That Lionesses Podcast connected by EE episode seven features rising stars in the England squad, Khiara Keating and Michelle Agyemang.
They discuss getting the call from Sarina Wiegman, their excitement ahead of the EUROS and that insane first England goal for Michelle scored in the Nations League.
Talking about getting the call from Sarina
Harriet: It is an incredibly exciting time for you both, your first senior England call-ups for a tournament. How are you both feeling?
Michelle: I’m excited, I’m buzzing, obviously it’s first tournament for both of us, but yeah it’s surreal, I think
Harriet: Michelle, talk us through the moment Sarina called you because I really want to like, feel that. Ooh is there a story here?
Michelle: No no no. To be fair I think she just got back from the airport. It was a facetime, I didn’t know it was a facetime
Harriet: Did that stress you out?
Michelle: Yeah, because I just picked it up like it was a normal call
Harriet: Yes, I feel like you know a facetime means business, like when someone wants to facetime you it’s like
Michelle: Yeah. So I just picked it up and then I was just looking at the phone and I could see my face in the corner. I was like ohhh, so I actually had to proper look. Then she was like ‘how are you’, just stuff like that and she was still talking about how I was doing, like for 5 minutes and I was just nervous, like waiting to see what she would say, but in the end it was all good news and yeah just really happy I guess
Harriet: It must have felt amazing
Michelle: Yeah, yeah
Harriet: Also like slightly gut wrenching that you could see your face but she’s just chatting about the day and you’re like please just say it, please just say it either way
Michelle: She was just smiling in the screen, I was just like please hurry up
Harriet: Yeah, wrap it up. Um, Khiara, what about you? Where were you when Sarina called?
Khiara: I also didn’t know it was a facetime and I was literally tanning outside
Harriet: Really, you were just sunbathing?
Khiara: Yeah in a bikini top and all
Harriet: No, I am dead
Khiara: And then I answered and she was like I can’t see your face I can only see palm trees, I was like ah that’s it. And then I was like I’m so sorry I’m literally in a bikini
Harriet: That’s so funny, so you heard the news about going to the Euros in a bikini
Talking about Michelle’s inspirations in the team
Harriet: Michelle, you made your way through the England youth teams. When you first played with the seniors was there someone you looked up to? I mean you mentioned some of the players, but was there someone you looked up to and couldn’t believe you were training with?
Michelle: I guess at the time, even though I’d already seen her at club and stuff, just training with Less is amazing, she’s so skillful and has everything a striker wants. So it’s so nice to see that and learn and bounce off her on the pitch
Harriet: Have you taken any sort of skills, have you by osmosis, learnt anything?
Michelle: I don’t know, I think her movement is insane. Just her positioning both in the box and just on the pitch everywhere, so I try my best to replicate. But yeah, obviously we’re different types of strikers but it’s nice to see that and feed off what she does
Talking about Michelle’s first goal for England seniors
Harriet: Now Michelle, we cannot not discuss the incredible first goal a few months ago. It took you less than a minute on your England debut to get it through the goalposts. Can you believe that that actually happened?
Michelle: No, I think sometimes, I was literally watching it, like today
Harriet: Ah good, do you do that for inspiration?
Michelle: Yeah sometimes, so like sometimes I’m just like what, how did I do that. Like, probably if you asked me to go out and do it again now it just wouldn’t happen, so it’s just crazy to look back on it and believe that it happened, but I’m so grateful that it did
Harriet: Well, I can’t wait to see what’s to come. Khiara, we heard that before Michelle came on you were saying she was going to score
Khiara: Fraser is my witness. I swear I was like ‘Mich is going to come and she’s going to score’, and everyone was like ‘come on’
Michelle: Ah that’s not nice
Khiara: No, not like that. No but they thought like yeah, she’s just doing it because ‘you and Mich are close’. When she scored Fraser literally just had to like Khiara I was off over the staff, like I was off.
Talking about what they’re most excited about for the tournament
Harriet: What are you guys most excited about experiencing for the first time at a major tournament?
Khiara: Winning
Michelle: Yeah
Harriet: That’s the energy we’re looking for.
Khiara: But yeah I think like lifting the trophy I think that would be like a moment where we’d both be like, what on earth is going on here.
Harriet: Michelle, have any of your teammates who you’ve played with given you any advice that stuck out in particular for this one?
Michelle: I think just enjoying it, a lot of people have said that to me cos I think it’s not like a once in a lifetime opportunity, but kind of in a way like going into a major tournament and just being yeah around the team and like the way the women’s game has gone, it’s so massive now, so to be a part of that it’s invaluable so taking that and having fun.
Harriet: Yeah I mean it’s the only time that it’s going to be your first time.
Michelle: Yeah true
Harriet: So it is that once in a lifetime moment really. When you think about both of you representing England, what feeling comes to mind?
Michelle: I’d say pride I think to put that badge on and to know that you’re representing your country, and in this example at a major tournament.
Harriet: I love that
Khiara: Happiness I think. It’s everyone’s dream to play for England, play football in general so I think we’re just happy to be here and obviously just soak up everything.