Bedford: ‘We’re excited now to build our own legacy’

Lydia Bedford says her England women's under-20s squad are ready to “build their own legacy” for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

The Young Lionesses will head to the finals in September, with Bedford believing the depth of her squad, which was confirmed last week, will be a key strength during the tournament.

England face Canada first on 5 September, before taking on Tanzania on 8 September and Brazil on 11 September in the group stage. The competition runs until 27 September.

“What excites me most about this squad is actually just the depth," Bedford says in a video available in full on the official England app.

“I think, as a talent pathway, we've got history of producing fantastic players, and when I've had to sit with, for hours, with the technical team, thinking about what mixture of players is going to help us the most, there's just so much talent to pick from, and I think we've shown in every fixture we've played in the build-up that we can change our starting team multiple times, and we've still had really positive performances.

“So knowing that you have that depth and that you can make changes in key moments, just gives me a real feeling of confidence going into the event.”

England have been preparing for the tournament since the summer, with Bedford pleased with the way her players have responded to the demands placed upon them.

“History tells you that success in tournament football is about fine moments and recognising how to bring your best version of football, regardless of who you're playing. We're very confident that we've given them the absolute best grounding going into this event, and hopefully now they can bring that to life.”

The opportunity to represent England at a major tournament is also an important step in the players' development, with Bedford highlighting the pathway from youth international football to the senior Lionesses.

“Everyone in this group knows how big an opportunity it is for the players to be able to represent England at another U20 World Cup.

“We've talked many a time about the number of players that have represented England at U20 World Cups, and gone on to now represent the senior Lionesses, and they've pushed themselves really hard to be in the best position going into the tournament. So I think they're incredibly excited now to build their own legacy.”

The squad will also have the chance to catch the eye of Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman, who will be in Poland to watch during the group stage.

“It's going to be a tournament that Sarina herself is going to come out and watch, which is incredibly great for our players, that they know she's going to be there supporting them, in the games.”

And with the finals now approaching, Bedford believes her players are ready for the challenge ahead.

“I genuinely think we've given them everything we possibly can, and we're in a really strong place in terms of squad selection. So, very excited just to see, you know, how the next three weeks turn out, and I'm going to be incredibly proud to represent the Lionesses myself standing on the side of the pitch.”