With fewer than 100 days until the World Cup kicks off in Paris, preparations are in their final stages. This is a big week in women’s football, with international teams involved in the Algarve Cup, the Cyprus Cup and the SheBelieves Cup in the United States, where England are competing. These tournaments are key for building momentum and confidence, and for helping the coaches decide which 23 players will go to the World Cup.
Phil Neville said before flying to the US that “the door is not shut on any player with ambitions of making the squad” but it’s certainly closing fast. By now I expect he will have a good idea of what his first-choice team will be, and most of the back-up players he is planning to take. Some of them, such as Seattle’s Jodie Taylor and Chelsea’s Fran Kirby, have not been playing regularly for their clubs, so it will be important to build their confidence on the international stage.
Related: Women’s World Cup 2019: all you need to know with 100 days to go
Related: Beth Mead seals second-half comeback as England Women beat Brazil Women
Continue reading...