered the most”.
Bassett said: “Not a moment goes by that I don’t replay the moment.
“Talking about it brings back all the emotions. It’s still really raw. Even seeing everybody, the look in their faces, of my family, just reminds me that the dream of winning the World Cup is over.
“It just hurts so much. My heart sank. It’s the most horrendous feeling and I’d do anything to take the moment away.
“I was distraught and making a lot of noise. I’m not an emotional person; you’d never associate my name with crying in public or on national TV, but the emotion was overriding.
“I just can’t thank my teammates enough for being right by my side. They’ve been there all the way through the tournament and just when it mattered the most they were there for me again. I’m indebted to them."
Bassett will return to her club Notts County and the rest of the Women's Super League season when she returns to the UK and she also thanked the country for standing by her.
“To be honest I’d prefer no one to know Laura Bassett’s name. I’d prefer everyone to know Mark Sampson and Steph Houghton’s name and they be lifting that trophy," she said.
“But these being the circumstances that they are, I’m just so thankful that the country is supporting me.
“We came out here to inspire people and it’s incredible that people have fallen in love with the team. This is who we are, we just love pulling on the shirt and playing for everything that represents us in England.”
