Euro 2022 winner Demi Stokes insists England can win the Women’s World Cup even with Beth Mead, Fran Kirby and captain Leah Williamson missing through injury.
The Lionesses travel to Australia and New Zealand among the favourites – but that tag comes with the major caveat that Sarina Wiegman’s side will be without arguably their key player in every area of the pitch.
Stokes, who was an unused substitute in the squad that won the European Championship a year ago, admits it has been “gutting to see what the players have gone through” in the build-up to this summer’s tournament but says England still have a group in which “the talent is scary”.
“The positive is they have to focus on who is there,” Stokes tells i. “Leah is doing well with her rehab. She’s in a good headspace. But she’s playing her part, still supporting the girls.
“Although she’s not there, she is there in spirit and pushing the girls and I’m sure she’ll be there supporting and watching the games. It’s gutting for England that they’re missing Leah but they have to focus on the squad that are out there and the other girls will do a good job.
“I’m still confident, if you look at how talented the team is. The talent is scary and there’s people in the squad that can play numerous positions which is such a good luxury to have. I think we’ve still got enough to get the job done.”
What separates England’s starting line-up this summer from a year ago, apart from the personnel, is the feeling of unfamiliarity. Wiegman’s XI is not easy to predict as she has used the build-up to experiment with youngsters and rotated extensively – something she didn’t do at the Euros.
“I think what Sarina did last tournament worked – she knows how to win tournaments, she’s been there,” Stokes adds.
“She’ll be taking that into consideration, numerous people who can play in different positions.
“Sarina was always honest and you knew what your role was once the tournament started. It was important you had that clarity but it was still tough. As a player you want to play, you want to help, you want to contribute.
“But the girls that didn’t get many minutes were part of the reason why we won as well – when you go to tournaments they can be long and they can be draining and it’s about having a good squad, an understanding squad because you’re out there for a long time.
“You don’t see your family or friends, it’s important that your squad players are good people as well. Part of the reason we won as well is that people who didn’t play as much were still pushing in training and trying to make people better. As tough as it is when you’re in that bubble you feel like you’re not really contributing but actually you still are.”
In Williamson’s absence, Millie Bright has been given the captain’s armband, with Lucy Bronze the most experienced member of the squad with over 100 caps.
“It could have been a number of players,” Stokes adds. “It just depends what you want [in a captain] because Millie plays at the back. It all comes naturally to Millie – she does it for her club and she’ll get the girls through. Although she’s got the captain’s armband on there’s other girls there that are leaders and that’s what makes England so good, that they all chip in.”
While Stokes herself will not be at this World Cup after a season of near constant disruption with injuries, there is one obvious consolation – the chance to spend more time with 1-year-old son Harlen, who was born just a month before the Euros.
“My silver lining for this time and me missing out is to spend time with Harlen and [partner] Katie and enjoy family time. Sometimes you just need a reset button to go again. You couldn’t have written my last six months – I was either injured or ill.
“You’ve got to be honest with yourself, I would have been in no position to even contribute or help out or give the best version of me.”
You do not have to delve too deep within women’s football to find stories of players who have been left out in the cold by clubs after becoming parents, but that is not Stokes’ experience at Manchester City, where she has just signed another contract extension.
“The club have been brilliant,” she says.
“He sometimes comes in match day minus one and when you’ve got a big game coming up and it all feels a bit hazy and there’s pressure, I bring Harlen in and the atmosphere changes. Everyone relaxes and chills out so the club have been really good and said bring him in whenever you need to.
“I’ve been honest with them I need the schedule early so I can plan. By all means it’s hard work but if clubs are on board and support [you] and you’ve got a good support system, you can do both. You don’t have to choose.
“Women can do both with the right support. Clubs need to do more and be better because I’ve heard stories at other clubs where it hasn’t been great.
“So I think I’m very lucky but it’s about us in the drivers’ seat. Toni Duggan [the England midfielder is currently on a maternity break from football] has had a baby as well. I think it’s about having conversations within clubs, being open and honest, because it is very new and if you don’t speak up clubs won’t know. So we play a big part in making it better for the future for other women coming through who want to continue their career and have kids as well.”
To celebrate Argos’s 50th Birthday, Lioness and Manchester City player, Demi Stokes returned to Sunderland, to visit her former PE Teacher, Iain Williamson and gift the pupils of Dame Dorothy Primary School with some brand new sports equipment from Argos, helping to inspire the next generation through play.
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