Karen Bardsley's time as an England goalkeeper appears to be over after Canada blunder
If this is Karen Bardsley’s final game for England, this was a horrible way for things to end.
At the age of 36, Bardsley’s recall to the squad was supposed to be her chance to reimpose herself and reclaim her place in the team.
Instead, she will leave fearing her international career may soon be over, her final memory as an England player a haunting one, caught in possession inside her own six-yard box to end any hope of England avoiding a ninth defeat in their last 13 games.
Given England’s interim manager had taken the unusual decision to pick four goalkeepers in the squad, it is fair to assume she wanted to compare and contrast.
Although whether this was a clever way to assess her options or merely a sign of the confusion that has plagued England in this department since the World Cup is open to debate.
England have looked unsure which direction to turn in goal for some time, rotating the jersey from one game to the next, unsure and unsettled. It has done nothing to ease their defensive troubles, adding to the sense of unease.
In Bardsley and Carly Telford, England have had two experienced goalkeepers, but they do not seem to know whether the time is right for the new generation to replace them.
Ellie Roebuck and Sandy McIver have arguably been performing far better at club level, and there are many who want to see them given a run of games, that rather than see them as the future, to accept they are the present too.
The problem is, nobody seems to know who is the best choice or what the plan is.
What we do know is it is highly unlikely England will move forward with Bardsley. The 36-year-old has been an excellent goalkeeper and was the undisputed first choice at the World Cup in 2019. The undisputed first choice at the World Cup in 2019. But this was her first appearance since the quarter-finals and it may well be her last.
Although she insisted last week that she still considered herself to be first choice, following her recall to the squad, it was probably wishful thinking even before the Canada defeat.
Although she is playing regularly again at club level, the problem is she was forced to go on loan to OL Reign because she had already been replaced at Manchester City by Roebuck. When your club have moved on with a younger player it is hard for your national team to resist doing the same.
England have rotated between Telford and Roebuck in her absence, and although neither is confident enough to say they have made the position their own, it would appear to be a straight battle between those two now.
Roebuck played against France, Telford started against Canada, before Bardsley replaced her at half-time. It was the fairest way to do things, perhaps, but it is time for some stability in goal, not more rotation and experimentation.
The defensive problems that have plagued England since the World Cup, and which were once again exposed in these back-to-back defeats to France and Canada, cannot have been helped by the constant changes in goal.
It is time to decide who is number one and stick with it. Defenders need to get used to the goalkeeper behind them so they can adjust their decision making accordingly.
Roebuck made some outstanding saves against France, despite conceding three and did the same when City were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona. She would appear to be the favourite, although Telford’s claim remains equally strong.
Despite the fact her first touch of the ball came when she retrieved it from the back of her own net, following a sloppy piece of defending from Demi Stokes, who was easily dispossessed by Evelyne Viens inside the area, Telford did nothing wrong before she was replaced at half time.
Indeed, the Chelsea keeper made a good save after that early goal, tipping a dangerous effort from Deanne Rose over the bar. She will still feel she deserves to be first choice.
Bardsley, though, will fear the worst after a shaky second-half display that only strengthened the view it is time to move on.
Having already flapped at an earlier cross, Lucy Bronze coming to the rescue, it was Bardsley’s blunder that gifted Canada a second late on, as she dallied on the ball, got her feet in a tangle and presented Nichelle Prince with a tap in. She deserves to be remembered for all the good things she has done in an England jersey rather than a mistake like this, but when it comes to picking her next squad, Hege Riise will not be able to look beyond it.
Whether it is Roebuck or Telford who succeeds Bardsley as England’s first-choice goalkeeper remains to be seen, but the time has come to make a decision and stick to it.
England's defence has much to improve on, but at least getting some consistency in goal will help them start.
