‘England wins it for England – that headline is my dream’
Chelsea striker believes in herself again after advice from psychologist, writes Luke Edwards in New York
She is a cold-hearted finisher, the clinical taker of chances, ruthless, deadly, accurate, and she might just be the player who can reignite Phil Neville’s England team. Beth England is the new ace in England’s pack and the clamour for her to start an international for the first time against Japan has reached a crescendo after the largely insipid defeat by the United States in the opening game of the SheBelieves Cup.
She is a predator, her club form lethal, her goals record, 14 for Chelsea already this season, impressive. Nobody has scored more times in the Women’s Super League. Only Holland international and global star Vivianne Miedema can match her, but even she cannot live up to a 66 per cent shot accuracy rating.
England is ready and England expects. At the age of 25, she is no longer wrestling with an inferiority complex, no longer concerned whether she is good enough, merely keen to prove she can be just as deadly for her country as she is for her club. This feels like her time and Neville, with two wins in eight games, needs a spark from somewhere.
“Everyone’s journey is different,” England said. Her bright blonde hair tied back, she looks relaxed in her
Phil Neville is adamant he will not change England’s style of play, even though a poor run of results has put him under mounting pressure heading into today’s meeting with Japan at the SheBelieves Cup.
“It’s a nonnegotiable,” Neville said, when asked if building play from the back was causing his side too many problems. “The players are with me. It’s how I want to play, we just have to be better at it.” national team tracksuit and comfortable with the scrutiny that comes with international football.
“I was at a stage in my career where when I went on loan [from Chelsea to Liverpool], I generally didn’t think I was going to make it.
“But you find a way through it. I’ve found a way through it. I got myself in a position where I believed in myself more. That’s obviously showing on the pitch. I am more confident and happy now. And with regards to England, I’ve never put any pressure on myself with that. I’ve always thought if you’re playing well, the time will come.
“Although some people probably think I’m a late bloomer, because most people come in [to the squad] in their late teens, early twenties, and I didn’t come in until I was 25, everyone peaks at different times.
“I’m hoping I haven’t peaked too soon. And I think there’s still more to come. I think it’s just important that you trust in your own process and if it’s meant to be, it will happen. Thankfully, it did happen.”
The mind is a complex thing and England, having moved to London from Barnsley, did not appreciate being sent back north to play for Liverpool. It was done to give her regular first-team football, but it sowed doubts in her head that grew into a confidence problem. Whatever was going on in her head, it needed to stop. “When I was on loan at Liverpool, my agent did help me,” she explained. “I went to see a psychologist and that got me in a better mindset, because I’ve always been a person that’s been very hard on myself and critical.
“He was able to help me get into a position where I could not put so much pressure on myself and be less critical of every single thing that I did.
“So initially, I would say it started from there and then the more minutes I’ve played at Liverpool. Then transitioning back to Chelsea, towards the latter end of last season, I was playing more games. I think the more game time you get and the more goals you’re able to score, especially in my position, it lifts your confidence.
“My main aim this season was to start off how I finished last season – scoring goals. Thankfully, I managed to do that and continue to do that.
“I’m still hard on myself, but at the right times. I think you have to learn when’s right to be critical and when’s right to just give yourself a break because we’re still human beings at the end of the day and, as much as you want to win at everything, sometimes it is just not always meant to be.
“I have seen him a few times, but I’ve not had a chance this season. In a good way, I’d like to think I’ve not needed him.”
By her own admission, England does not feel Neville made a mistake not taking her to last summer’s World Cup, but she is itching to prove she should now be his first choice.
Her rivalry with Ellen White is a healthy one and it is a huge boost for England to have two different types of centre-forwards competing with each other. It gives the squad more options and it makes them harder to predict and, therefore, prepare to face.
England is yet to start a game for her country, but that will surely change today in New Jersey.
“It’s a family joke that it’s written in the stars,” she said with a laugh, when it is pointed out that she has the perfect name for headline writers. “The name says it all.
“It’s just fortunate that I have that name. Always good for a laugh, I get that, but on a serious note, it’s an amazing achievement for myself to be here and playing for the badge.
“So, yeah, it’s just more of a laugh for people than anything. But I love my name and I don’t ever want to change it. And fingers crossed, one day you will be able to write a headline: England wins it for England. That is the dream.”
You suspect the dream is about to come true, if not against Japan at the Red Bull Stadium, then certainly against Spain in Dallas on Wednesday.
‘People may think I’m a late bloomer at 25, but everyone peaks at different times’