TESSEL MIDDAG: Growing women’s football, full time contracts, and Lucy Bronze’s broken leg! | EP40 - The Unused Subs

Dutch international and injured Wellington Phoenix footballer TESSEL MIDDAG joins The Unused Subs today, but not before the boys talk about Oli Sail’s unfortunate injury for Auckland FC, Bill Tuiloma’s horrible error for the Nix, and debate which kiwi will be promoted to the Premier League from the EFL Championship - Marko Stamenic, Tyler Bindon, Max Crocombe, or Libby Cacace?When Tessel arrives on the scene, she reviews the biggest road win in Wellington Phoenix Women history, 5-1 over the Newcastle Jets… with Paul Ifill bragging about Pia Vlok’s insane hattrick.  After all, he did tweet about her a few months ago, telling us she’d be amazing!Tessel speaks about recovering from her 3rd ACL injury, with surgery some 6 weeks behind her now.  Being a long way from home, she tells us how she’s keeping busy, not only through rehab but by assisting the team with video analysis and offering plenty of advice to the young kiwis at the Phoenix.The conversation shifts to what can be done to elevate the Women’s A-League, and the difficulties many players face when their football salary isn’t enough to cover the bills at home, meaning additional work is required to function in the real world.  But at what cost to their football?  Or even their other job??  Being stretched too thin can’t be good for either…  and then there’s the mental strain placed on the athlete as well. And having played with so many rockstars of the women’s game, we get Tessel to reveal her Four X’s with Collinson Forex - spoiler alert, Lucy Bronze makes the cut, and did you know she played Euros on a broken leg?!  So much more resilient than Iffy, who injured himself during a goal celebration!  Be sure to watch to the end to see the results of that!FOLLOW THE UNUSED SUBS!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theunusedsubs/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theunusedsubsKiwis talk football too!#football #soccer #newzealand