Scotland star Cuthbert hopes Chelsea performances will help her land a Team GB spot
ERIN CUTHBERT hopes helping Chelsea bag a quadruple will nab her a place in Hege Riise’s squad for the Tokyo Olympics.
And the Blues ace told the BBC it would be a dream to play for Team GB’s women’s team at the games this year.
Cuthbert, 22, whose club will play London City Lionesses in the Women’s FA Cup, was reflecting on watching North Korea defeat Colombia in the first match played at the London 2012 games.
And the midfielder, who has 36 senior Scotland caps, says winning a Team GB spot, the Champions League, FA Cup and WSL title would be the perfect round-off to this term.
Cuthbert told BBC Scotland: "I never thought I would have the opportunity to be selected.
"I know it would be an amazing journey and experience, but at the same time, I am focused on Chelsea.
“I want to win the league, I want to win the FA Cup and I want to win the Champions League.
"I am living the dream without a doubt. It is a little bit of a fairytale."
Cuthbert, who moved to Chelsea in 2017 after spending 2015 to 2016 at Glasgow City, has made 16 WSL appearances this term, netting once and providing six assists.
Her club side have already bagged one piece of silverware winning the Conti Cup trophy this term.
And the midfield star, whose father hails from Northern Ireland, says the Euros qualifying success of Kenny Shiels' side made her reflect on the heartbreak of Scotland missing out on a place in the 2022 tournament.
The Women’s European Championship hopes of Cuthbert and her national team-mates were ended following a 1-0 loss to Finland.
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Their opponents, who went on to qualify for the contest, scored a stoppage-time goal at Scotland’s turf at Easter Round in December 2020.
Cuthbert added: "My dad is Northern Irish, so he is a little bit happy.
"I'm delighted for them, it's an incredible achievement, but it is gut-wrenching that we had such a good team and we are not going to be at the tournament. I'm jealous.
"We have not had a debrief. I can't put my finger on it, but there were a catalogue of things - we dominated games against Portugal and Finland but just couldn't score and we have to put that right."
Putting things right on the pitch against Europe’s top clubs is something Cuthbert and Emma Hayes' other players aim to do in the Champions League campaign this term.
The Chelsea star was part of the Blues team beaten by Lyon in the semis two years ago and is determined to see her side progress beyond that stage this season.
It’s an ambition shared by Kingsmeadow boss Hayes, 44, with her WSL title holders looking to become the first English side to reach a Women’s Champions League final since Arsenal in 2007.
Cuthbert added: "I've experienced the heartache of being so close and not reaching the final, so I know what it feels like.
“I'll remember that and I don't want to experience that again."
The final 18-strong squad set to represent Great Britain in the women’s football tournament at the Olympics is due to be announced in May.
Four extra players will be invited to travel to Tokyo as reserves.
Players, who can be chosen from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will be coached by Hege Riise at the games.
The Norway-born coach, 51, was part of a Norwegian side who won gold at the Sydney 2000 games by dispatching tournament favourites the USA with an extra time golden goal.
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Riise’s Team GB players will compete in a 12-team tournament in Tokyo taking place from 21 July to August 6.
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