Millie Bright: How England defender left her mark on Lionesses

Bright’s grasp on a leading England role began with him playing in five of six matches at the 2019 World Cup in the run-up to the semi-finals.

He was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the United States’ semi-final defeat; Although this match ended on a bad personal note for Bright, it was a match that portended England’s future success.

Bright, a mainstay under former manager Phil Neville, was among those who began to guide England towards a major tournament final but fell short as interest in the women’s game slowly increased.

They were a long way from selling out the crowds at Wembley Stadium and were still struggling for key resources at club level, but they had formed one of the teams that were beginning to ask questions of the all-conquering United States.

But it wasn’t until 2022 that Bright cemented her place in the Lionesses’ history and had her biggest year for her country.

Alongside captain Williamson, they formed a formidable partnership at the Euros, leading from the back and guiding the young but talented England team to success.

Although she didn’t dominate the headlines like Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead or Mary Earps, she was undoubtedly one of the stars.

A bright presence who often came out on top in one-on-one duels, Bright was often Wiegman’s go-to guy off the pitch and even had a job up front when needed – most notably finishing as joint top scorer in the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup in 2022 and sharing the Golden Boot award with then-Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

As vice-captain, he had a voice in the locker room, was a key part of Wiegman’s leadership group and was someone young players often turned to for advice.

She was considered one of the jokers of the group and was often seen standing next to her best friend Rachel Daly or in the middle of a TikTok dance with Mary Earps.

He became a familiar name among casual viewers following England’s Euro 2022 victory and carries the weight of responsibility heading into the 2023 World Cup in Williamson’s absence, knowing that external expectations have increased tenfold.

Off the pitch she has been a fierce advocate for mental health support and has been among those playing a key role in calling for equal access to girls’ football in schools following the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 success.