Queens of the Continent

A Group G interview with the South Africa midfielder, whose first months at Glasgow City ended in an SWPL title decided on the final day, her pass setting up Lauren Davidson’s stoppage-time winner at Ibrox. Motlhalo arrives at a second World Cup off the back of South Africa’s first Africa Cup of Nations title, won in Morocco, and remembers being numb with shaking knees before converting a 94th-minute semi-final penalty against Zambia. She talks about carrying more responsibility now than as the squad’s youngster, about adjusting to Glasgow accents and to weekly artificial pitches, and about wanting a coach who is simply honest. Facing Sweden first, she casts her team as underdogs who play with freedom.