MILLIE BRIGHT wants England to get to “a place of consistency” following a winless start in their first Nations League outing this year.
The Lioness vice-captain, 31, says the team have much to do before their Wembley clash with World Cup winners Spain.
The Lioness centre-back and her team-mates were held to 1-1 draw by Portugal in their first Nations League outing this year[/caption]
England’s next opponents suffered a scare against Belgium before battling from 2-0 down to secure a 3-2 win in their Nations League clash[/caption]
Friday night saw the reigning Euros champs held to a draw by plucky Portugal after Kika Nazareth’s curled strike caught the visitors out following Alessia Russo’s opener.
The 1-1 result at Portimao Stadium has led to questions about the Lionesses’ recent mixed form before one of their biggest international tests this year.
On Wednesday they face a battle with a side aiming to swipe their Euros crown having beaten them in the 2023 World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.
Despite their Friday night draw, Bright has backed England to get closer to the “levels they want to be at” before their Euros title defence begins in July.
When asked if she had any concerns about the team’s form, Bright said: “No, not at all.
“Football is a journey and we’ve been in this position before when we’re in a really good place and things are going our way.
“But then we go through moments where other teams progress and get better.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do and that’s just part of the game.
“There is work to be done but we’re aware of what we need to do.
“With each game we just have to make sure we keep closing the gap and get closer and closer to the levels we want to be at.
“Putting that work in on the training pitch is the most important thing.”
Including their result on Friday England have been winless in three of their last seven Nations League games since September 2023.
Two of these results include away losses to the Netherlands and Belgium.
In two of their last four friendlies of 2024, they fell to a 4-3 loss to 2022 Euros finalists Germany, whilst also drawing 0-0 with Emma Hayes’ USA stars.
England’s score draw with Portugal was the second time since July 2023 that the 22nd best team in the world have shared the spoils with Sarina Wiegman’s side.
Bright added: “With the (Fifa) rankings people might look at those and think we should be battering this team but as players we don’t look at it like that.
“We’ve seen the results they’ve been getting, their performances and the threats they challenged us with.
“We’re just going to focus on working on ourselves.
“We have to keep that strong mindset to know that we’ve got to get to where we want to be.”
Where England fans hope the Lionesses will be next is on the winning side of their next Nations League encounter.
An upcoming clash with Spain will see Wiegman’s players go toe-to-toe with the team that denied them a dream World Cup win in Australia almost two years ago.
On Friday their Spain battled back from 2-0 down against Belgium, to seal a dramatic 3-2 win in group two of League A in the Nations League.
However Bright believes there are positives England can build on before facing Spain.
The 85-capped Lioness said: “As a group we are trying to get to that place of consistency, but that takes time.
Alessia Russo reckons England need to be more rutless with scoring chances in their next Nations League game[/caption]
“There are lots of things to work on and when you’re playing a top team that poses threats.
“I think the biggest thing is just keeping the ball better and the possession all over the pitch.
“We need to just stick together as a group, get back on the training pitch and work hard and be ready for a big game on Wednesday.”
