LIONESSES ON PROWL

JOHN LYONS LOOKS AT ENGLAND'S CHANCES AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE WORLD CUP DOWN UNDER...

ENGLAND’S Lionesses captured the hearts of a nation last summer as they roared to Euro 22 glory on home soil.

The pressure was on Sarina Wiegman’s side to deliver and they didn’t disappoint. There was an 8-0 romp against shell-shocked Norway in the group stage, a nerve-jangling 2-1 victory after extra-time against Spain in the quarter-finals courtesy of Georgia Stanway’s thumping winner and a 4-0 demolition of Sweden in the semis which included a cheeky backheel goal from super-sub Alessia Russo.

Then, of course, it was on to the final against Germany. If anyone could have ruined England’s big moment, you would have guessed it would be the old foes.

Indeed, when Lina Magull cancelled out Ella Toone’s goal with 11 minutes left, you feared the worst. But, just like against Spain, the Lionesses showed their resilience and sub-Chloe Kelly memorably poked home the winner with ten minutes of extra-time left before whipping off her shirt and waving it around her head in celebration.

England, led by Wiegman off the pitch and skipper Leah Williamson on it, had done it. They’d won their first major women’s tournament and rightly savoured every second of their success at a delirious Wembley.

If it was mission accomplished, then it still left one major target to achieve – winning the World Cup. A year on, they now have the chance to do just that Down Under and few would bet against them.

The ninth Women’s World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and there promises to be a feast of football as 32 countries battle it out to be the best on the planet.