Blues to battle it out at Tokyo Olympics

Emma Hayes will welcome part of the Chelsea Women squad back to Cobham next week for pre-season training ahead of the new season, but there will be some notable absentees with a number of Blues instead stepping up their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.

Eleven Blues will represent their countries at the Olympics later this month, with Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden and Australia all featuring Chelsea players.The Barclays FA Women’s Super League is set to return in just under two months, but with our complete Olympics guide below, you can get an early sight at our players in action in Tokyo later this month.

Group E

Millie Bright, Niamh Charles, Sophie Ingle, Fran Kirby and Carly Telford will meet fellow Blue Jessie Fleming in Group E. Team GB will take on Chile in their opening game of the Olympics, while Canada will begin their campaign against Japan.Japan will then be the opponents for Team GB in their second group stage game and Canada will face Chile. The final group game will see Bright, Charles, Ingle, Kirby and Telford come up against Fleming on Tuesday 27 July.Wednesday 21 July - Great Britain v Chile KO 8.30am (UK time)Wednesday 21 July – Japan v Canada KO 11.30am (UK time)Saturday 24 July - Japan v Great Britain KO 11.30am (UK time)Saturday 24 July – Chile v Canada KO 8.30am (UK time)Tuesday 27 July - Canada v Great Britain KO 12pm (UK time)

Group F

New signing Aniek Nouwen will join up with her new teammates after the Olympics but prior to pre-season with the Blues, the defender will be hoping to help her national side achieve glory in Tokyo.The Netherlands will first face Zambia before taking on Brazil and will complete their group stage fixtures against China.Wednesday 21 July – Zambia v Netherlands KO 12pm (UK time)Saturday 24 July – Netherlands v Brazil KO 12pm (UK time)Tuesday 27 July – Netherlands v China KO 12.30pm (UK time)

Group G

In group G, Sweden international’s Andersson, Eriksson and Musovic will be facing Blues forward Sam Kerr and her fellow Matildas. Sweden face a tough opener against United States and Australia will take on New Zealand in their opening fixture.The four players will then come up against each other in the second group game as Sweden and Australia battle it out on Saturday 24 July.Andersson, Eriksson and Musovic will then be hoping to feature in their final group game against New Zealand, while captain Kerr could lead her side out for their final group stage clash with the USA.

Wednesday 21 July – Sweden v United States KO 9.30am (UK time)Wednesday 21 July – Australia v New Zealand KO 12.30pm (UK time)Saturday 24 July – Sweden v Australia KO 9.30am (UK time)Tuesday 27 July – New Zealand v Sweden KO 9am (UK time)Wednesday 27 July – United States v Australia 9am (UK time)