Imagine having the opportunity to be totally obsessed, totally fixated on another World Cup just a year on from the Men’s tournament. Well here’s your chance. Support the Lionesses.
Take yourself back to July 2018. Kieran Trippier scores for England in the World Cup semi-final. The country goes mad.
England came together as one. We cheered. We shouted. We perhaps got over-excited. Some of you probably even cried…damn Mario Mandžukić. There’s no reason why we can’t do it all over again for our Women.
Phil Neville’s side go into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the whole thing, and will start their journey in France on June 9. They have a great shot at bringing it home and it would be such a shame to not give them the backing they deserve.
Similar to Southgate’s squad, the Women have a range of experience within the team, with a player like Karen Carney going to her fourth World Cup, while 11 players will get their first taste of the tournament.
Despite some inexperience of the big competition, the main bulk of the 2015 squad who featured in Canada will reappear in France as they try to better their third-place finish.
A few players to watch include the ever reliable Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby, as well as England’s top scorer in qualifying, Nikita Parris, who has just earned herself a move to join Bronze at Lyon.
England have tough competition in the form of countries like France, Germany and current holders USA. But they’ll be desperate to go a step further than last time round and reach the final.
I’m under no illusion that England is going to come to a standstill like it did for Gareth Southgate’s squad, but let’s at least show them that we’re with them all the way.
Bring it home, ladies.
England Women’s schedule:
9 June: England v Scotland. 17:00. BBC One.
14 June: England v Argentina. 20:00. BBC One.
19 June: Japan v England. 20:00. BBC One.
Tom Rawcliffe 
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