by Beth Mead says the Euro 2022 Golden Boot isn’t something she’s been thinking about, as the in-form winger is simply focused on “enjoying my football”.
Mead continued his fine international scoring run on Wednesday with the only goal of the match as hosts England opened the European Championship with a 1-0 victory over Austria at Old Trafford.
It was the 15th Lionesses goal for Mead since boss Sarina Wiegman took charge of the team last September.
England’s Jodie Taylor won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017, scoring five goals, and Ellen White, first on the team’s all-time goalscoring list with 50, was joint top scorer at the 2019 World Cup with six. .
Asked if he was aiming for the Golden Boot this summer, Mead said: “I don’t think it’s something I’ve thought about.
“There are some incredible goal scorers in this competition. I just want to enjoy my football and hopefully the goals will come, or the assists, or whatever”.
The 27-year-old, who has scored 23 goals in 40 caps overall, added: “I was kidding, telling Ellen that I’m after her! I’m happy to score goals for the team, and the goal (against Austria) was great.”
Mead’s goal came when she controlled a pass from Fran Kirby in the 16th minute and lifted the ball over her Arsenal team-mate Manuela Zinsberger.
Carina Wenninger attempted to intervene, kicking a clearance attempt off the crossbar, before match officials later confirmed that the ball had crossed the line and the effort would stand.
It caused a huge rumble around the stadium, which had a competition-record crowd of 68,871 in attendance, with Mead saying of the noise: “It was crazy.
“I think he was a bit late, waiting for the clock to make a noise or vibrate, but it was amazing the noise around the stadium when he entered.”
Asked when she had felt so nervous before a game like Wednesday, Mead said: “Probably at Wembley, the first time I played against Germany (in 2019). I just think it was the occasion, a little bit of expectation: as soon as I was on the field, I was fine.
“It’s a long day of waiting sometimes when it’s the eight o’clock start, so you get in your own head a little bit. But I loved every minute of it. You feel that way (the nerves) because you care and you want to do well, it’s not a bad thing.”
Wiegman, whose next sold-out Group A match for the team is Monday’s clash with Norway at the Amex Stadium, spoke after the Austria game that it was “so important” to have had a winning start to the campaign, while highlighted the team. can perform better.
Mead said: “You can’t always win well and it wasn’t our best performance. But we go to training camp, we learn from him.”
Fellow winger Lauren Hemp said: “She (Wiegman) was obviously pleased with the result, it’s important that we get the win. She said that there are many things that we need to improve on, and we are aware of that. As players, we take responsibility for that and will make sure to get it ready for Monday.
“There’s still a lot more to come from this team.”
England are among the favorites to win what Hemp feels is an “open tournament”.
The 21-year-old Manchester City player added: “There are so many favorites or teams aiming to win. It’s exciting to watch, and that’s important for women’s football to grow.”
England will have to plan in the short term without Lotte Wubben-Moy after the Arsenal defender tested positive for Covid-19.
Wubben-Moy, an unused substitute on Wednesday, has left the squad and hopes to return in due course.
A statement from the team read: “Lotte Wubben-Moy has tested positive for Covid and has returned home. She will be monitored regularly with a view to returning to camp as soon as possible.”
