Bronze and Aluko out to prove beating Germany was 'no fluke'

England Women’s duo Lucy Bronze and Eniola Aluko are both aware of the significance of Thursday’s match against Germany in Duisburg.

Both players were involved as the Lionesses defeated the European champions to win bronze at this summer’s World Cup.

It was the first time in 21 attempts that England had beaten the two-time world champions and eight-time Euro winners.

And Bronze has urged her teammates to go all out for victory again when they meet Silvia Neid’s side and show that the result in Canada was not a one-off.

She said: “We need to beat them again to prove that we are up there and that the bronze medal wasn’t a fluke.

“We are highly capable of doing that and to go away to Germany and win would be absolutely incredible.”

Meanwhile, Aluko, who is closing in on her 100th cap, knows England must play against the world’s best teams on a regular basis if they are to build on their third-place finish at Canada 2015.

“It will be a tough game," said the 28-year-old said. 

“They will be very motivated after the World Cup match so it will be even harder to play them than usual, but we need to play these type of games.

England celebrate World Cup bronze

“It is difficult to play matches that you win 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, then play in a major tournament, so we need experience against the top nations.

“We’ve played China and Australia recently, won one and lost one, and now Germany.”

After Thursday’s match, England will take on Bosnia & Herzegovina in a Euro 2017 qualifier at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate on Sunday.

It is their second qualifier following the comprehensive 8-0 rout of Estonia in September and the first home match since the World Cup.

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for children and can be purchased via TheFA.com/Tickets or by calling 01179 630 600. A family ticket (two adults and two children), priced £10, is also available.

The game will also be live on BBC Two from 3.15pm (KO 3.30pm).