England's Lionesses' poignant vow to fans as they make emotional statement
Young England fans gorging on “football for breakfast” will be inspired by the World Cup in Australia this summer, star Lotte Wubben-Moy says.
As the team prepared to face Denmark, the centre-back said watching the Lionesses in the tournament is the kind of validation that was lacking when she and her teammates were girls.
Speaking on Lionesses Down Under with Jill Scott, she said: “The fact that we’re on TV and young kids can look up to us and dream, it’s what every current and past Lioness would have liked to have had when we were kids. So I think we’re just doing what we wish we could have done for our younger selves and do our younger selves credit.”
The team’s youngest relatives will be among 40,000 fans screaming for England to go through to the next stage of the World Cup. Lucy Bronze’s niece Alzira, two, and nephew Freddie, three, are two of the youngest in the entourage of family members who have flown Down Under to watch their loved ones in the tournament.
Their parents – Lucy’s older brother Jorge and his wife, Charis – landed in Sydney this week. Right-back Lucy told the Mirror: “They’re probably two of the younger ones that have come over. They both think me playing for England in big stadiums is normal, and playing in World Cups.
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“My nephew’s first-ever game was at Wembley in a friendly against Germany. Their perception of Aunty Lucy is always in big stadiums with thousands of fans screaming for football and they absolutely love it.”
Lucy’s mum, Diane, is also in Oz supporting the team, as they reinforced their mission to fight for girls’ grassroots football. Lucy told comedian Amelia Dimoldenberg: “When I had to stop playing with the boys, my aunty and my mum wanted to sue anyone who told me I couldn’t play football any more.”
Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, and Rachel Daly in training yesterday (The FA via Getty Images)Star Georgia Stanway will have brother Sol cheering her on in the stands alongside the rest of her family. Mary Earps has her mum Julie, while Alessia Russo has parents Carol and Mario, and Jordan Nobbs has dad Keith and cousin Michael supporting her.
England tackle Denmark today at 9.30am UK time – and Danish star Pernille Harder has vowed to “make it difficult”. But the Lionesses squad have been training hard – while also making time for their creative sides.
Alex Greenwood revealed she had been painting, while Lotte showed off her doodle book.
She said: “I’d like to remove barriers to creativity. It’s the same with football, take all the red tape away and enjoy the games. The games are free to watch in England, people can wake up early and catch a cracking game.”
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