Lucy Bronze the linchpin in Lionesses’ comprehensive victory against Belgium

England 5 Belgium 0

Lucy Bronze may no longer be the best player in the world but she is the linchpin of this Lionesses team.

After it was announced this week that the United Kingdom will host the 2035 World Cup, there were jokes that Bronze, who made her 130th appearance for England in their victory over Belgium on Friday night, will still be the first-choice right-back in 10 years’ time.

The defender opened the scoring, created the second for Millie Bright and was involved in the build-up to the third, but her role is so much more than providing goals and assists.

Bronze, who won the Fifa Best award in 2020, is now 33 but she looks as if she could continue to play for another decade. It is ironic that there were question marks over her international future after the 2023 World Cup final, where she was at fault for Spain’s winning goal.

The right-back was adamant then that she would not retire from England and it is just as well she has not yet hung up her boots. Bronze not only drives standards but she is key to the way the Lionesses attack and defend.

In the first of these back-to-back games against Belgium, Bronze was arguably the best player on the pitch as England moved top of their Nations League group.

“She’s an impressive personality and a very impressive player and very intelligent,” England manager Sarina Wiegman said of Bronze.

“She’s a leader in our team and today you saw at moments she feels that you have to be really aggressive, that’s also communicated to the team. That comes across and that gives energy. I’m happy that she’s in good form and working hard for the team.”

When Bronze was forced off with a minor injury against Portugal in February, England conceded their 1-0 lead later in the second half. In that game, the Lionesses were guilty of not building on their dominance. For too long it had felt as though they were playing with the handbrake on. This was the most comfortable they have looked for a long time, as if they had been released from the shackles to unleash the full force of their attacking powers on Belgium.

Bronze was key but Beth Mead and Alessia ...