ENGLAND’S Lionesses kick off their World Cup bid on Saturday with an opening match against Haiti.
The European champions will be looking to do the double and take home football’s biggest prize.
Some big names are missing from the team – notably captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out of the tournament in April after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
Her Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead has the same injury, while Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby underwent knee surgery.
But it’s paved the way for some new faces – and their loved ones will be spurring them on along with the rest of the nation.
Here we take a look at the BAPs – that’s boyfriends and partners – cheering on Sarina Wiegman’s squad as the competition in Brisbane, Australia gets underway.
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Chloe Kelly
Chloe, 25, from Hanwell, west London was hailed a hero when she scored the winning goal in the 110th minute in the Euros final against Germany, after coming off the bench.
The Manchester City forward – who recently posed in her underwear for a stunning Calvin Klein ad – is dating Scott Moore, a greenkeeper at a golf club.
The couple – often seen in loved-up snaps on Instagram – have been together for four years and share a cute cockapoo called Otis.
After England’s Euros victory Scott was seen wearing an England shirt with his girlfriend’s name emblazoned on the back.
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Ella Toone
Awkwardly for Man Utd player Ella, 23, her proud boyfriend Joe Bunney, 29, is a devoted City fan.
But he’s his girlfriend’s “biggest cheerleader”, with a source previously telling The Sun: “Ella and Joe are very much in love and have been together for a while now.
“They are both from Manchester and have mutual friends who introduced them. Those who know them think they are the perfect pairing.”
Joe, who has two children from a previous relationship, is also a footballer, having played for EFL clubs including Bolton, Northampton Town and then-League side Rochdale. He currently plays for Stalybridge Celtic.
Millie Bright
Chelsea defender and England captain Millie, 29, is currently dating American performance-enhancing coach Levi Crew.
The couple went ‘Instagram official’ with their relationship in October 2020, with Millie calling Levi her “rock and best buddy”.
She upgraded him to her “king” in a message marking his 30th birthday in 2021.
It’s not known how they met, but Millie often shares romantic snaps of them holidaying together – and recently posted an Instagram tribute praising his coaching skills.
Alex Greenwood
Man City fullback Alex, 29, is known as the glamour puss of the Lionesses, who’s “very big into her heels, her dresses and her eyelashes” according to teammate Jordan Nobbs.
She is dating fellow footballer Jack O’Connell, 32, who plays for Sheffield united.
The couple both grew up in Merseyside and are childhood sweethearts, having met at Savio Salesian College in Bootle.
Bethany England
As classic example of nominative determinism, Beth England, 29, worked night shifts in a chippy while playing semi-pro before hitting the big time with Chelsea and getting a call up to the national squad.
She now plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and is in a relationship with footballer Stephanie Williams, 30.
The pair are believed to have met through the beautiful game and recently enjoyed a luxurious cruise holiday together.
Though Stephanie does have to share Beth with their beloved pair of Golden Retrievers – Buddy and Dilys.
Jess Carter
Chelsea player Jess, 25, has been in a relationship with her teammate Ann-Katrin Berger since 2017, after meeting when she joined Birmingham City in 2016.
When they met for the first time, Ann-Katrin, 32 – the national goalkeeper for Germany – admitted: “I thought she was arrogant, but as I got to know her, I became drawn into her character.”
The glam pair, who live together in London, recently posed on the green carpet together at the FIFA Football Awards.
Ann-Katrin – who beat cancer twice – is also heading to the World Cup, meaning the two women could face each other.
But it’s likely to cause no drama between them, with Jess telling The Guardian last year: “There wasn’t really any direct competition [during the Euros] because we are both really chilled people.”
Georgia Stanway
Georgia, a midfielder for Bayern Munich, is believed to be in a long-term relationship with rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott.
With Olly, 25, playing in France for Toulouse Olympique, the couple are used to long-distance – but he was there to cheer her on at Wembley when England lifted the Euros trophy.
He wore an England shirt with her name on the back and said afterwards: “I’m just so glad that I got the chance to go see her.
“I hadn’t caught an England game before because our fixtures didn’t align… I was buzzing and so happy for her and the team.
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“It sounds weird but it feels like I played in it myself. Because we’re so close, I think I got the same feeling as her – maybe not quite as much but I still feel like I won as well. And sharing moments like that with her is just incredible for me.”
The couple, who have a house in Widnes, Cheshire, both enjoy fishing in their spare time and share a chocolate brown cockapoo.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
