With just a few weeks to go until the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019 takes place in Liverpool, we’ve all been waiting on tenterhooks to hear who will have made the England squad and who we’ll be relying on to bring us home the gold.
Well, England Netball has finally made the announcement, revealing the 12-strong squad who will be competing between July 12th and 21st.
Serena Guthrie, who made her debut against Malawi back in 2008, will be captaining the Vitality Roses, alongside vice-captain Jade Clarke, Eboni Usoro-Brown, Helen Housby, Joanne Harten, Chelsea Pitman, Natalie Haythornthwaite and Geva Mentor, all of whom were part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games team that won the gold medal.
The lineup also includes Layla Guscoth and Rachel Dunn, while rising stars Natalie Panagarry and Francesca Williams will be competing in their first-ever netball World Cups.
Tracey Neville, head coach, said: “There were some really tough decisions to make in selection. The World Cup is a challenging competition due to its format and the potential opposition we could come up against.
“All of the players selected are at their physical peak and have shown through the international and Vitality Netball Superleague season that they are able to consistently perform well under extreme pressure, which is crucial leading into July.”
Guthrie went on to add that after the victory at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, the pressure is certainly on to try and win again on a global stage – but the competition is even tougher than before, so it’s comforting that it will be taking place on home soil, with the support of the nation behind the team.
If you find you’re unable to secure tickets for the event of your choice – or perhaps you’d rather just watch the games elsewhere – the fine city of Liverpool has set up a fan arena in Chavasse Park, part of Liverpool ONE, so that netball fans from all over the world won’t miss any of the action.
A huge screen will be set up to play the games, while other activities will be ongoing such as street theatre, music, netball activities and other entertainment. A series of talks will also be hosted by inspirational women, as well as appearances from elite international netball players – so keep your eyes well peeled.
The World Cup is also a great opportunity to explore the city of Liverpool, so make sure you spare some time for that as well. The competition is taking place along the waterfront so you’re in prime position to really explore the culture, heritage, sport and shopping that the metropolis has to offer.
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