Inside the Lionesses’ camp: how England’s stars are preparing for the Women’s World Cup semi-final clash

From music and mentors to a social media blackout, the Lionesses’s are ready for one of the biggest games of their lives, writes Adam Millington

The Lionesses have created a unique culture and environment to help prepare for each Women’s World Cup match (The FA via Getty Images)

The Lionesses are on the eve of their biggest test yet. Last summer England won the Euros on home soil, now they aim to secure a first-ever Women’s World Cup final and avoid a third straight semi-final exit with co-hosts Australia and a hostile Sydney atmosphere in their way.

How, then, do the players cope in the face of such pressure? What are the secret ingredients that have helped Sarina Wiegman to build a winning team?

Wiegman views targeted downtime to be a key facet of England’s performance. It is something that is not just needed to recover from training but a way to enhance the squad.