Manchester City’s Duggan: France fixture will test England’s Euro 2017 credentials

Last summer, Toni Duggan ran out on to the pitch in Moncton as a second-half substitute, looking to get back a goal in England’s first World Cup game.

France had taken an early lead courtesy of a well-taken strike from Eugenie Le Sommer – and they defended it until the end.

Now France are heading on to English turf – and Duggan and her team-mates are ready for that challenge.

“I don’t think we have something to prove,” she pointed out.

“But we want to showcase to the world that we’ve come on and we want people to be looking over their shoulders at us.”

Duggan has had a good 2016, winning two pieces of silverware with Manchester City, including the WSL 1 title, which they wrapped up with weeks remaining.

She admits it was hard for the squad to contain their excitement – but they stayed focused and professional because they had the Continental Cup final to come as well as the Champions League round of 32.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

“The Champions League has been brilliant,” she added.

“I had experience of it with Everton, but to go with Manchester City has been a different level – and it’s been a while.

“We’ve got off to a really good start.”

Duggan is playing it down a bit. City beat Zvezda 6-0 on aggregate over two legs, looking impressive in both – and now they face Brondby in the next round, managing to avoid the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Wolfsburg, huge European powers.

“The Russians were good,” she admitted.

“As a player, you want to play the best – any game will be tough.”

She feels much the same about England’s forthcoming opponents – France on Friday night, followed by Spain next week.

“We’re at the stage where we want to be tested against the best, so when we go into the Euros [next summer] it’s no surprise,” Duggan added.

“It’s good preparation.”

England play France at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, on Friday, October 21 (kick-off 8pm).

*Carrie Dunn is SHOOT’s Women’s Football correspondent. Her book ‘The Roar of the Lionesses: Women’s Football in England’ is out now – available in all good bookshops.*