MEET THE PRIDE OF
SCOUSER Toni Duggan, 25, was part of the thirdplaced World Cup team and admits that success means there’s more pressure on them to deliver this summer. But the Manchester City star knows these girls can more than deal with that. She says: “We’re a victim of our own success because with success comes pressure. “These girls can cope, every one of us plays high-profile games, big competitions and we’ve played at a high level for a long time. “There’s 19 of us from the previous World Cup squad. Pressure is part and parcel of the sport and any player that wants to be at the top has to be able to handle that.” With five years of playing NOTTS County midfielder Jade Moore, 27, reckons the squad is just about as close as a group can get – a key factor in being able to win. She explains: “In any team sport, you’re not going to get a group of 23 girls who all love each other and are best of friends, but actually with us, it’s not far off it. “That’s powerful. The more you are together and spend time with each other, the more the performance grows. “We’re going to be training together for six whole weeks and spending time together GOALKEEPERS: DEFENDERS: MIDFIELDERS: for England under her belt, Toni has seen how the team’s success has boosted the game. “People have been inspired by what we’ve achieved,” she says. “The more we are seen, the more it gives youngsters a chance to follow in our footsteps. “Ten years ago, even if the team was successful, it wasn’t known but it’s a lot more accessible now and long may that continue.” with the squad. You want to try to create a club feel at international level. “If you look at our campaign in the World Cup, we grew stronger as we went on and that’s because we were together more. “That belief grew with it.” But despite the growing enthusiasm for the sport, Jade acknowledges they are still fighting to get the same interest as the England men. She says: “Our success in the World Cup drove a lot of popularity and interest. That was our legacy of the World Cup, to inspire a nation. I think we did that. “Now it’s how we keep that growing. We play good football but we are still fighting to get people to come and watch us. “We have to fight the battle but it’s easily won if we are successful.” FORWARDS: HEAD COACH: