Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott is backing England's Lionesses to add the World Cup to their trophy haul, saying she will be their "biggest fan" as they launch their campaign in Australia and New Zealand.
The 36-year-old veteran midfielder announced her retirement after helping Sarina Wiegman’s side to European glory last summer. She had won the 161st and last senior cap of her 16-year international career in the 2-1 final victory over Germany at Wembley.
England will head Down Under this summer as one of the favourites and Scott is bullish about their chances. “I’m so excited for that next generation of players," she said. "And you know what? I don’t have to sit on the fence any more, so I’m going to say England are going to win the World Cup.”
Asked if she believes they have a genuine chance of doing that amid stiff competition from holders the United States, the Germans, Sweden and Spain among others, Scott replied: “Definitely. The talent in that squad is incredible. I’ve been so excited watching them and I’m going to be the biggest fan this summer.”
England will have an anxious wait for Arsenal's Beth Mead, who won both the golden boot and player of the tournament awards last summer, and in the autumn injured her knee. She ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in November and faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
Scott said: “I know everybody will be kind of praying and hoping that she makes it. I know she’ll be doing everything she can to try to get back on that pitch as soon as possible, so fingers crossed.”
Scott’s comments came as she became the first of the 23 victorious Lionesses to be honoured by having a Football Foundation-funded pitch named after her. She unveiled the pitch yesterday (Thursday, February 9) at the Perth Green Community Centre in Jarrow, close to her native Sunderland.
The former Sunderland, Everton and Manchester City midfielder won people's hearts off the pitch as well as on when she entered I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! and emerged as the Queen of the Jungle. But she is determined to be remembered primarily for her sporting achievements.
She said: “When I walk past people, they’re, ‘There’s that girl from the jungle,' I do still want to be known for my football, so I’m going to be getting back on the grass and coaching very soon and I’m really excited about that.”
Despite her success, Scott has never lost touch with her roots and was joined as she unveiled the pitch that bears her name by girls from Boldon CA, where she took her first steps in the game as a nine-year-old.
She said with a smile: “I’m a little bit taller, but you know what, I still feel like that girl – and I did right up until that last minute at Wembley, just a young girl that fell in love with football. I never thought that I’d have a pitch named after me. It’s an incredibly special day.”
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