Ella Toone has careworn England are set to go into this summer season’s World Cup nonetheless well-equipped to prosper regardless of the damage setbacks which were “really difficult to take”.
Skipper Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have been dominated out of the event in Australia and New Zealand by accidents, whereas Beth Mead, who claimed the Golden Boot and participant of the event award when the group gained the Euros final yr, can also be lacking.
Toone, scorer of the opener within the 2-1 victory over Germany after extra-time that clinched the trophy at Wembley, advised the PA information company: “The injuries are really difficult to take.
“No-one ever wants to see team-mates and other players have bad injuries like that. So it’s been difficult, and players that are a massive part of our squad.
“But we have to focus on what we have, and that is so much talent within the squad. We have young girls coming up now into the squad who have unbelievable talent.
“So I think for us it’s about going there, being confident in ourselves and each other, and hopefully we can do the nation proud again.
“We know what it takes to win a trophy and how it feels once you win it, and we want that feeling so many more times for our country. So it’s about going there with that belief, belief in the squad, in ourselves, and just playing the football we love playing.
“We know we have a target on our backs now but I think as players we thrive off that.”
England’s prolonged unbeaten run underneath boss Sarina Wiegman got here to an finish of their most up-to-date outing, final month’s 2-0 loss to Australia in Brentford.
Toone regards the defeat as “a useful thing”, including: “We lost, and that’s part and parcel of football. I think you learn so much from games like that, and it probably came at a perfect time for us. It’s definitely not a worry, and we’ll learn from it.”
The 23-year-old Manchester United star was talking on the unveiling of the ‘Ella Toone Pitch’ on the new William Fosters Hub in Ince, Wigan, a brief distance from her house city of Tyldesley.
It is one among 23 Football Foundation-funded pitches that shall be named after every of the Lionesses from final summer season’s Euros triumph, with Jill Scott’s having been the primary unveiled in February.
The pitches are a part of the Football Foundation’s ‘HERe to Play’ marketing campaign that celebrates the charity’s dedication to delivering services offering equal entry to girls and women enjoying soccer.
Toone mentioned: “It’s amazing. Growing up and starting out my football journey, I never once thought there would be a pitch named after me – it’s an honour.”
Developments because the Euros have additionally included the Football Association reporting elevated feminine participation figures, and the announcement of a Government package deal to spice up faculty sport and equal entry to it, in addition to document attendances at girls’s video games.
On the general image of the impression the Euros win has had, Toone mentioned: “It’s been amazing. I think for us, that’s what it was all about – obviously we wanted to win the tournament, but how can we really help women’s football grow?
“After the win it’s blown up massively, but for us, it’s about keeping our foot on the gas and using our platforms as best we can to really help grow the game. I think for us it’s always about equal access for girls and boys and hopefully we can get many starting out on their football journeys.”
The unveiling of the 3G pitch got here because the Government introduced funding of £64million, working alongside its Football Foundation companions the Premier League and the FA, to construct and improve 1,600 grassroots sports activities websites throughout England this yr.
Facilities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will profit from £3.8m being invested by the Government in partnership with the FAs in every house nation.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport mentioned at the very least 50 per cent of funding shall be spent in underprivileged areas.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer advised PA: “It’s really levelling up across the country. It’s really important because some young people will want to be the next Ella Toone, Harry Kane or Jill Scott, and these facilities will enable them to do that.”
