Millie Bright vows England will ‘play the game of our lives’ with Lionesses one win away from World Cup glory

MILLIE BRIGHT vowed England will play the game of their lives - and the Lionesses' way - with the team one dream win away from lifting the World Cup.  

And the upbeat centre-back, 29, thanked the record number of fans at home preparing to tune in to watch Sarina Wiegman warriors go toe-to-toe with Spain.

The Derbyshire-born centre-back will make history when she steps on the pitch at Stadium Australia in Sydney tomorrow.

The Chelsea ace, whose rise to the top, began as a nine-year-old at Killamarsh Dynamos FC in Sheffield, will become the first player to captain England in a Women’s World Cup final.

Bright said: “We know how passionate our nation is back home and how much they want us to win.

“But for us, there is a process. We have a game plan to execute. We need to play the game of our lives.

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“Everyone knows how big this is. I think it has been in the players’ dreams for years.”

Before the start of the tournament, Bright revealed the inspiration behind the design of a dreamcatcher tattoo she has on her left arm.

The Lionesses star says it was inspired by her mother’s message to her to “dream big”.

On how Bright’s childhood self might respond if she was told she would one day captain England at a World Cup final, she added:  “She would have probably said you were being silly, and it was never going to happen.

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“But I guess dreams come true. I just think it’s a really proud moment and as a squad, we are just really proud of our journey and the tournament and how far we have come.

“We are finally getting a shot at the trophy like we always wanted.”

The Lionesses’ semi-final knockout of tournament co-hosts Australia saw them pull in their highest number of TV viewers of the contest so far.

A peak of audience 7.3 million tuned into BBC One on Wednesday morning to watch them beat the Matildas 3-1 in front of a 75,784-strong crowd at the venue for today’s decider.

Bright, who has 72 senior caps, added: “We’d like to say thank you not only to the fans back home but the fans here as well.

“We’ve felt really welcomed and really special. Every game has been incredible.

“Back home, we’ve seen the videos, we really appreciate everyone setting their alarm clocks and making the effort to support us even though we’re a million miles apart.

“It’s amazing what football can do, in really bringing everyone together, especially our nation. “We’re really proud and (we want) stick with us for one more game.”

England’s march to the first World Cup final has not come without its hurdles.

This includes the pre-tournament knee injuries for three of Euros–winning stars - Beth Mead, Fran Kirby and Leah Williamson.

Bright said: “It’s difficult but it is football as a player you understand at any given time something could pop up and things could change.

“Football is never a given while we’d love everyone to be here we’ve shown how adaptable we are

“We’re really blessed as a nation we have such a big pool to choose from and so much talent as well as the  mentality and the culture we have in the England set-up.”

Four years ago Bright was part of a Phil Neville-managed England side that suffered World Cup semi-final heartbreak losing to the USA in France.

Since the arrival of Wiegman the team has seen a massive change in their fortunes encapsulated by their Euros triumph on home soil last summer.

And Bright puts this down to their boss allowing her players to express themselves without fear of making mistakes.

Of her head coach Bright added: “We don't fear making mistakes and for me, that is the biggest thing.

“Football is such a beautiful thing but maybe when you play it a little bit hesitant you don't see the best in people.

“For me with Sarina coming in, we've had a real shift in confidence and playing the style that we want to play.

“I'd like to think all the fans have seen that and we have played some of our best football and everyone's just loving every single minute."

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