DEVENTER, August1, 2017 – “Fitter, Faster, Stronger.” That is England’s slogan for the summer.Athleticism is the main theme in every one of the Lionesses’ publicappearances, but having beaten France for the first time since 1974, there isindisputably another dimension to this squad.
Fitness hasplayed its part. During the SheBelieves Cup in March, England were 1-0 aheaduntil the dying minutes of the game – a Marie Laure Delie strike in the80-minute followed by a Wendie Renard header in the 90th .
This timearound in the Netherlands, with much more at stake in the quarter-finals ofUEFA Women's EURO 2017, England held onto their narrow lead. The football wasfar from the best, but they broke a 43-year curse – thanks to their new motto.
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JordanNobbs has been a central figure for England during the European Championship.At only 24, the Arsenal player is the co-captain and play maker of the country.Nobbs thinks that it is something much more that earned them the win.
She said:“Belief is what got us through. The last two years, I can’t even explain howmuch we have believed in this squad. Even going into this game, we were notpacking our bags and going home. We truly believed we were going to win.”
Nobbs’sassertion of mental belief does not take away from the “fitter, faster” elementof England’s new mantra, however.
Lucy Bronzeis another instrumental player for England and as a right-back, spends a lot ofher time running up the flank to defend and attack. The defender thinks thatthe fitness is a huge part of England’s victory and potential to becomewinners.
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She said“If you look at the other teams, they’re maybe not as fit or sharp [asEngland]. The players are going to be at their peak over the competition andwe’re going to feel fitter and fresher as it goes on.”
The FArecently moved the Women’s Super League to a winter season, thus creating aone-off spring tournament to allow the England national players to maintainmatch fitness. This could be an element to the new athletic England, and Bronzecertainly thinks so.
She said:“I think the way that the Spring Series was run was on purpose, the prep campsthat have been set up have been set up for this reason.”
TheLionesses have brought experience with them. Defender Casey Stoney has notpicked up match time so far but EURO 2017 is her sixth tournament with England.
Stoney, ahead of the France game and therefore before England hadmade it to the semi-finals against hosts Netherlands on Thursday, emphasised howmuch she believes in the squad.
She said:“This England team is a different team. We are stronger than we have ever been,physically and mentally.”
Stoney evenwent as far to compare England to France with a bold message attached, saying:“I look at this England squad and I look at the French squad and I want to bein the England squad. There are not many years that I would have said that.
“Everythingwe do in this tournament is rewrite history. Six goals in the opening match,quickest goal.”
Coach Mark Sampsonnamed many of the players who finished third at the 2015 World Cup and eventhis European competition before, so the special ingredient is not the talentof the players. When the players speak about their aspects of the game, they doso with a new fire that perhaps has been lacking in other tournaments.
Maybe theyare onto something with “fitter, faster, stronger.”
