'Every player and staff member are so special to this team’

Jess Carter has spoken of feeling privileged to be a part of the England Women squad and said ‘every player and staff member are so special to this team’.

Carter made her senior England debut back in 2017 but then had to wait almost four years for another call-up, when Sarina Wiegman named the Chelsea defender in her first squad after becoming the Lionesses’ head coach in September 2021.

The versatile 25-year-old has since established herself as a mainstay in Wiegman’s squads and was part of the group that lifted the Lionesses’ first major trophy at the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO.

Carter’s importance to England has grown even further in this summer’s World Cup, playing in five of the six games so far and being one of her side’s most consistent performers as England booked their place in a first Women’s World Cup final on Sunday against Spain.

Speaking on Thursday’s episode of Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE, Carter said: “This team have been incredible. The mentality is something we’ve spoken about and everyone’s resilience to get through some tough games and moments where we didn’t actually have the best performance.

“It’s our resilience that has got us through. Every player and staff member are so special to this team and I feel really privileged to play with them all.”

England beat Australia 3-1 on Wednesday to book their place in Sunday’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against Spain.

But while her team-mates celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle, Carter revealed she had already headed back into the changing room for an ice bath as ‘I couldn’t feel my legs’ having worked tirelessly in the heart of the Lionesses’ defence.

Carter said the magnitude of reaching a World Cup final has not hit her yet as she has solely been focused on her recovery and preparing for what will be the biggest match of her life.

She said: “We’re just in the moment so much and so focused. I’m focused on trying to reset and get ready again, so I’m not able to process what we’ve achieved already.

“When we step onto the pitch on Sunday it’s going to be an incredible feeling and that’s when it will all sink in. For now, I’m just focused on recovering and getting ready to go again, so for me it’s not really sunk in yet.”

One of the features of Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE involves the players being asked questions submitted by the England fans.

One of those asked Carter what is your biggest motivator before a match, to which she replied: “Just my family really. The support they have given me, well forever and especially in this tournament, has been incredible.

“I always look for them in the crowd when I go out and it gives me that extra bit of oomph to get going again.”

Carter and Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE co-hosts Jill Scott and Kyle Walker were joined on the sofa by Ella Toone.

The Manchester United midfielder scored the opening goal of the game against Australia and admitted she was lost in the moment when it came to celebrating.

She said: “We were watching the goals back and someone said: ‘You’ve just done five different celebrations in one!’

“When you’re in the moment everything goes out the window. It was unbelievable.”

Lots of love for our @lauren__hemp! 😍 😅 pic.twitter.com/vRH3miVqtF

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 17, 2023

Toone has become the first England senior team player in history, men’s or women’s, to score in a quarter-final, semi-final and final of a major tournament after her goals at last summer’s EURO.

Now she will hope to add another final goal in Sunday’s showpiece event at Stadium Australia.

Toone said: “It’s so special, but the turnaround is so quick you don’t have time to think about it. We were walking around the pitch at the end of the game and I said to one of the girls: ‘We’re actually going to a World Cup Final!’

“It’s something we’ve all dreamed of since we were little girls, so obviously we’re all buzzing. It’ll definitely kick in when we step onto the pitch on Sunday.”

You can watch the latest episode of Lionesses: Down Under connected by EE with Carter and Toone in full above and the rest of the shows are also available at the EnglandFootball.com homepage.