Called Up For the Day: At St. George’s Park with Vauxhall

Becky Wilkins accepts an invitation from England sponsor Vauxhall to train at St George’s Park with head coach Mark Sampson, assistant Marieanne Spacey and midfielder Jade Moore. She describes the journey from Liverpool, the sudden appearance of floodlights over the Staffordshire countryside, and a session on the David Beckham pitch that began with Moore’s warm-up before Spacey led close control, turns and passing drills, insisting there is nothing better than a ball each. Sampson explains how scores are kept to maintain competitive intensity. Wilkins is struck by how closely the basics resemble grassroots training. In accompanying interviews Moore describes double sessions while recovering from an ankle injury, and Sampson welcomes competition for World Cup places, saying England have a chance in Canada but the margin for error is small.