STAR BRONZE IS PURE GOLD

LUCY BRONZE is already English football royalty.

But a win today could establish her as one of the greatest players of all time.

And that comes from a man who’s uniquely placed to hand out those kinds of accolades.

Anson Dorrance has been the football supremo at North Carolina University since 1977.

During that time he’s not only managed the USA to World Cup glory but also overseen the development of generation after generation of stars from both sides of the Atlantic, including legendary figures such as Mia Hamm, who won two World Cups and two Olympic titles with the USA.

Bronze (right) played for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2009 and entered her name into the record books when she became the first English player in history to win the NCAA Cup in December of that year.

She has won plenty of silverware since and won’t be short of Stateside

RICHARD EDWARDS

supporters as England go in search of a first European Championship crown against Germany at Wembley this afternoon. Victory would take her one step closer to greatness. “I think Lucy is part of the conversation when you’re discussing some of the best players of all time,” he said. “She’s part of that conversation along with players like Mia Hamm. “What I love was the recognition she got, not just as best right-back in the world but also the best player in the world (collecting the FIFA award in 2020). “We’re thrilled to see this England side, given that three of them (Bronze, Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy) have played for us, and Sarina (Wiegman) was here too.” The Germans will hope that Russo and Bronze have had their moment in the sun. In a baking-hot summer, they might not get their wish.