On Saturday, England’s Lionesses will begin their homecoming campaign. They are set to face Brazil at the City of Manchester Stadium (known as the Etihad Stadium at club level), kicking off at 17:30 BST. Manchester City captain and England defender Alex Greenwood said that she viewed the contest as a good way for the team to challenge themselves against strong opposition.
Earlier this week, Lucy Bronze was announced as England’s player of the year and Greenwood has mirrored much of Bronze’s career, having been side by side for all of it but one year; Bronze made her debut in 2013, Greenwood a year later. On her teammate, Greenwood said: “Lucy is a great person before footballer. She does so much for the team that goes unnoticed from everybody else. She definitely makes our lives easier.”
After the Euros this summer, Arjan Veurink departed the England team to take on the role of Head Coach for the Dutch national team. Meamwhile, Arvid Smit and Janneke Bijl went the other way to join Sarina Wiegman in England. Other than new backroom staff, some new names have been added to the team sheet. Taylor Hinds, Lucia Kendall, and Grace Fisk can potentially make their debuts in this international break.
“Having fresh faces is always nice,” said Greenwood. “[For] new players coming in, to have the experience as well. The backroom staff have been great so far, the training sessions have been really fun, it’s been nice to get to know them off the pitch as well. So far so good.”
“New voices are always different. We haven’t changed significantly. But yea, having fresh faces is nice, the players react to that as well, and see it as a bit of a challenge too. It’s been really positive,” she added.
The Lionesses are set to face Brazil at the City of Manchester Stadium, Greenwood’s home turf when it comes to club football. She played with England in Manchester in 2022 during the Euros on home soil – albeit at Old Trafford.
“Yes it will be [special]. A lot of our players have some affiliation to Manchester, so it will be nice for not just me but a lot of our players in the team. But for me personally, going back to the Etihad will be really special and a really great occasion,” Greenwood said.
On the back of the Euros this summer, the Lionesses will now be going into a new cycle as they look toward the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Greenwood reflected on how the squad mentally parks what they have achieved in the summer, and go again now.
“It’s important that we enjoy what we did in the summer. We haven’t just turned up and forgotten about it. We have talked about it. We will continue to do that. But in the same breath we are also focused on the next challenge, which is tomorrow, and the next three games after that, she said”
It’s also a clash between two continental champions. Brazil, winners of the Copa América over the summer, will face European champions England in a precursor to next year’s Finalissima between the same two sides.
As queens of their continent, Brazil have a South American mentality, flair, physicality, and will be looking for one on one duels. When asked what she looks forward to most, the Greenwood said: “Challenging ourselves against an opposition you don’t really get the chance to. It will be a really good test for us to see where we are at.
“[The World Cup] is far away. I wouldn’t say it is at the forefront of my mind right now, there is so much to do before then. But I would also be lying if I didn’t say it would be something I’ve thought about and wanted to do. The team is also motivated to do that, but I think we take each step as it comes and I think we have some challenges before then and quite a lot of preparation time as well,” she added.
With the new cycle, and changes in the squad, the need to perform every single day, every single camp, is there. Levels rise, injuries happen, new players come in, there is always a reason to need to prove yourself. “It’s important of course. You need to remain consistent, you need to remain fit and healthy to be available, but so much can change over the course of two years. For me, personally, I just concentrate on my own performances and playing the best I can, when I can,” Greenwood said.
England will face Brazil at the City of Manchester Stadium at 17:30 BST on Saturday 25 October.