July 21st 2023.
England captain Millie Bright is ready to lead her team out at the World Cup, as they open their campaign on Saturday in an unfamiliar position. In the past four major tournaments, they have reached the semi-finals but winning the Euros last summer has established them as serious contenders on the world stage.
The Lionesses are now justifiably seen as favourites for the World Cup, despite the fact that England are without four of their starters from last year’s final. Ellen White has retired, while Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, and Fran Kirby all suffer from ACL and knee injuries.
This means the side that lines up against Haiti on Saturday will look very different from the one that lifted the trophy at Wembley, however, it is a reflection of England’s strength and depth that their injury problems should not be considered insurmountable. Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, and Chloe Kelly, all Euros super-subs, will all have important roles to play.
Millie Bright, an experienced player, has been named captain in Williamson’s absence, while younger players such as Lauren James will be given the chance to refresh the squad. Chloe Kelly also has a crucial role to play at the World Cup.
The Lionesses have to deal with the expectations that come from being tournament winners, something they have not done before. Fortunately, manager Sarina Wiegman knows what that feels like, as she headed to the 2019 World Cup as a 2017 Euro champion and coached her Netherlands team all the way to the final.
The England team have also been forced to deal with negotiations with the Football Association in the lead-up to the tournament. The Lionesses were unhappy about how bonuses would be paid out, as it was implied that for the first time in Women’s World Cup history, Fifa would be offering direct payments to players based on their performance.
The FA took this as relieving it of its obligation to pay players bonuses itself, in contrast to teams like the US who will receive both direct bonuses from Fifa and their federation. The FA also limited the time period for which players were permitted to participate in commercial opportunities, restricting their earning potential.
Regardless, England had to put discussions on hold ahead of the start of the tournament, but expressed ‘disappointment’ at the way conversations had gone. This leaves a bitter taste, as the FA have repeatedly undervalued the team in the past.
Now, the focus must be on what lies ahead. England’s group is not overly tough, but not without potential banana skins either. Getting off to a confident start will be key, as beyond the group stages lies a tricky potential knockout stage.
Sarina Wiegman needs to sette on her starting XI and end the drought of only one goal in their last four games. Haiti offer a perfect opportunity to do so, and to provide England with a confident start.
Finally, the discussion on whether England count as favourites should no longer revolve around who isn’t in Australia, but instead look at who is. This team remain a talented one, and with the right preparation they can do great things.
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