2023 Women’s World Cup: Pressure off England after Euros win, says Bronze

England won its first major title last year on home soil, overcoming Germany in the final at Wembley and is looking to improve on its semi-final runs at the previous two World Cups when this year’s event takes place in Australia and New Zealand in July-August.

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: Lucy Bronze, in action for Barcelona in their Champions League final against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, said that instead of feeling like England had a target on their backs now, the squad would be more relaxed. | Photo Credit: Eric Alonso/ Getty Images

Winning the European Championship has taken some of the pressure off England going into the Women’s World Cup, full back Lucy Bronze said, despite the Lionesses being touted as one of the teams to beat in the tournament.

England won its first major title last year on home soil, overcoming Germany in the final at Wembley and is looking to improve on its semi-final runs at the previous two World Cups when this year’s event takes place in Australia and New Zealand in July-August.

Bronze, in action for Barcelona in their Champions League final against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, said that instead of feeling like England had a target on their backs now, the squad would be more relaxed and could even emulate the record of reigning champions and four-time winners the United States.

“I think every tournament I’ve been part of after 2015, it was like an expectation that England should be making finals and winning, even though it’s something we’ve never experienced before,” Bronze told Reuters.

“Whereas now we’ve been there, we’ve done that we’ve won a trophy. We’ve done it... So the pressure of being of having to win something, it’s probably not there as much.

“I think that’s something that the U.S. has always helped them in, especially the previous World Cup, where it came up against tough teams. The experience of knowing how to deal with the pressure and knowing how to win in big games, saw it lift the trophy in the end,” the 31-year-old added.

“So I think our experiences are invaluable in that respect and probably takes a little bit of pressure away.”

Sarina Wiegman’s England, who has only lost one game in 31 under the Dutchwoman, begin its World Cup campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 and also face Denmark and China in its group.

The coach revealed her squad for the tournament on Wednesday and much of the coverage focused on the players missing, with Euros golden boot winner Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson among those sidelined through injury.

However, Bronze was confident the Lionesses had the adequate squad depth to spread the load.

“We’re missing a few players through injury, sadly, some key players, but I think it’ll just give the chance for people to step up in different positions,” she said.

“We’ve got an exciting team... And hopefully we can make the final. I think that’s the one thing that we’re missing in England is a World Cup final (appearance).”