Daly retires from England duty

Rachel Daly

Daly participated in three games during the previous year's global soccer championship.

Rachel Daly, the forward for Aston Villa and England, has decided to retire from playing in international football.

The individual, who is 32 years old and has participated in 84 matches, was a member of the England team that emerged victorious in Euro 2022.

She was brought in as a replacement towards the end of Tuesday's Euro 2025 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, which ended in a 2-0 win.

Daly expressed his strong desire to continue playing for England indefinitely, but he acknowledged that it is time to retire from international play.

Although today is posing to be quite challenging for me, it's also a moment of deep pondering and immense thankfulness. Being able to be a part of the England team and representing them has been a great honor.

In 2016, Daly played her first game for England against Serbia and managed to score one of her 16 goals.

She initiated every match of their games during Euro 2022, which resulted in them clinching their first significant championship.

The boss of the English team, Sarina Wiegman, stated that she has never collaborated with a player who can adapt to different roles so well. This person is always in a positive mood, exuding enthusiasm and putting in effort to help the team achieve their goals.

Rachel has played a vital role in our journey and the legacy we have built as a team. We have felt honored to collaborate with her.

Daly, a footballer who has played in both defense and offense positions for the English team, made an appearance in the World Cup final last summer. Spain emerged victorious with a 1-0 score.

She expressed that it was a huge privilege for her to stand for her family, colleagues and the whole nation.

Throughout my experience with England, there are numerous amazing recollections that have shaped my time there.

Being victorious in the Euros and later on making it to the World Cup finals brought about a significant transformation in my life. It altered not just my career as a football player, but also my personal growth.

"I feel really lucky that I have had the opportunity to share my experiences with many exceptional individuals during the course of my journey."

Daly declared her intention to remain as the foremost supporter of England, but acknowledged that it was time for the younger athletes to take the lead.

Leah Williamson, the captain of England, expressed her admiration for a fellow player both on and off the field. She described this person as exceptional, stating that words alone cannot fully capture her talents as a player and as a person. Williamson also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have played alongside her one final time.

Lucy Bronze, who plays for England's defense, expressed her admiration by stating, "You have earned every moment of representing England in your jersey."

Kay Cossington, the technical director for the Women's Football Association, expressed that it's incredibly challenging to convey the immense impact Rachel had on the Lionesses in simple words.

"She is an outstanding person who has contributed greatly to the England team, both on the field and in other aspects of the team's operations."

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Although Daly hasn't been the main focus, he has managed to achieve great success during his time playing for England.

She has been an incredible asset for England due to her ability to adapt to playing different positions. Despite primarily playing as a striker for her club team, she has also been employed as a defender for most of her international career. However, this versatility may have also limited her personal development.

Last season, Daly won two big awards: PFA Players' Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner in the Women's Super League. However, she is not as high up in the selection for the England team as the other players, Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp, who are both ahead of her for the number nine position.

Maybe her growing eagerness to play as a forward instead of the usual position of a full-back, which she has frequently played in, has caused her unexpected decision to retire from international football.

During the Euro 2025 qualifiers held this month, Daly did not get to play but was named as a substitute in the match against Sweden which ended in a 1-1 draw. Later on, in the game against the Republic of Ireland, Daly came on to the field as a substitute in the 86th minute.

According to sources, she revealed her intention to retire to her fellow team members after their recent win. Beforehand, she had a discussion with the manager, Wiegman, to inquire about plans for the team going forward.

However, even though Daly has been playing fewer minutes recently, he has consistently demonstrated his importance as a crucial player for England in significant events.

Although she will be dearly missed, England has a plethora of talented players on their current squad. Meanwhile, Daly can concentrate on her club football career where she plays an essential role for Villa.

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