Ella Toone made a name for herself as a super sub during England’s Euro 2022 victory. Now she is poised to take centre stage at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the midfielder believes the short time in Australia already has changed her, despite struggling to switch off from football.
The Lionesses are in the final few days of preparation ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off on 20 July. Whilst the Euros victors are among the pre-tournament favourites with bookmakers, the team looks substantially different from the 23-player squad from last summer.
Nevertheless, the Lionesses are as fun-loving as a year ago, made more apparent by fan favourite and Manchester United midfielderToone.
During their last open training session on the Sunshine Coast before relocating to their tournament base camp in Terrigal, an hour outside of Sydney, the Lionesses enjoyed an amusing game involving a big yoga ball; even England Boss Sarina Wiegman got involved in the fun training game.
“It’s just a bit of a fun game for us all, four teams, one big ball in the middle, and you’ve just got to whack the ball with your football, and it can’t go over to your side basically,” Toone explained.
“I absolutely love it, but our team kept losing so I’ll definitely have to practice that,” the added with a laugh. “We’ve played it before in different camps but this is the first time we’ve played it in Australia and yeah it definitely brings up a lot of laughs and it’s a fun game to get us going and start the session with.”
The importance of having fun during preparing for what could be the biggest summer yet for the reigning European Champions as they look to end a second summer with silverware has been pivotal for 23 player squad. Enjoyment outside of football, emphasising downtime and learning to switch off is the main focus of the team when not on the pitch.
“It’s really important to have that bit of fun on the pitch, that enjoyment and just that team togetherness really,” the 23-year-old added. “Those fun games always put a smile on people’s faces, and days like today, after a game day, it’s always quite difficult to get out on the pitch; your body’s not 100%, so to have those little fun games always helps.”
Having signed off at home with 0-0 against Portugal, England have played a behind-closed-doors game against reigning Olympic champions Canada that also ended in a goal-less draw. Over two 45 minute halves, with unlimited substituions, 21 of the 23 players gained playing time, including Toone.
The Lionesses have not won a game within 90 minutes since the Arnold Clark Cup in February, whilst England’s last goal came off the boot of the Manchester United player during the Finalissima in April.
Toone spoke about mindset and the pressure going into the tournament whilst delving into how she is preparing for the tournament. However, she revealed there has been a mindset shift in the 11 months since winning the Euros and heading into the final week of World Cup prep.
“We know the World Cup is huge,” she said. “For me, going into this tournament off the back of my first major tournament with England, I’ve just got that bit more experience now.”
“I earned so much about myself at the Euros and I’ve come on this having a bit more experience than other players and just trying to offer that bit of experience, but I don’t think it’s changed massively.
“I think I’ve come into this tournament the same as the Euros, and that’s giving my best, enjoying every moment of it and making sure that I work hard in training and just enjoy the moments and give everything I can every time I put the shirt on for England.”
The Lionesses were one of the first teams to touch down in Australia ahead of the summer, opting to leave the UK over two weeks before their Group D campaign begins, where they face Haiti, Denmark and China. They have spent the past 10 days on the Sunshine Coast, getting used to Australia, adjusting to jetlag and completing training programmes ahead of the tournament.
READ THE LATEST LIONESSES NEWS AHEAD OF THE 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
“I’ve been doing amazing things in Australia. I’ve really found myself here,” Toone said, speaking on making the country her temporary home for at least the next month.
“I never normally wake up early; I’m a proper sleeper. But I woke up early the other day – six o’clock – I went and saw the sunrise,” she explained.
“I absolutely love walking along the beach. And then the other day I went in the sea as well, and luckily the girls got me some goggles; I can’t go in with my eyelashes (on),” she added, her love for eyelash extensions becoming a consistent talking topic all season.
“I was under the waves every single day and I thought ‘wow this is me’. Definitely going in the sea has really made me a changed woman I think. It’s got me trying different things.”
Off the pitch, many of the players have been finding different ways to switch off, connect with the Australian landscape and wildlife and reset in between training sessions. Bethany England told 90min she has been making the most of the beach to relax, while Toone has been discovering a newfound love for literature.
“I’ve actually started reading a book as well, I always say it, but I’ve actually started, so that’s nice. I’m actually reading Jamie Vardy’s autobiography at the minute. I don’t actually read novels, I just read autobiographies, and they’ve got a few pictures in, so that helps,” she added with a laugh.
Whilst time away from training has been instrumental to their preparations, one half of the fan favourite duo of her and former Manchester United teammate Alessia Russo revealed that switch off from football is still something she is learning to do.
“I find it difficult to switch off. I don’t switch off from football,” she said speaking on how she trying to find different things outside of football that make her happy to allow her to switch off mentally.
“I know that it definitely helps when you find something else and you can switch off. For me, I’m 100 miles an hour; I want to be on my feet every day, I want to play football every single day. And one when we have a day off in the week. So it’s definitely hard, but something I’m learning to grow up with and to use to my advantage.”
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