Lucy Quinn reckons she plays her best football when she is angry.
The Birmingham City star hit the pitch last April in the USA with a point to prove - and ultimately her performances against the reigning world champions helped secure her ticket to the World Cup.
Quinn had been omitted from Vera Pauw’s squad for the friendly double-header against the US.
She received a late call and was named player of the match in the second game in St Louis.
“I’ve never taken any position for granted but when I didn’t make that one I was absolutely heartbroken,” she said.
“So when I was called in, it was my chance to give one last effort and leave no stone unturned.
“Maybe the shackles were mentally released. I just had to show my personality.
“Maybe it was a blessing in disguise and Vera needed to see more from me and I managed to pull more from myself.
“I’m glad it happened that way. I needed to find a way to give more.
“I’ve had many things slip by me at club level and in other aspects of my career, and I was determined that this was something that I wasn’t going to leave behind.”
Quinn added: “Maybe I played better when I’m angry. I try to prove people wrong so perhaps it motivated me.
“And I want to push on now. I’ve gone from wanting to be in the squad to wanting to be in the team. I want to put my best foot forward and put myself in the best position.
“I want to kick on from this. I don’t want to go to a World Cup just to enjoy it.
“I want to thrive in whatever role I have, keep pushing myself because I really feel I have a whole lot more to give.”
Izzy Atkinson was a late bolter for the World Cup squad, having been omitted when the training squad was announced last month.
Atkinson felt that the circumstances of her selection gave her the freedom to perform and earn her spot in the final-23.
Quinn had a similar view when it came to her US experience.
“I like to think that I bring a lot to this team, but sometimes maybe I’m too worried about what the team needs me to do and not showing what I can bring personally,” she said.
“So yeah, maybe it was a little bit of freedom in a way that it was now or never to show what I can bring as an individual.
“I think I managed to do that in moments in that game and that has helped massively with getting me on the plane.”
