Getting to know the Lionesses
England players have been off limits since landing in Vancouver after their historic win over Norway in Ottawa, but here are three things to know about the Lionesses (the non-Indomitable variety):
Claire Rafferty knows about perseverance.
The England left back has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament three times. First, the left in 2004, then, the right in 2011. Then, in 2013, the right again. It’s been a long, hard road back for the 26-year-old, but she’s thankful it gave her time to focus on her other career. She’s a part-time analyst at Deutsche Bank in London.
“My teammates are mainly into football autobiographies,” she told the Guardian’s Louise Taylor in June, “but no one seems to want to swap them for books about hedge funds.”
England’s most-capped player is midfielder Fara Williams, with more than 140 appearances. She’s also among the team’s most inspirational, living homeless for six years as a youngster. She lived in hostels while trying to break into the national team. She’s since worked with the Homeless FA charity, coaching homeless girls and women.
“It’s hard because you feel sorry for yourself,” the 31-year-old told BBC Sport in 2014. “You feel like no one’s there for you. I had football as my motivation, but some of these (people I coach) don’t have any motivation. I try to show them there are people out there that want to help them, but also they’ve got to help themselves.”
Fran Kirby, 21, was dubbed the “Mini Messi” by England coach Mark Sampson after her goal led the Lionesses to a 2-1 win over Mexico in the group stage. It was her first start at a major tournament.
Battling depression after her mother’s death, Kirby quit the sport four years ago, but came back at 19 and scored in her England debut at 20.
“Everything I do is to make mom proud,” she said recently.