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      Inside the life of England star Ella Toone and her non-league footballer boyfriend who awkwardly supports her rivals

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      WHEN ELLA Toone takes to the field for the Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup, expect no one to cheer louder than supportive boyfriend, Joe Bunney.However, when it comes to club football – Joe supports the Man Utd star’s bitter rivals.
      Man Utd star Ella Toone will be leading the charge for England’s Lionesses at the World CupCredit: Getty
      Boyfriend Joe Bunney is her biggest supporterCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en
      However, non-league footballer Joe is a devout Man City fanCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en
      Bunney, 29, is a non-league footballer, who stars for Stalybridge Celtic.
      He’s also a devout Manchester City fan, who was spotted cheering on Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League final.
      Her job and his love of City makes for an awkward romance.
      How they met
      Ella and Joe kept their romance largely out of the limelight.
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      But when the 23-year-old became a Euros winner in 2022, they were catapulted to fame.
      They reportedly met through mutual pals, and were spotted enjoying a romantic break away in Ibiza shortly after she tasted success at Wembley.
      A source told 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 is Ella’s biggest cheerleader and he could not have been more proud to watch her lifting the trophy at the Euros.”
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      The source added: “They keep their love life out of the spotlight usually but Joe couldn’t resist joining Ella in Ibiza to celebrate with her.”
      Both footballers
      Not only do they share a Manchester connection, the pair understand each other’s business.
      They are both footballers. Joe, who has two children from a previous relationship, has played for EFL clubs including Rochdale and Northampton Town.
      Loved-up couple Ella and Joe met through mutual palsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en
      Both Joe and Ella come from ManchesterCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en
      Primarily a left-sided defender, this month he signed for Stalybridge Celtic, following loan spells at Ashton United and Marine last season.
      Attacking midfielder Toone began her career with Blackburn Rovers, before she had a short spell at Man City.
      In 2018, she moved to the club she supported all her life – Man Utd.
      She has since become one of the leading lights of WSL, as well as an England international.
      Her fame has usurped his, as she once revealed whenever she goes to his games she is asked for autographs.
      Ella told The Times: “Whenever I go to Joe’s games, the amount of lads who come over to me is mad and that is what really makes me smile.
      “I stand there a lot of the time with my hood up, trying to watch, but they’ll say, ‘Are you Ella Toone of United? Can I have a picture?’
      “Obviously, the boost for young girls who want to play football over the last year has been brilliant and we will always keep fighting for them.
      Joe played for RochdaleCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Ella is an England international and helped the Lionesses win the Euros last yearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      “Joe’s pathway was not easy. It’s hard to have a professional career as a man because there are so many boys who want to play.
      “But I definitely think young women will have to fight harder and so for young lads to recognise that women can play is amazing. It was funny.
      “There were so many people who were hanging around outside at 11pm the other night. I said, ‘Come on. You’ve got school in the morning. Then one girl said, ‘It’s only French!’ I said, ‘Ok, leave it then’ and we had a photo.”
      Rivalry
      Although they are supportive towards each other when it comes to their careers, when it comes to their footballing allegiances… well, it’s awkward.
      While Ella is a Man Utd hero, Joe is a Man City super fan.
      The 6ft5in lad travelled to Istanbul with his pals to cheer on Pep Guardiola’s side as they clinched a historic treble.
      Joe snapped a photo with his mates with the Atatürk Olympic Stadium pitch in the background, as City’s stars lifted the trophy,
      He captioned the photo: “WOW .. TREBLE SCENESSSSS !! WE DID IT 🏆🏆🏆.. What A Team 😍💙”
      Earlier in the season, Bunney also made his BBC Manchester debut co-commentating on a City game at the Etihad.
      He shared the moment on Instagram with a video, which drew comment from Toone.
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      She wrote: “Smashed it ! Proud of you ❤️”
      However, you can be sure she wasn’t cheering on the Cityzens.
      Joe cheered on Pep Guardiola’s side as they won a historic TrebleCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en
      Despite a City and United rivalry, Joe and Ella make their romance workCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joebunney/?hl=en More

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      Have England Women’s team ever won the World Cup?

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      ENGLAND have their eye on winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup – as one of the favourites to do so.The Lionesses secured their spot in the finals with Sarina Wiegman’s side going unbeaten throughout qualifying.
      Sarina Wiegman is hoping to guide England to World Cup gloryCredit: PA
      They looked unstoppable, scoring on average eight goals per game without conceding.
      But the huge tournament could produce some twist and turns along the way.
      Have England ever won the World Cup before?
      Unlike the England Men’s team, the Lionesses have never secured World Cup glory.
      England have participated seven times in the iconic tournament which started in 1991 – only reaching the semi-finals twice.
      Read more on Women’s world cup
      However, after England’s Euros win, the Lionesses are considered one of the favourites to go all the way.
      But they will face tough competition from the current holders USA who will be looking to retain their title.
      England Women won the EurosCredit: PA
      When and where is the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

      England’s first game will be against Haiti on Saturday, July 22.
      It is scheduled to kick of at 10:30am BST.
      The World Cup will get underway from Friday, July 21 and concludes on August 20.
      New Zealand and Australia are joint hosts for the 2023 World Cup. More

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      Georgia Stanway jokes about turning off phone if England set up World Cup quarters clash with Germany

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      GEORGIA STANWAY’S Bayern Munich switch has made her more of a leader on and off the pitch despite describing her German as “terrible”. The midfielder, 24,  joked she may have to give her Germany pals’ a swerve at the World Cup should England face them in the quarters this summer.
      Georgia Stanway says her leadership role at Bayern was unexpected but a boostCredit: Getty
      Stanway’s move to the club has helped her develop on and off the pitch ahead of the World CupCredit: Getty
      Stanway notched up six league goals and three assists in 21 games for Bayern who won last term’s Women’s Bundesliga titleCredit: EPA
      The Lionesses are ramping up preparations for their Group D opener against Haiti after arriving in Australia last Friday for the tournament there and in New Zealand.
      The July 23 clash comes 15 months after Stanway’s three-year Bayern transfer which followed her becoming Man City Women’s all-time leading scorer last January. 
      The England star, who spent seven years at City, said: “I’ve developed so much on and off the pitch (going to Bayern).
      “I have a leadership role which I never expected to happen in such a short space of time
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      “The biggest thing is I do a lot more with my team-mates.
      “I don’t know if this is something I’ve just grown into but I was never the most sociable outside of football. 
      “We do so much outside of the game as a team and that has made us stronger on the pitch which is really important.”
      Whilst loving life in Germany Stanway is currently getting to grips with the language. 
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      Attempts to buy a kitchen using German has proved to be both an amusing and mildly tricky experience.
      The Lioness, who signed for Bayern last May, added: “I moved to an apartment that didn’t have a kitchen so I waited another month for one. 
       “I had to ask people to come with me to buy it 
      “Because it was a little bit difficult and because of the language barrier and things being different – trying to find a shop that sold kitchens was a nightmare! 
      “But you have to ask for help.”
      When asked how her learning of German is going, Stanway joked: “Terrible!
      “I have two lessons a week and my teacher keeps saying ‘it’s going to click, it’s going to click’ but nearly 12 months in and there’s no click yet.”
      Stanway’s first Bayern term saw her help them lift their fifth Women’s Bundesliga title in May. 
      But the midfielder admits experiencing a dip away from the pitch following the highs of her transfer and winning the Euros with England. 
      Stanway, who received her 50th England cap in June, said: “Everything was new so it was all just exciting and the season’s busy enough. 
      “In Germany you have a winter break and that’s when I kind of had my dip.
      “I was supposed to meet Keira in Barcelona for New Year but I didn’t even make it because I was just that tired. 
      “There’s an expectation that you should be on top of your game all the time.
      “Allowing people to have days off and that little dip is so important.”
      Bayern Munich ace Lina Magull is among the Germany players England might face should both sides reach the World Cup quarter-finalsCredit: Getty
      Stanway’s club colleagues include Germany stars Klara Buhl, 22,  and Lina Magull, 28.
      The latter was part of the team beaten 2-1 by England with Stanway amongst the standout stars in last year’s Euros decider.
      Should the Lionesses top Group D and best Group B’s runners-up, a quarter-final clash with Germany awaits. 
      The beaten Euros finalists suffered a shock 3-2 warm-up loss to Zambia on Saturday before their opener against Morocco in 14 days.
      Stanway reckons she will have to switch off her phone if England end up facing Germany in the World Cup this summerCredit: Getty
      Stanway reckons she will have to avoid contact with her Bayern pals if England were to end up facing Germany in the contest.
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      She added: “We could meet them in the quarters if things go to plan. That could be interesting.
      “I’ll probably have to stay off my phone that week!” More

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      Who is England football star Chloe Kelly?

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      CHLOE Kelly is a professional footballer who plays as a forward.Here we take a look at the attacking star’s stellar career.
      Credit: Getty
      Who is England football star Chloe Kelly?
      Chloe Maggie Kelly is a 25-year-old professional footballer from Hanwell, West London.
      She plays in the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) for Manchester City and the English national team.
      When did Chloe Kelly start playing football for England?
      Kelly has represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels. Her first appearance for the youth national football team came in the 2014 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship in England, where the team finished in fourth.
      Chloe made her debut for the senior national side as a substitute in a 3-0 friendly win over Austria in August 2018.
      Read more on Chloe Kelly
      She was selected for the England squad for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, which was held in England in June 2022.
      Kelly came off the bench and scored the winning goal against Germany in the 110th minute of the final of the competition, moments later receiving a yellow card for taking her shirt off and swinging it around her head.
      On May 31 2023 the striker was named as part of the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      How long has Chloe Kelly played for Manchester City and what other teams has he played for?
      Chloe signed a two-year deal with Manchester City, which was announced on July 3 2020.
      Most read in Football
      In September 2020, she was selected for the PFA WSL Team of the Year.
      She scored a brace for City against Tottenham Hotspur on October 4 2020, helping the team to a 4-1 win.
      Kelly made her full debut for the Arsenal first team in the Continental Cup against Watford on July 23 2015, aged just 17.
      Chloe signed her first senior contract for Arsenal in February 2016, making one appearance in the team’s 5-1 win over Sunderland, before being sent on a three-month loan to FA WSL 2 side Everton in June of the same year.
      She returned to Arsenal in October 2016, making three appearances as the team finished the season in third place and won the FA Women’s Cup.
      In February 2017, the forward signed a new contract with Arsenal, making seven appearances and scoring two goals.
      Kelly returned to newly-promoted Everton for a second loan spell in July 2017, scoring her first senior hat-trick in the WSL Cup on November 16.
      Chloe made a permanent transfer to Everton in January 2018, playing for the club until summer 2020. More

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      Who is England football star Rachel Daly?

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      RACHEL Daley is a professional footballer who plays in positions all over the field, including defence, midfield and attack.Here we take a look at the football star’s impressive career.
      Credit: Getty
      Who is England football star Rachel Daly?
      Rachel Ann Daley is a 31-year-old professional footballer from Harrogate, England.
      She plays in the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) for Aston Villa and the English national team.
      How long has Rachel Daly played for Aston Villa and which other teams has she played for?
      Rachel signed a three-year deal with Aston Villa on August 9 2022, making her professional debut for the club on September 18 in a 4-3 win over Manchester City, scoring two goals.
      She scored 22 goals in the 2022-23 WSL season, equalling Vivianne Miedema’s record for the most goals scored in a season and winning the Golden Boot.
      More on Rachel Daly
      Rachel also played for West Ham United on loan between September 3 2020 and January 11 2021.
      Daly was chosen by Houston Dash as the sixth overall pick of the 2016 US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) college draft, playing 16 games that season, tallying four goals and four assists.
      In 2018, Rachel was voted team MVP and selected for the NWSL second XI.
      She stayed at the cub until 2020 and was named captain, winning the Challenge Cup.
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      She also plays for the England national football team and represented Team GB in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She was one of six defenders in the Olympic squad, appearing in all four matches and starting three of them.
      How long has Rachel Daly played for England and when did she make her debut?
      Daly has represented England at the under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-23 levels. She was part of the under-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup team, which finished fourth in New Zealand in 2008. 
      After progressing through the youth levels, Rachel made her senior debut in 2016, scoring in a 7-0 victory over Serbia in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 qualifier.
      Daly was named as part of the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. More

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      ‘Reece’s advice is to just enjoy it’ says Lauren James as Lioness ace aims to make her mark in Women’s World Cup

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      LAUREN JAMES wants to etch her name into football history aside from being known as the talented sister of Three Lions ace Reece.  The forward, 21, hopes to do so by helping the Lionesses win this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 
      Lauren James and the Lionesses arrived at their base in Australia’s Sunshine Coast 13 days ahead of the start of the World CupCredit: Getty
      James’ brother Reece wants her to have fun at the tournament with the Lioness starlet set to make her World Cup debutCredit: Getty
      James and her England team-mates will play Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 in their group D openerCredit: Getty
      Last September the Chelsea ace earned her first senior cap coming on as a substitute in the Lionesses’ 2-0 World Cup qualifier defeat of Austria.
      In doing so she joined her sibling in becoming a full England international. 
      The pair are the only brother-sister duo to play for the same top-flight English club at the same time in the men’s and women’s sport. 
      On making a name for herself in the game, James said: “I want to carve that out and be known as ‘this is Lauren James’. 
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      “At the moment, men’s football is a lot bigger profile, it’s natural to just go, ‘oh that’s so and so’s sister’ but I think it’s just natural. 
      “But it doesn’t bother me too much because I know I have my own career.”
      This month James is set to make her Women’s World Cup debut with the Euros champs facing Haiti, Denmark, and China in Group D 
      A July 22 clash with Haiti, the tournament’s fourth lowest-ranked side, is up first for Sarina Wiegman’s aces.
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      The arrived at their Sunshine Coast base in Australia earlier today – seven days ahead of their behind-closed-doors clash with Canada.
      On if there would be any rivalry with her older brother should she win the contest, James added: “To be fair I think he’d just be proud. We’d just like best friends.
      “His advice was just enjoy it, have fun, try and score goals.”
      In the past year James has seen her career blossom for club and country under the stewardship of two serial-winning gaffers. 
      She credits Wiegman for allowing her to express herself on the pitch. 
      And she hails Emma Hayes for helping her find her feet after arriving at Chelsea two years ago with some injury issues 
      James added: “Emma managed me well, and it’s allowed me to find my feet again. I’d had two years of constant injuries.
      “At that moment everyone was like ‘why is Lauren not playing?’
      “I wanted to be playing on the pitch, but in the long run it’s obviously paid off, and it’s kept me on the pitch this season.”
      “Sarina has been brilliant with me (too), she’s just allowed me to express myself, and not tried to change me, which plays a massive role because it allows you to just play freely.”
      This past term has seen James help Chelsea win third successive league and FA Cup double. 
      James credits Emma Hayes with helping her find her feet again following her July 2021 move to ChelseaCredit: Getty
      And James hopes to follow that triumph by winning football’s biggest prize of  all. 
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      She said: going to the (Euros) final last summer made me feel like, ‘I want to make sure I’m there’ this summer.
       “It gave me more motivation and hunger. I’d like to feel the same as what they felt last summer.” More

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      Ex-Arsenal and Wolfsburg ace Jill Roord hails ‘dream’ WSL return after sealing Manchester City move

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      JILL ROORD described her Manchester City switch as the “perfect fit” after sealing a stunning WSL return.The former Arsenal ace, 26, has joined the Women’s Super League giants on a three-year deal after two years at Wolfsburg. 
      Jill Roord is set for her second spell in the WSL after signing for Manchester City
      The midfielder and her Netherlands team-mates will face Portugal on July 23 in their World Cup group stage openerCredit: AFP
      Roord was part of the Wolfsburg side beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in this year’s Champions League finalCredit: Getty
      Roord’s transfer follows Hayley Raso’s May departure from the Citizens with the Australia winger set to join Real Madrid. 
      Her move ahead of next season comes a month after she featured for Wolfsburg in this year’s Women’s Champions League final.
      The German side were beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in the contest’s decider in Eindhoven.
      Roord, who will wear Man City’s number 20 shirt, said: “I really like the way that they play, and I feel that it suits me perfectly. 
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      “There’s a lot of quality in the team, and it’s a young side with plenty of potential which is very important to me. 
      “I have always thought that this was a fantastic club with lots of quality, and I’m super excited  to start here.”
      Roord, who began her senior club career in 2013 at FC Twente at 16, helped the Dutch club to four top-flight titles. 
      She finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer in the 2015-16 season before her one-year spell at Bayern Munich and Gunners switch in May 2019. 
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      During her two-year Arsenal stint Roord helped the club reach the Conti Cup final and finish in the WSL’s top three in back-to-back seasons.
      And she bagged 31 goals in 69 games for Wolfsburg across all competitions helping them win the 2021-22 Frauen Bundesliga title. 
      Man City chief Gareth Taylor said: “She is a player whose calibre speaks for itself with what she has achieved.
      “We believe  she will be a fantastic addition to our squad here at City.”
      Roord added: “I’ve always thought that the Women’s Super League is very competitive, so playing in England again is like a dream.
      “I feel like I have developed a lot as a player during my time in  Germany.”
      Roord, who has 86 senior international caps, was part of the Netherlands side that won the 2017 Euros under former boss Sarina Wiegman. 
      The City newbie is also part of the Dutch squad competing in this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      They kicked off their warm-up for the contest, which starts on July 20, with a 5-0 hammering of Belgium on July 2.
      Roord and her national team-mates face Portugal in their Group E opener in Dunedin, New Zealand on July 23. 
      Roord netted seven times in 19 WSL games for Arsenal during the 2020-21 seasonCredit: Getty
      That clash will be followed by a duel with World Cup champs the United States before a game against minnows Vietnam. 
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      Taylor added: “She has proven her worth in both England and Europe during her career so far, as well on  the international stage with the Netherlands. 
      “She is no stranger to success.” More

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      Millie Bright opens up on ‘extra pressure’ on England at the World Cup and ‘ massive honour’ of leading Lionesses

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      MILLIE BRIGHT is a huge believer of dreaming big and has a tattoo of a dreamcatcher on her left arm as a reminder. The depiction is inspired by her mother telling her to ‘dream big’ before every game with the England skipper eyeing World Cup glory. 
      Millie Bright and the Lionesses fly to Australia today ahead of the start of Women’s World Cup there and in New Zealand on July 20Credit: Getty
      Bright says being given the captain’s armband before the tournament had not crossed her mindCredit: Getty
      England will play Canada in a behind-closed-doors warm-up fixture in Australia on July 14Credit: Alamy
      Football dreams don’t come any bigger than attempting to lead the Lionesses to their first World Cup win in the Fifa contest’s 32-year history. 
      And Bright, 29, recognises there are huge expectations of the team following their Euros triumph over Germany at Wembley last July. 
      The Chelsea centre-back said: “There was always going to be extra pressure. 
      “This will be the biggest Women’s World Cup so far, the quality has gone up, the expectation goes up. 
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      “We have to keep two feet on the ground and know the challenge ahead will be bigger than any other tournament.”
      Bright and her team-mates jetted off to Australia today before the tournament’s start there and in New Zealand on July 20. 
      The England defender will captain the side in the absence of Leah Williamson.
      The Arsenal star’s hopes of leading the Lionesses’ charge were cruelly dashed by a knee ligament injury she suffered in April.
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      Bright added: “(I’m) Absolutely gutted (for Leah).  
      “Straight away I was just in shock that she had suffered such a severe injury. 
      “I don’t think the captaincy crossed my mind at all, hand on heart. 
      “Then I got my injury so my head was just fully on my rehab and trying to make the selection.
      “That (the captaincy) was probably the last thing I thought of.
      “You don’t want to see any player go through that injury. There are too many on that topic at the minute.
      “We’ve had check-ins, to make sure Leah is alright – when you go through that, you need a team around you. 
      “She’s also checked how I’ve been getting on, we’ve stayed in touch for sure.”
      This year’s World Cup will be missing the talents of a number of top stars in addition to Williamson. 
      They include England and Netherlands forwards Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and USA and Chelsea star Catarina Macario. 
      The recent spate of injuries to scores of players at the highest levels of the women’s game is an ongoing concern.
      And it has led to debate around match scheduling. 
      This summer will be the second in a row in which England’s aces have played in a major tournament following busy domestic seasons.
      The team are also due to compete in Uefa’s inaugural Women’s Nations League which kicks off in September. 
      Bright said: “I’ve been doing it for several years, when you’re doing back-to-back tournaments it’s hard, when you’re playing every single minute for your clubs. 
      “As a player it [burnout] is always in the back of your mind; after the World Cup we’ve then got a return to playing in the league.
      “There is work to be done and we are aware of the situation. 
      “A lot of people within the game have shown real concern and been very outspoken about it.
      “That in itself creates conversation. It is about everyone coming together to make sure the schedule works.
      “There is still work to be done, making sure we can compete in every competition and do back-to-back tournaments.
      “But we are not robots, we need time to recover, to perform for the fans, for our clubs and countries, we want to be at the highest level.
      “For now, we are just focusing on the summer.”
      England face Haiti in their tournament opener on July 22 followed by clashes with Denmark and China in Group D.
      And Bright will captain a squad featuring six World Cup debutants including rising stars Lauren James, Esme Morgan and Katie Robinson. 
      Bright added: “I feel really grateful to be selected, let alone to be captaining the girls, it is a massive honour. 
      “But for me nothing changes, I stay the same, I’d like to think people see the same Millie.
      “I always lead for the team, that’s just natural to me. 
      “I expect standards from the group, I see myself as the driver because I am so competitive.
      Bright wants England’s starlets to have the support they need to “play their best football” at the World CupCredit: Getty
      “You have to keep pushing to be better year in, year out.
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      “You have younger players at a first tournament, you have to make sure they have everything they need. 
      “We just want them to be excited to go out and have their best summer, play their best football.” More