The Ballon d’Or ceremony could have been “a little better planned”, regretted the English international Georgia Stanway, unable to go to the gala like three other vice-world champions, Monday, on the eve of a match played with the “Lionesses”. “It’s a shame we can’t be there,” said the England and Bayern Munich midfielder at a press conference, before facing Belgium on Tuesday in the Nations League. “If the event had been planned a little better, it might have been easier for many female footballers to take part.” The 24-year-old is among the players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, awarded Monday in Paris, along with her compatriots Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Rachel Daly. They discussed it among themselves, Stanway added, “and we just said it would be nice in the future if it wasn’t on the eve of a game, so we could enjoy the experience.”
Not being able to come to the Châtelet theater, where the ceremony will be held, is frustrating “because it is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You never know if you will be selected for such an award again, so it would be really nice to enjoy the experience, to be there and to feel like a star among stars.” Spain, the reigning world champion, faces Switzerland on Tuesday. Midfielder Aitana Bonmatis favorite to succeed her teammate in the selection and at Barça, Alexia Putellas.