Manchester City goalkeeper Sandy MacIver started her first league game for her new club against Reading the weekend and she now joins teammate Ellie Roebuck at the final Lionesses camp of 2022.
After missing out on a place in the England squad for the UEFA Women’s EURO in the summer, MacIver has travelled with the latest group to Spain for the November camp with a chance of being selected to feature against Japan and Norway in the upcoming friendly games.
FAWSL Full-Time heard from MacIver as the team prepared to start their journey to Spain.
“I’m really excited to be in camp,” MacIver said. “I never expect to be called in so when I do it’s a special feeling.
“I don’t get obsessed with if I’m going to be in the squad or not because at the end of the day, I’ve got to do a job at Manchester City. How I do there will probably determine if I get into the squad or not.”
As two of the three goalkeepers in the England squad come from Manchester City, MacIver has healthy competition for a starting spot for every game back at her club. This is something that she believes is very important for her development as a player.
She said “I found that when I was in America, I probably lacked that competition a bit and I didn’t progress as much as I would’ve liked to. Being back in England now, and working with Ellie (Roebuck) each day, it’s the best thing that could’ve happened. She’s such a good goalkeeper and I can’t afford to have an average day.”
Despite being in competition on the pitch for both club and country, off the pitch the pair are very close friends.
“We are lucky that we get on so well,” MacIver said. “I think a lot of people would find it a bit weird how good friends we are.
“A few weeks ago, we went out for dinner and it was nice for us to not talk about goalkeeping for once and just catch up as friends. For us, it’s important to have that good relationship.”
Despite the disappointment of not being selected for the EUROs, MacIver reflected on what has been a monumental year for women’s football.
She said “I think it’s been an incredible year for women’s football. The EUROs wasn’t only a catalyst for women’s sport but I think it shows how well women’s football has progressed. Looking back at 2022, I don’t think we could’ve written it better ourselves.”
Looking ahead to the future, there are added pressures for England who will be looking to retain the Arnold Clark Cup in February and win the inaugural Women’s Finalissima in April. The Lionesses will also head into the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 as European champions. After the somewhat slow growth of women’s football until recent years, MacIver believes that the expectancy on England can only be a good thing.
“More eyes are on the England Women’s football team but that’s what we want,” she said. “We don’t want to be a team that hides under the radar, we want to be a team that wins everything.
“By winning the EUROs, there is going to be that added pressure and expectation but we are still a while out from the World Cup and have two big games coming up.”
England take on Japan at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia on Friday before facing Norway at the same venue next Tuesday.
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