With England women’s football team only needing a point from their last two qualifiers to book a spot at the World Cup in Canada next year, it’s little wonder goalkeeper Karen Bardsley already has her eye on the trip.
Group 6 pacesetters England play Wales tonight in their penultimate qualifier having already racked up 24 points, and with eight wins out of eight the Lionesses are in a strong position to progress.
England and Manchester City’s Bardsley, who joined Nick Cushing’s City outfit from Lincoln last year, hopes the entire national squad feels the same.
“I hope we qualify as soon as we can and I absolutely cannot wait to be back in that environment,” Bardsley told the FA.
“It’s the greatest stage for women’s football that there is and it’s an absolute honour to be a in tournament like that. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
“To this day it’s only maybe rivalled in grandeur by the Olympics.”
American-born Bardsley spent the first five years of her professional career in the States and is looking forward to hopefully heading back out to North America for the finals in Canada next year.
“The World Cup in 2011 was my first major tournament that I had the wonderful opportunity to play in,” said the 29-year-old, who is hoping to represent her country for the second time at a World Cup.
“Women’s football is huge in the States and in Canada so there’s going to be loads of support whenever those two nations play.
“There’s such a massive following for women’s football in general in North America, so the atmospheres across the tournament should be very special indeed.”
With the England women’s rugby team winning the World Cup last week, Bardsley says it has inspired her and the team to aim even higher.
“We’re all really proud of them and the things they have done for women’s sport,” she said.
“I really hope that they get the recognition they deserve for such a great achievement.”
City have four players involved in the England team, including Jill Scott, captain Steph Houghton and Toni Duggan.
Both Houghton and Scott also showed their excitement and shared with their Twitter followers how proud they were of the rugby team.
Both mentioned current England rugby captain Katy Mclean, who proudly lifted the trophy on Sunday in Paris.
Buzzing for @katymc10 lifting the World Cup! Her + @Timmytammy8 deserve every minute of it! #HardWorkPaysOff pic.twitter.com/lzBQLw8cni
— Jill Scott (@JillScott12) August 17, 2014
World Cup Winners… Wow! Goosebumps watching that game! What an achievement! Well done all at @EnglandRugby @katymc10 and Co! ��
— Stephanie Houghton (@stephhoughton2) August 17, 2014
The Lionesses will be hoping to make it past the quarter-finals in Canada, having previously been knocked out in the last eight by the USA and France at the last two competitions.
Main image courtesy of England Football Official via YouTube, with thanks.
