Women’s World Cup 2023

JORDAN NOBBS admits there were “difficult” moments when knee injuries thwarted her dreams of playing in three big tournaments.But now the Aston Villa ace is ready to aid Lionesses’ quest to lift the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Jordan Nobbs says being back with the Lionesses ahead of the World Cup feels “unbelievable”Credit: Getty
Like Bethany England, Nobbs sealed a high-profile January transfer in search of more game before this year’s tournamentCredit: Getty
Nobbs shone for Aston Villa this term alongside France star Kenza Dali (left) and her England team-mate Rachel DalyCredit: Getty
Nobbs involvement in this year’s contest, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, comes 14 months after a strained knee ligament derailed her Euros squad selection hopes.
That injury was sustained during her spell as an Arsenal star with the Gunners’ drubbing Villa 7-0.
Since that result last May Nobbs has helped the Villans register their highest ever finish in the WSL.
Past knee problems for the former Arsenal ace also kiboshed her chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup for the Lionesses and the Tokyo Olympics for Team GB in 2021.
Read More Football Stories
Of her journey back from injuries, Nobbs said: “I think you do go into a place where you do self-sabotage and sit and mope around for a bit.
“Then, once you’re up and going again, your goal is to get back on that pitch.
“It’s a difficult time but that feeling of you getting back is what you need.
“You have the hype of the tournament. That’s everywhere, you can’t get away from it.
Most read in Football
“For me, it took a long time to get that motivation to get going.”
A lack of first team action at Arsenal last term spurred Nobbs’ move to Aston Villa this January following 200 Gunners appearances over 12 years.
The switch paid off with Nobbs helping Carla Ward’s side finishing fifth in the WSL with England team-mate Daly winning the league’s Golden Boot.
The Durham-born football star, who has 71 senior Lionesses caps, adds: “I knew with regular game time I could get back to my best.
“And having a manager like Carla who gave me a licence to play and enjoy my football again.
“I kind of had that weight off my shoulders of ‘am I going to play, or not going to play?’
 “Fifth spot was our aim at Villa and that was huge for us. That was the mentality I went with.”
Nobbs’ Villa move was also partly spurred by her wish to regain her spot in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses’ squad.
Of her transfer and Gunners departure, said: “It was a risk to a certain extent but with the limited game-time I was getting, I had nothing to lose as well.
“Naturally, there were a lot of tears and it was difficult to leave a club that I loved and owe a lot to.
“But when it comes to wanting to drive towards another major tournament I think I had to do everything possible.
“When you have missed out or not been available for selection your mentality is: ‘I need to do everything to get there.’
Nobbs’ efforts for Villa, who knocked Man City out of the FA Cup last season, saw her named in Wiegman’s 23-strong World Cup squad.
And she hopes to make her mark when England face Group D rivals Haiti on July 22 eight days after their warm-up against Canada. 
The midfielder, who scored on her senior Lionesses debut back in 2013, added: “Everyone knows the journey I’ve been on
“To be part of this one and such a talented squad it’s an unbelievable feeling.
“I’ve got to respect what the girls have done and achieved over the past few years.
“Whenever I’ve come into a squad I’ve tried to my best on and off the pitch, work as hard as I can and be as professional as possible.
“I think there’s still a lot of experience, regardless of caps but I’m going into the older category now.
Nobbs reckons playing for Carla Ward and Villa has boosted her confidenceCredit: Getty
“With England you are with the best of the best. I need to perform, train as well as I can and be available for selection.
Read More on The Sun
“Carla gave me that confidence to go again and allow me to be in the position I am now.
“She gave me a lot of love, and game time. Sometimes, it’s the small things that allow you to shine on the pitch.” More

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’. 
Read More Football Stories
“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.
Most read in Football
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. 
Read More On The Sun
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. 
Read More Football Stories
“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.
Most read in Football
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.
Read More On The Sun
“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