Duggan eager to aid England’s World Cup bid after recovering from injury

Toni Duggan is set to be fit for Englands clash with Japan on Wednesday and admits she is itching to get out there.Duggan sustained a thigh problem in training the day after the Lionesses arrived in France for the Womens World Cup, and subsequently sat out their opening two Group D games as Phil Nevilles side beat Scotland 2-1 and then Argentina 1-0.Asked about Wednesdays match in Nice, Barcelona forward Duggan told Press Association Sport: Im going to be fit, so I have a big smile on my face. pic.twitter.com/8Znun8DOx4 Toni Duggan (@toniduggan) June 17, 2019Its really frustrating to pick up an injury at any point in a year, but the first day of a World Cup was really, really disappointing.Im back now and I want to look ahead and hopefully help the team in the tournament. Im itching to get out there.The 27-year-old, who has scored 22 goals in 72 appearances for England, added: To miss training sessions, not be around the team, be doing stuff individually, it can be quite tough. But Ive tried to stay positive.Barcelona forward Toni Duggan has scored 22 goals for England (Graham Stuart/PA)I know its a team game and I need to help my team-mates, and Im one of the more experienced squad members, so Ive tried to do that. Quite a few of the girls are at their first World Cup, so Ive tried to have an input off the pitch, which hopefully has been effective.But I think now its time for me to have an input on the pitch.Duggan was in the England team beaten 2-1 by Japan in the semi-finals of the 2015 tournament in Canada, a match settled by Laura Bassetts injury-time own goal. It was a first appearance in the last four of a Womens World Cup for England then managed by Mark Sampson and they subsequently finished third.Duggan feels the team achieved the major target four years ago in that they inspired a nation and has stressed that this time were here to win it.She said of the 2015 semi-final: Crazy game. To lose a game in the last minute when your team-mate scores an own goal, its really difficult, for us as a team and for the individual.Heartbreak for Englands Women! Laura Bassetts late own goal sees Japan win 2-1 in Edmonton. pic.twitter.com/hCozmdpxVi PA Dugout (@PAdugout) July 2, 2015But what a tournament. I reflect on that tournament with great memories to be honest.Obviously its always disappointing when you lose, but I think we inspired a nation. That was our biggest aim that year. I think this year theres a different focus were here to win it.Theres a lot of belief in the squad. If you compare the two squads, weve kept the kind of core group together and I think thats been part of our success.I look through the team-sheet and squad list and I think wow Ive known some of these players 10, 12, 15 years. For me, on the pitch, thats one of the most important things. You see our togetherness.So, Group D:1 #ENG (Q)2 #JPN3 #ARG4 #SCO #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/k1rkbwsXCG FIFA Womens World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 14, 2019The first two games in this tournament havent been easy, theyve been difficult, against tough opponents. But youve seen the real togetherness.Having already secured a place in the last 16, England head into their concluding group game on Wednesday looking to seal top spot in the pool.Duggan said: Its not about any revenge or how we played last time (in 2015) against Japan. Its just about topping the group at this World Cup, thats our aim.Japan are second with four points, having drawn 0-0 with Argentina and beaten Scotland 2-1.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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