Women’s World Cup 2023

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

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

LUCY BRONZE aims to help Lauren James find her way with the forward shining for the Lionesses ahead of the World Cup. And the Barcelona ace vowed England will step it up in the tournament after their draw with Portugal.
Lucy Bronze hit the woodwork for England against Portugal in their send-off clash before the World CupCredit: Getty
Bronze says Lauren James is eager to learn with the forward set to play in a World Cup for the first time this summerCredit: Getty
The Lionesses’ final test on home soil before the showpiece in Australia and New Zealand ended in a 0-0 stalemate at the home of MK Dons
Four years ago the team lost a World Cup send-off clash to New Zealand
However they battled their way to the semis in the 2019 contest before being beaten by the United States.
Of England’s performance on Saturday, Bronze said: “In the second half we showed a big improvement. 
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“We upped the tempo which is a good sign that we noticed we’re not doing what we should be and we can step it up.”
Among the brighter moments for the Lionesses was Lauren James pulling the strings as a number 10 in the second half. 
And Bronze is enjoying her blossoming right-flank partnership with the forward. 
She adds: “LJ and I have a good relationship off the pitch as well.
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“She’s eager to learn and for a player that’s so young and talented, people forget how much expectation there is on her.
“Because I’m the experienced player, she wants to get me in the game. 
“But I’m saying to her: ‘You’re the winger, you have it.’ It’s nice that she wants to get me involved. 
“Give her space and she will score a goal. She’s still learning when to be selfish and when not to be. I’m just there to help her find her way.”
Alongside James, Esme Morgan and Katie Robinson were among the tournament debutants who featured for boss Sarina Wiegman against Portugal.
The trio will play in the World Cup for the first time in their careers after a pre-contest duel with Canada in Australia on July 14. 
Bronze added: “The younger players who are the least experienced, Katie Robinson, Lauren and Esme, I thought all of them did really well (against Portugal) 
“You don’t see the weight of expectation on their shoulders.
“They are exciting and they don’t have fear. They slot in. They are used to doing it in the league and they do it for us now.
“I went into the 2015 (World Cup) as a young player, not expecting to do much.
Bronze reckons Esme Morgan and England’s other young stars are exciting to watchCredit: Getty
 “I ended up playing every single game, scoring goals and forced myself into the spotlight. “Anything can happen in the World Cup. 
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“We saw that last year with Chloe (Kelly) in the Euros scoring the winner in a tournament that she played very few minutes in. 
“There will be plenty of opportunities for people to shine and have their moments.” More

ALESSIA RUSSO believes the Lionesses have a bullseye on their backs as they target World Cup glory following their Euros heroics. And the WSL star, 24, is relishing the competition for the starting striker place with Bethany England and Rachel Daly. 
Alessia Russo is hoping England will bring their Euros-winning flair to the World CupCredit: PA
The WSL star reckons training for the tournament has been perfect distraction from headlines concerning her futureCredit: PA
Russo and Rachel Daly are among the Lionesses’ striker options along with Bethany EnglandCredit: Getty
England’s clash against Portugal at Satdium MK on Saturday will be their final game on home soil before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand commences on July 20.
And Sarina Wiegman’s side, who are targeting back-to-back major tournament wins, will face Haiti two days later
Russo, who helped her team become European champions last July, said: “There’s always a target on England’s back in football. 
“We feel really good. It will be a completely different tournament.
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“The Euros is behind us now and it was an incredible summer. 
“We saw what we can do and now it’s time for us to come together on the world stage.”
Russo is one of seven WSL aces in Wiegman’s forward ranks for the World Cup with the player scoring 10 goals in 20 top-flight games last term. 
The group also includes England and Daly who were among the Women’s Super League’s top three finishers last term with Aston Villa ace Daly winning the Golden Boot. 
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Russo added: “You’re always learning as a player and when I first came in, to have the likes of Ellen White there to learn from was incredible. 
“Even now with Rach and Beth we are learning things off each other every day. 
“Competition has been so high. Rachel and Beth, we’re all competing. 
“They are top, top players so to be able to play with them and train with them every day has been great. The wingers too. 
“There is so much competition all over the pitch but as a player that’s exactly what you want in the squad.”
England’s opener on July 22 could see Russo play her first World Cup match against debutants Haiti in Group D in Brisbane, Australia. 
The game at the 52,500-seater Suncorp Stadium comes 36 days after her Manchester United departure with the player linked to Arsenal following the expiration of her club contract in June.  
Russo confirmed her Red Devils farewell in a tweet describing her exit after a three-year spell as the “hardest decision” she has ever made. 
The England ace is thought to be closing in on a switch to the Gunners who reportedly had two record-breaking bids knocked back in January. 
And aside from Arsenal Russo is also thought to have attracted interest from record Champions League winners Lyon and top tier sides in the United States
Of the speculation, she added: “Towards the end of the season it was tough.
“You don’t like things in the media about you but that’s football
 “There’s no nice time to sort things like that out.
“But now I’m here it’s nice to have a full focus on a massive tournament coming up.”
“Coming back into an environment like this is perfect because you’re competing and all your focus is on England.”
This friendship is for life now and she’ll definitely be one of my bridesmaids one day.Alessia Russo on her friendship with Ella Toone
The Lionesses’ clash with Haiti could see Russo in action with Ella Toone almost a year on from the duo helping England lift the Euros trophy at Wembley. 
That 2-1 win over Germany last July saw Toone, 23 make history becoming the first Lioness to score at a Euros final at the stadium. 
For Russo it was among the highlights of a friendship that goes back almost decade with their pair becoming during days in England’s Under-15s squad. 
The Maidstone-born forward added: “We were friends before we played at United together, we’ve been friends since we were 12 or 13.
“The friendship is for life now and she’ll definitely be one of my bridesmaids one day!
“Ella is super talented and has no ceiling. Her potential is massive, it’s really cool to see.
“We talk about the Euros all the time, about how special it is to go through a journey with someone and then achieve one of your dreams together.
Russo ranks winning the Euros alongside her team-mate and pal Ella Toone as one of her favourite memoriesCredit: Reuters
“There are loads of people who are really close in the team and that’s important because football is tough.
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“Sometimes you have a bad day and you need to lean on someone and vice versa. 
“When we are on the other side of the world it’s nice to have a little comfort there.” More