FUTURE LOOKING BRIGHT
Millie: Lionesses can still raise game
MILLIE BRIGHT says the Lionesses can grow again ahead of next year’s World Cup.
As the stand-in skipper surveyed the jubilant scenes after England defeated the United States, she explained how Sarina Wiegman’s side can raise their game still further.
The 2-1 triumph over FIFA’S No.1-ranked side in front of a fervent Wembley crowd will have given the Lionesses a huge psychological boost ahead of next year’s showpiece in Australia and New Zealand.
And the Chelsea stopper believes better is to come.
Message
She said: “That was a tough US side – we were always looking to send a message.
“But the focus has to be on us. We are always looking to better ourselves.
“I think there were parts of our game where we weren’t at our best. But ultimately we got the job done and in tournaments such as the World Cup, that’s what it’s about.
“We want to get better. Better in possession, for example.
“But you have to remind yourself that there’s another level to this group.
“In the Euros, we found a way to win but I think we can hit a new level, 100 per cent.
“We did our analysis afterwards – of course there were positives because we won it – but this group is competitive. It is motivated to be better.
“We want to grow even more, be even better and dominate games even more than we have.
“We know the World Cup will be at a different level. A different competition with different opponents in a different country.
“That’s what keeps us at it. Every day in training, higher standards are being demanded.”
The victory against the USA was England’s first over the standard-bearers in the women’s game in five years and stretched their unbeaten run to 23 matches.
Captain Leah Williamson was missing but otherwise this was Wiegman’s strongest starting XI. By contrast, the reigning world champs were weakened through injury – but not markedly so.
During the last tournament, the Lionesses suffered heartache against the eventual World Cup winners, going down 2-1 in Lyon at the semi-final stage.
Bright says that it’s difficult to compare where both sides are in their development cycle.
She said: “I think we’re in a completely different space to 2019.
“We are under different management and, as a country, we are in a different place.
“You always think about past games but we are now in a different place, mindset-wise.
“We have a different mentality off the back of the summer.”