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      Lionesses captain Millie Bright insists England are focused on toppling Haiti with bonus pay concerns parked

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      MILLIE BRIGHT is “itching” to make World Cup history after declaring herself fit to go to battle for England in the contest.The Lionesses’ captain says players will be tournament-focused when they take on Group D minnows Haiti with bonus pay matters on hold.
      Millie Bright has given England a huge fitness boost with the centre-back ready to start for the Lionesses in their group stage openerCredit: Getty
      England will take on Haiti who are playing in the World Cup for the first time in their historyCredit: PA
      England’s clash with Haiti will kick off at 10:30 (BST) at Brisbane Stadium in AustraliaCredit: Getty
      Bright and her team-mates are targeting back-to-back tournament wins a year on from their triumph in the Women’s EurosCredit: Reuters
      Today’s game will see Bright on England duty for the first time since February, following a knee injury she sustained in a Champions League game for Chelsea a month later.
      It will also see the Euros champs face Haiti for the first time in a World Cup,
      Their opponents are one of the five lowest-ranked sides in the tournament and will be making their contest debut in the duel at Brisbane Stadium.
      Bright, who has been a lynchpin in England’s defence, won her race to be fit and featured in a behind-closed-doors 0-0 draw with Canada.
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      The 66-capped Lioness, 29, said: “I was very confident in my recovery.
      “I have been given absolutely everything I needed to be in this position that I am in.
      “I am grateful that I am able to play. I am super excited to be here.” 
      Bright’s knee concerns ahead of the tournament coincide with a triple Lionesses injury blow with Willamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby all crocked.
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      Along with Bright the trio were among the most influential players for England during their dramatic charge to Euros glory last July.
      Reflecting on her journey to back to full fitness, Bright added: “Personally, I went day by day to start with.
      “It’s important to be in the moment and present, and not look too far ahead.
      “By doing that I kind of removed all the pressure of being fit almost, so day-by-day my head was in that place on that day.
      “But I’m always confident that I do absolutely everything that I can for the team, and to put myself in the best position.
      “I knew I would tick all the boxes in terms of my recovery.”
      On how she mentally managed her push to get fit with England missing Mead, Kirby and Williamson, Bright flagged the support of team-mates and Wiegman’s staff.
      Bright added: “You mentioned players not being here, but unfortunately injuries are part of football.
      “We have to look forward and move forward.
      “We’ve got an amazing group of players and staff and everyone has stepped up. We’re raring to go.”
      Off the pitch Bright and her team-mates publically revealed their World Cup bonus pay negotiations with FA chiefs are on hold until after the contest.
      On Tuesday players publicly admitted they were disappointed that talks had reached a stalemate.
      Bright said: “It’s not a situation everyone wants to be in.
      “As players we’re not just programmed to play football, sometimes we have to have these conversations.
      “But we have a very professional group and football is always at the front of everything. 
      Sarina Wiegman says England are well prepared for Haiti and that no stone has been “left unturned” in the prep work ahead of the gameCredit: PA
      “I’m aware that everyone’s seen the statement.
      “So as players now, with our heads on the game – they always have been on the game – everything is on hold.
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      “For now it’s all about the tournament.”
      England’s game against Haiti can be watched live on ITV1 and on the BBC at 10:30 (BST). The game will kick off at 7:30 pm local time in Brisbane, Australia. More

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      Ireland Women’s World Cup ace SNUBS handshake with Australia star after her ex was pictured on holiday with rival

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      A STAR of the Women’s World Cup SNUBBED the handshake of a rival player after her ex-girlfriend was pictured on holiday with her opponent. The pair were then seen confronting each other towards the end of the clash.
      Caitlin Foord (left) and Ruesha Littlejohn (right) were at the centre of controversy after a handshake snubCredit: Getty
      Littlejohn shockingly appeared to snub a handshake with Foord
      The incident is rumoured to have come from Littlejohn’s split with Ireland captain Katie McCabeCredit: Getty
      Ahead of kick-off in Australia and Ireland’s opening World Cup game, Ruesha Littlejohn seemed to refuse to shake the hand of Aussie counterpart Caitlin Foord.
      Fans suggested the snub – reminiscent of the incident between John Terry and Wayne Bridge – may have been motivated by Littlejohn’s split from long-term partner and Ireland captain Katie McCabe, 27.
      They separated after more than seven years together shortly before the World Cup – as confirmed by McCabe on the UK’s Player Tribune.
      According to the Daily Mail, McCabe and Foord – who play for Women’s Super League giants Arsenal – are good friends off the field.
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      The pair recently went on holiday to Ibiza with a large group of friends, with photos of the trip being shared to Instagram.
      But as co-hosts Australia were shaking hands with Ireland before kick-off, Littlejohn, 33, was seen shockingly skipping over Foord’s extended hand.
      Tensions following the incident appeared to boil over towards the end of the game.
      Littlejohn appeared to attempt to approach Foord, 28, while on the field of play, only for her to be restrained by a team-mate.
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      Littlejohn approached Foord at the end of the matchCredit: Sportsfile
      Littlejohn had to be restrained by a team-mate at the end of the match after she and Foord confronted one anotherCredit: Sportsfile
      McCabe, right, recently confirmed she and Littlejohn had separated after more than seven yearsCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      Foord, left, was pictured on holiday in Ibiza with fellow Arsenal star McCabe, rightCredit: instagram @katie_mccabe11
      McCabe and Littlejohn were together for seven yearsCredit: instagram @rueshalj
      SunSport does not imply that Foord had anything to do with the split of McCabe and Littlejohn.
      An insider from the Matildas told the Mail: “Clearly there is still some tension surrounding from Littlejohn’s side of things which looks like it spilled over a bit on Thursday night.
      “Caitlin and Katie are great friends. They play together for Arsenal. They spend a lot of time together. But there’s nothing more to it than that.”
      The outlet’s report adds that Foord declined to comment via her management on the incident after being contacted.
      In reaction to the video posted on TikTok, one user said: “Ruesha that’s too personal.”
      A second wrote: “It’s now clear that there’s some drama between Katie, Reusha and Caitlin.”
      Meanwhile, the user who posted the video added: “I know they might not be close but it [is] weird.”
      The pair were competing with one another during the gameCredit: EPA
      The incident is reminiscent of the incident between John Terry and Wayne BridgeCredit: AFP More

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      Chelsea star Ann-Katrin Berger beat cancer twice – now she’s heading to the World Cup and could face her Lioness partner

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      NOT many players can say that they’ve represented their country at a World Cup.Even fewer can say that they’ve done so off the back of a double-winning season.
      Ann-Katrin Berger is at the World Cup with GermanyCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year during Euro 2022Credit: Getty
      She returned to the Chelsea squad in SeptemberCredit: Getty
      But only one will be able to say that they’ve done all of the above after beating cancer… twice.
      Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has enjoyed some of the highest of highs throughout her playing career, but she has also had to endure some terrible lows.
      In November 2017, just over one year into her spell with Birmingham City, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
      Despite her devastating diagnosis, Berger was determined to continue playing football.
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      She even earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, just two months after recovering.
      And the following year, she made a huge move to Women’s Super League giants Chelsea.
      Career-wise, the 32-year-old is at the top of her game, having won four WSL titles, three FA Cups and two Continental Cups with the Blues.
      Berger’s incredible form saw her earn a place in Germany’s Euro 2022 squad last summer, but her immense joy – after being called up for her first major tournament – was marred when she found out that her cancer had returned following four years in remission.
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      She has since recovered and helped Chelsea to the WSL title and another FA Cup winCredit: Getty
      Berger received support from her international teammates last SeptemberCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper told Sky Sports in November: “It had actually started at the beginning of July.
      “We came [together] with the German national team [for the Euros] on July 3 and my yearly appointment was on July 5.
      “It was a little bit of a weird feeling because it was the last one of the normal appointments, but then the blood samples came back negative in thyroid cancer language.
      “Whilst the Euros were still ongoing, I had to do some other tests and the next step after the blood test. Most of the time, it was ultrasounds so they’re checking any lymph nodes or unusual things and that was one week after.
      “After that, I started to wonder what was going on because sometimes, the bloods can go up and down, that’s a normal thing, especially with athletes when hormones and everything are different.
      “But then after the ultrasound, they called me again and I had to go in and they took a biopsy as well. Then I was like ‘Ok, something bad is going on’, but I still wanted to carry on with football.
      “At that point, we’d finished the group stages and I wanted to keep it to myself. Obviously close ones, my family and everything, they started to know something was wrong but at that time, my team didn’t know because they had to focus on the Euros.
      “I know how to deal with it because I’ve been there before so that’s why I started to keep it to myself. The doctors gave me the all-clear to train as normal and said there wouldn’t be any problems.”
      Berger waited until the latter stages of Euro 2022 to inform her international teammates of her diagnosis, simply because she wanted to enjoy the tournament as much as possible.
      She added: “It was a difficult moment, but I kept it a little bit more quiet. I wanted to enjoy the Euros for myself because that kept me going – it actually was just nice to do something and not feel sorry for yourself.”
      In August, Berger announced to the world that her cancer had returned.
      In a statement on social media, she wrote: “I wanted to update fans directly that unfortunately, after four years of living cancer-free, there has been a recurrence detected in my thyroid.”
      Despite the devastating setback, she remarkably returned to action just over a month later, featuring in Chelsea’s WSL clash against Manchester City.
      And in March she was hailed as a hero after saving two penalties which subsequently sent the Blues through to the Champions League semi-final.
      Four months on from that electric evening at Stamford Bridge, Berger is now in Australia and New Zealand for her first World Cup.
      The goalkeeper has already lifted the WSL trophy and the FA Cup this year, but now she has her sights firmly set on arguably the biggest accolade in football.
      The goalkeeper is dating England defender Jess CarterCredit: Getty
      Carter is in the England squad for the World CupCredit: Getty
      However, in order to win the World Cup, Berger and her Germany teammates will have to get past European champions England.
      And that means the goalkeeper will have to better her girlfriend, and Chelsea teammate, Jess Carter.
      The couple started dating in 2017 and they now live together in London.
      But while they represent two different nations, there is little-to-no rivalry between them.
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      In an interview with The Guardian last year, Carter said: “There wasn’t really any direct competition [during the Euros] because we are both really chilled people.”
      Germany kick off their World Cup campaign against Morocco on July 24, while England face Haiti on July 22nd.
      The couple have been dating since 2021Credit: Alamy More

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      Lauren James trained with Arsenal’s senior team at just 14 but was kicked out after complaints from players

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      CHELSEA forward Lauren James is set to take the Women’s World Cup by storm this summer.The 21-year-old, who is now a regular in Sarina Wiegman’s England team, first burst onto the scene when she made her professional debut for Arsenal in 2017.
      James will make her World Cup debut with England this summerCredit: Getty
      The forward is one of the best young players in the WSLCredit: Getty
      But prior to her first Women’s Super League outing, she endured a turbulent time in North London.
      James’ dad, Nigel, has revealed that she was promoted to train with the Arsenal women’s first team at the age of just 14, but some senior players took issue with her involvement.
      In an interview with The Beautiful Game podcast, Nigel said: “She was too good to train with the Arsenal girls when she first went there.
      “So Arsenal tried something, Pedro (Martinez Losa) who was the coach at the time, brought her in to train with the women.
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      “She was probably about 14 at the time. She stayed in her digs for a couple of nights and they got a tutor to teach her, so she trained with the women.
      “It was all good hearing it, but your 14 year-old daughter is now training with women who are 35, 28, they were grown women.
      “So when you are on the pitch it is football, but off the pitch they had nothing in common.
      “What people would see is this little girl. Some could take it and put their arm around her and some couldn’t take it and said ‘you shouldn’t be here, you should be at school.’
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      “She (Lauren) would pick up the good bits from someone and then the negative parts from others.
      “The manager left, another manager came in. There was a game she played in where the manager let her take a penalty. She took the penalty, but the next day senior players didn’t like it at the time.”
      Despite James’ outstanding ability and potential, some Arsenal players even requested that she was removed from first team training due to her age.
      The forward’s dad added: “They then asked for Lauren to be removed from the first team squad at Arsenal and to go back in the academy, but the solution was she train with the academy boys.
      “This had never happened before so it was a big thing. Some parents didn’t like it.
      “But she was superb and did very well. At the end of the season when she was 15-and-a-half, Arsenal then said you won’t be with the women, you’ll play with the academy girls. I saw her playing with girls her own age as sort of a demotion.
      “That is why we needed to leave.”
      After leaving Arsenal, James joined Manchester United in July 2018.
      She made her club debut in a Women’s Championship match the following month and went on to help the Red Devils achieve promotion to the WSL.
      James, the younger sister of Chelsea star Reece, then spent two more years in Manchester before joining the Blues in 2021.
      She has since won two WSL titles and three FA Cups.
      Read More on The Sun
      The forward will take part in her first major tournament this summer with England.
      She narrowly missed out on a place in Wiegman’s European Campionship-winning squad last summer before making her international debut in September.
      Prior to her WSL debut, James endured a mixed experience at ArsenalCredit: Getty More

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      Lionesses winning Euros last summer was wonderful – here’s three reasons why we should roar them on again at World Cup

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      IF I tell you I have a hunch about a sporting event, then have a hunch of your own that the opposite will happen. I have a terrible track record with these things.But last year I got something right.
      Alessia Russo’s stunning surprise backheel against Sweden in the semi-finalCredit: Getty
      Ace Chloe Kelly celebrates her winnerCredit: PA
      The Lionesses gatecrash the press conference and partyCredit: Getty
      I wrote in The Sun that England’s women would win the Euros.
      And they did. Thrillingly, miraculously, brilliantly, inspiringly . . . they only went and did it.
      There were a trio of Three Lionesses moments which are right up there with anything our men have done. Moments which changed everything.
      Oh the joy of Russo’s backheel in the semi-final.
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      Very occasionally a player will do something which no one sees coming. They sell a dummy which everyone buys.
      Their teammates, their opponents, the commentators, the cameras, the crowd and the TV audience all look for the ball to go one way, but it goes ­somewhere else.
      No matter how many times you watch it back, Alessia Russo’s backheel takes you by surprise.
      This was the moment even the most cynical, not-for-me women’s football refusenik went “Oof! Wow! OK.”
      Most read in Football
      Then there was Chloe Kelly’s winner in the final. By then we were so into it.
      Earlier, as we became true believers, it dawned on us that while everything was different, it could all yet turn out the same.
      Same old England, sure to lose in the end, to Germany, inevitably.
      But no! Into the net went the ball and over her head came Chloe’s shirt. Iconic.
      This was the moment we knew the Lionesses were different.
      They were winners. And we all felt like winners too.
      And then there was the invasion of the press ­conference.
      The all-singing, all-dancing, conga of ­mischief and joy.
      This was the moment we were reminded that, at its great beating heart, football is actually about, you know, having fun.
      Total ­uninhibited happiness.
      Great, great times.
      And this week we go again.
      Conga of ­mischief and joy
      It’s going to be harder this time.
      Not just because it’s the World Cup, nor because it’s happening a world away in a land down under.
      No, it’s because now England expects.
      Success creates its own pressure.
      And this means they need us to get behind them more than ever before.
      They gave us something wonderful last summer and now, in a sense, we need to give them something back.
      Someone once said that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.
      True that. We need to demonstrate that we’ve not been fairweather friends to our Lionesses.
      We need to be with them all the way.
      We can’t bide our time and wait for a moment of glory to be within our grasp.
      They need us right behind them from the off. They need us now.
      Shirt-shedding
      And it’s not just about the World Cup either.
      Last week Karen Carney, former Lioness midfielder and chair of a major review into the women’s game, published her report.
      It’s not a back-patting, look-how-far-we’ve-come exercise.
      It’s much more important than that.
      Her call is for the top two tiers of women’s football to be made fully professional; for a new regular broadcast slot on television; for better investment, better facilities, higher standards all around.
      This isn’t romantic stuff about backheels, shirt-shedding or crazy congas.
      This is the gritty, tricky, challenging stuff needing to be done to get more girls playing, and more women winning, in the environments they’ve earned the right to enjoy.
      There’s 126 pages to this report, and it’s well worth a read, but Karen sums it up rather neatly for us in just a few words.
      “Nothing can take away from our great achievements,” she says.
      “But it is like Instagram vs reality, and the latter is worrying and we need to address it.”
      She’s right. The Instagram posts tell a story of shiny new success with money to match.
      The reality is huge areas of the women’s game underfunded and underloved. The poor relation.
      The seeds of failure are often sown in times of success.
      Power is in our hands
      It would be all too easy for us to say, “Oh yeah, women’s football. Love it! I get it! We’re brilliant! Job done!”
      Never mind the facilities, let’s just admire that backheel again.
      Even if the Lionesses win the World Cup and conga all the way home with the trophy, the gap between Instagram and reality won’t be closed.
      If anything, it will be wider. The ­Instagrams will look even glossier, and the reality will change barely a jot.
      A massive opportunity could go ­begging, and that would be a dreadful thing.
      So what, you might ask, can we, the fans, do to close Karen’s Instagram vs reality gap?
      Well, much of it, to do with finance and administration and business planning, we have no direct control of.
      But the power is still in our hands.
      Because if we carry on seeing the power and potential of the women’s game, and stick with it, and demand ­better, all the good stuff will follow.
      Read More on The Sun
      More than ever before, at this World Cup and way beyond, everyone from the Lionesses to the little girl in the park wanting a kickabout, need our backing.
      Let’s do this. More

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      Sealing Arsenal move before start of World Cup is a ‘weight off’ shoulders of Lioness star Alessia Russo

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      ALESSIA RUSSO says having her Arsenal move wrapped up before the World Cup feels like a weight off her shoulders. And the England star, 24, is enjoying proving a former coach wrong after he joked she “couldn’t head a ball for sh**”. 
      Alessia Russo is happy to have sorted her club future ahead before the start of England’s World Cup campaignCredit: Getty
      The Lioness star joined the Gunners as a free agent in July following the expiry of her contract with Manchester United in JuneCredit: Getty
      The WSL ace and the Lionesses arrived in Brisbane, Australia on Monday ahead of the Group D opening duel with Haiti on July 22. 
      That clash comes 18 days after the former Red Devil signed for Arsenal as a free agent. 
      Russo, who joined the Gunners after a three-year Manchester United spell, said: “I’m really glad it’s all done. 
      “It feels like a little bit of a weight is off my shoulders ahead of the World Cup and that’s what I wanted. 

      “I hoped to try and get it all sorted before the tournament kicked off. 
      “Now I can fully focus on this World Cup and after that head into Arsenal. I’m really excited.”
      Russo, who began her senior career at Chelsea in 2016, is arguably one of the Gunners’ biggest signings this summer. 
      And the Kent-born Lioness featured in a video welcoming Declan Rice to Arsenal. 
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      The video, produced by the club’s kit makers Adidas, went viral on social media. 
      When asked if there would be any banter from her Man United pals in England’s camp over move, Russo said they will “always be friends”. 
      She added: “I’m still best mates with them all and I always will be. 
      “It’s nice to have this summer and have some time with them again. We’re just all enjoying Australia.”
      Russo’s involvement in a World Cup tournament for the first time in her career comes after her netting 10 goals in 20 WSL games last term. 
      One of her most memorable was a headed effort last November that led to Man United becoming the first WSL team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates. 
      And Russo, who has earned plaudits for her aerial displays in the box, recalls her former coach Anson Dorrance jokingly mocked her heading abilities. 
      The former US Women’s national team boss, who led the side to their first World Cup win, coached Russo during her two-year stint at North Carolina Tar Heels. 
      The Lioness spent some of her teenage years at the US college side renowned for spotting and nurturing rising stars of the women’s game
      Like Russo, Lucy Bronze and Lotte Wubben-Moy, are also former Tar Heels players. 
      The trio flourished under Dorrance who has been in charge of the North Carolina University team for 46 years.
      Russo, who played for Tar them from 2017 to 2019, added: “When I was in America my coach out there told me that I couldn’t head a ball for shit. 
      “That was something that I wanted to prove him wrong with.
      “I’ve still got a long way to go, but yeah I think physicality is a huge thing as a nine. “You’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to be powerful. 
      “Some centre halves are bigger and stronger than you so you’ve got to find ways to get one up on them.”
      On whether she is still in contact with legendary Tar Heels boss Dorrance, Russo said: “I still speak to Anson and his assistant Damon Nahas.
      Russo still maintains contact with her coaches at the US women’s college side North Carolina Tar HeelsCredit: Getty
      “I probably speak to them maybe once a month. It’s nice to check in with them and they played a big part in my journey and my career. 
      “They’re coaches I have huge respect for and love to speak to.”
      Russo is eager to keep developing the physical aspect of her game in particular her strength for duels with her markers.
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      The WSL ace, who has scored 11 times in 21 senior England appearances, added: “Understanding my body and how to use it best, and then just trying to be as clinical as possible in front of goal. 
      “As a nine that’s something you want to work on every single day.” More

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      Ella Toone opens up on ‘finding herself’ and shares childhood dream of scoring for England in the World Cup

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      ELLA TOONE is loving life in Australia having “found herself” Down Under ahead of England revving up for the World Cup.The forward, 23, whose stunning chip helped the Lionesses triumph at last year’s Euros, sees herself as a player who goes at a “hundred miles an hour”.
      Ella Toone says she feels like a changed woman ahead of the start of England’s campaign to win the World CupCredit: Getty
      The Lioness forward could be set to play in a World Cup tournament for the first time in her careerCredit: Getty
      Toone says she learnt about herself during England’s Euros-winning run last summerCredit: Getty
      But since arriving at England’s camp Toone, who has 32 senior caps, has enjoyed finding ways to balance intense training with switching off mentally from football.
      The Manchester United and Lioness ace said: “I’ve really found myself here. I never normally wake up early as I’m a proper sleeper.
      “But I woke up early the other day – six o’clock – I went and saw the sunrise.
      “I absolutely love walking along the beach and the other day I went into the sea.
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      “Luckily the girls got me some goggles as I can’t go in with my eyelashes (on). 
      “I was under the waves every day and I thought ‘wow this is me’. 
      “Going in the sea has definitely really made me a changed woman.”
      Like her team-mates Toone has been finding ways to make the most of her downtime away from preparation for England’s Group D opener against Haiti in five days’ time.
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      The Wigan-born Lioness, who has netted 16 goals since her senior international debut in September 2020, enjoys reading autobiographies in her spare time.  
      She adds: “I don’t actually read novels, just autobiographies. I’m reading Jamie Vardy’s autobiography at the minute. 
      “I always say it (that I’m going to) but now I’ve actually started (to take up) reading more often so that’s nice.”
      Last summer saw Toone play in a major tournament for the first time in a senior career which began with a two-year spell at Blackburn Rovers in 2015 before moves to Man City and Man United.
      The WSL star was among nine aces taking part in their first major international contest for the Lionesses.
      Her goal-scoring display at last year’s Euros final at Wembley saw her evolve from a promising England talent to a tournament-winning performer.
      Toone opened the scoring against finalists Germany in front of a record crowd a Wembley with a lofted second-half strike.
      And the forward is eager to help England’s new major contest debutants with six included in head coach Wiegman’s squad.
      Toone adds: “Going into this tournament off the back of my first major tournament with England, I’ve just got more experience now.
      “I learned so much about myself at the Euros.
      “I’ve come into this having a bit more experience and just trying to offer others that experience.
      “I think I’ve come into this tournament the same as (I did) at the Euros.
      “That’s giving my best, enjoying every moment and making sure that I work hard in training.
      “I want to give everything I can every time I put the shirt on for England.”
      England’s clash with Haiti could see Toone make her World Cup debut for her national side.
      The match at Brisbane Stadium will kick off at 10:30 am UK time this Saturday (July 22).
      And Sarina Wiegman’s team have been a bit goal shy of late having gone scoreless in the last three games. 
      Having Toone is confident the team will find their shooting boots and hopes to achieve her dream of scoring in the tournament.
      She adds: “We’re very confident and we know we’ve got a lot of goal scorers in the group so we’re definitely creating those chances. 
      “It’s now about making sure we put them in the back of the net.
      Toone and her team-mates hope to pick up their first win since beating Brazil in the Women’s Finalissima in MarchCredit: Getty
      “I manifest a lot of things before I play games. Half of them never happen but I’m having fun in my brain. 
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      “I’ve dreamt about scoring a goal in the World Cup since I was a little girl and I’ve dreamt about scoring at this one.  
      “As for the celebrations (side of things) I have absolutely no idea (what I’ll do).” More

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      Lucy Bronze reflects on World Cup ‘heartbreak’ and driving standards with England after Barcelona success

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      LUCY BRONZE believes her Barcelona move has boosted her England form following her Champions League triumph with the club. And the full-back admits she is still “heartbroken” by the Lionesses’ World Cup semis loss four years ago.  
      Lucy Bronze is hungry for more silverware success following Euros and Champions League wins in the past yearCredit: Getty
      The England full-back helped Barcelona win their second Champions League trophy when they beat Wolfsburg 3-2 in JuneCredit: Getty
      Bronze and her England team-mates are continuing their preparations ahead of their first group stage match in this year’s World CupCredit: Getty
      Bronze and her team-mates will take to the field against Haiti on July 20 in their Group D opener at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      The Euros champs were put through their paces in training on Saturday in Queensland, following a 0-0 warm-up draw with Canada on Friday.
      Their upcoming clash with the tournament debutants in Brisbane, comes seven weeks after Bronze celebrated her fourth Champions League trophy win.
      The Lioness, 31, who joined Barcelona last term along with team-mate Keira Walsh, said: “I think the pair of us drive a different kind of standard now at England training.
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      “We’ve been able to add that when we’ve come back into camps.
      “It’s not the style of play necessarily.
      “It’s the expectation and the quality you expect from a team that wins trophies like Champions Leagues and playing with the best players in the world.
      “It gives myself and Keira massive confidence.
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      “It was her first Champions League win and while it was my fourth, it’s something that gives you a lot of confidence going into the World Cup.”
      Bronze, who moved Barca last June after a two-year spell at Manchester City, is playing in a World Cup for the third time in her career.
      The full-back was part of a Phil Neville-managed England side that lost 2-1 to the United States in the contest’s semis in France in 2019.
      Bronze used the word “heartbroken” to describe the feeling that result evokes.
      Of her past England experiences in the tournament, she said: “Every World Cup that I’ve played in we’ve been so close.
      “The difference between us and the US on the day that we played them was a VAR decision, a penalty save.
      “That’s two things in one game, it was crazy, crazy close.”
      A finish in the top two spots in Group D would see England enter the World Cup’s knockout phase for the first time under head coach Sarina Wiegman.
      The team have been hit by injuries to three of their biggest stars from last year’s Euros.
      Skipper and centre-back Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Euros Golden Boot winner Beth Mead are all battling their way back from knee issues.
      On the need to step up in their absence, Bronze added: “I’ve played that role in the majority of the tournaments I’ve played in.
      “The team and the manager expect that from me because I’ve always had to bring high level performances.
      “Although Leah is a huge part of the team, in the run-up to the Euros last year she didn’t play in the back four.
      Sarina Wiegman hopes to lead the Lionesses to their second major trophy win and first Women’s World Cup triumphCredit: PA
      “We played with Alex (Greenwood) and Millie (Bright) as our centre half partnership the whole year under Sarina and we didn’t lose a game then.
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      “Anybody that has watched Alex and Millie play in the WSL knows that they’re two of the best centre halves in the world.
      “Leah is a huge miss but I wouldn’t say it’s a reshuffle, we’re just going back to a different team which has already played together.” More