LONDON — Defender Alex Greenwood believes the versatility of England players is a key strength going into the World Cup.
“We’ve got players who can play in a number of positions, and obviously in a tournament that can go on for seven games it can be important that you’ve got fresh players in different parts of the pitch,” she said. “It’s definitely a strength of ours and something we’ll utilise.”
Greenwood said that the Lionesses are keeping their egos firmly in check as they begin their quest for a maiden Women’s World Cup title in a week’s time.
Greenwood’s first experience of the global showpiece was in 2015, when the Lionesses achieved a team-best third-place finish in Canada, and alongside Lucy Bronze is one of just two players on manager Sarina Wiegman’s current roster to have featured in three consecutive World Cups.
Perhaps more than any previous edition, the Lionesses enter this tournament firmly among the favourites to go all the way and unseat two-time defending champions the United States after winning the Euro 2022 final to lift their first major trophy.
Asked how she would rate the sense of belief in the England camp, Greenwood said: “We’re European champions for a reason. High but very humble as well, and we’re a team that’s hard-working and a team I think that’s focused on the job in hand, but I think right now the focus is on the first game and not past that.”
The Lionesses, fourth in the FIFA world rankings, will first take on Haiti – 49 places below them – in Brisbane before travelling to Sydney to face 13th-placed Denmark and conclude the group stage in Adelaide against China, who are 14th.
For the first time the competition has expanded to 32 teams, with the top two from each group progressing to the knockouts.
The prize pot has also increased to $110 million (£84.7million), more than three times what was on offer at the 2019 World Cup in France though still paling in comparison to the $440 million (£337m) distributed after the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar.
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