Seven amazing stories about England’s Lionesses

After topping their group with a 100% record, and beating France for the first time in 43 years, the Lionesses of England’s women's football team have roared their way into a Euro 2017 semi-final showdown with the Netherlands tonight.

With eight-time winners Germany already knocked out, and having already seen off the French, this England team have a real chance of winning the competition.

Lionesses boss Mark Sampson is the first England manager since World Cup-winner Sir Alf Ramsey to reach consecutive semi-finals at major tournaments, after guiding the team to third-place at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

In what has already been a fantastic summer for British women’s sport, fans have clearly been swept along by the journey – Sunday’s 1-0 victory over France pulled in 3.3 million viewers – the biggest peak TV audience for women’s football, external.

If the Lionesses continue their run, they’ll be on course to make more history, so we wanted to take a look at some of the amazing personal stories of the players who make up the squad…

Fara Williams – England’s most capped player, who was homeless at 17

Midfielder Fara Williams is England’s most capped player, with 164 appearances and 40 international goals. She is a two-time FA International Player of the Year, FA Young Player of the Year (2002), and FA Players’ Player of the Year (2009), and has won the Premier League Cup with Everton and Liverpool FC. She is also an MBE.

All pretty impressive.

Perhaps more so when one considers that, at the age of 17, Fara left home after a family argument and was homeless for seven years. Though she never slept rough, she spent a spell moving between hostels and friends' houses. This was at the time that she was playing for Charlton Athletic.

Fara has said, external: “My situation was like that of many young people who become homeless. I just felt I couldn’t stay at home any more. I was from a loving home, but it was also a broken home. It got to the point where it was easier for me to leave.”

At first, Fara tried to hide her situation from team-mates, but England coach Hope Powell (whose mother is a foster carer) noticed Fara was struggling and helped her get into a hostel.

Fara is now reunited with her mother, and she mentors players at events like the Homeless World Cup.

Speaking of her past, Fara has said, external, “The most annoying thing about being homeless is that you get judged without people knowing your story.

"That was the hardest thing for me. Sometimes it just happens. You can lose your job or your family.”

Toni Duggan - first English player to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker

Scouse winger Toni Duggan became the first English player to sign for the Catalan club in 31 years when she completed a move from Manchester City earlier this year.

Duggan was named FA Young Women's Player 2009 and Women's U-23 Player of the Year 2012.

Like lots of her team-mates, Toni started playing as a kid in boys' teams, and trained in Stanley Park, which separates Goodison and Anfield.

After signing for Everton in 2007, she moved on to Manchester City in 2014, where she courted controversy after posting a picture of herself with Louis van Gaal, following a derby day defeat by Manchester United. Ouch. She apologised for that faux-pas, external...

Her grandad travels to see her play, but, since her move to Barcelona, has reportedly told her "that's a bit far for home games, kid".

Oh, and she used to do a bit of Morris dancing as a child, apparently...

Karen Carney overcame depression and claustrophobia

Winger Karen Carney has over 100 international caps, having played in a record seven straight major tournaments – more than any player in English history (male or female). She has twice been named FA Young Player of the Year and, at 18, won the quadruple with Arsenal, including the UEFA Women’s Cup.

There was a stage, though, when she almost gave up on football after a battle with depression. In 2011, Carney returned to Birmingham City after a spell in the US with Chicago Red Stars and she couldn’t bring herself to train.

"There was one point where I wouldn't get out of my car,” she has said.

"I hated football with a complete passion. I had no desire. I had no want to do it.”

Team-mate Laura Bassett was instrumental in helping her through that. "She literally dragged me out of my car and she was like, 'You're coming with me',” Karen said.

She seems to be enjoying her football again now, and key to that is the support of her team-mates.

“I think we’re enjoying it more because we not only have a great team, but we also really care about each other,” she said recently, external.

Carney also turned 30 the other day. Not sure that cake is part of a regulation training diet, though...

Jade Moore – recovered from heart problems at 17

Reading midfielder Jade Moore, 27, made her England senior team debut in 2012, and was part of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup team that took home bronze medals.

But 10 years ago, Jade was found to have two holes in her heart after a cardiac screening. The news forced her to think about her options.

"It did happen at a crucial time in my life, and did open my eyes to what life would be like without football," Jade has said.

At 23, Jade set up her own business as a sports therapist, which she still runs.

"In the end, it did not affect how I was as a footballer," she's said. "It just made me look at life a little differently."

Casey Stoney – became the most high-profile active gay footballer when she came out

Defender Casey Stoney is a former England captain, and led Team GB out at the 2012 Olympics.

She realised that she was gay at a young age, but didn’t publicly come out until 2014.

"In the past, I made up lies about having a boyfriend or acted a certain way because I felt like that's how I had to act and be accepted by the modern world," Casey has admitted. "But I wasn't happy doing that, because I was always lying, and lying to myself as well."

Apparently inspired by diver Tom Daley’s example, she eventually decided it was best to come out publicly.

"How can I expect other people to speak about themselves if I'm not willing to do that myself?" she said.

Shortly afterwards, Casey announced that she and her partner, Megan Harris (a former team-mate from Lincoln Ladies Club), were expecting twins.

Little Teddy and Tilly have been out in the Netherlands supporting their mum and the team.

Lucy Bronze - almost played for Portugal

Widely regarded as the best full-back in women's football, Bronze grew up in North East of England, living for a time on Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, a tiny rock off the coast of Northumberland with a population of 180.

Her mother was born in England, but her father, Jorge, is Portuguese, and she was brought up to be bilingual.

As a teenager, the Portuguese FA contacted her parents through Facebook to ask if Lucy would be interested in playing for their national side. Had she agreed, it could have been a tragedy for England, but she did consider it at the time.

“I was first asked when I was about 16,” said Bronze, external. “And I didn’t break into the England senior team until I was 21. It hadn’t looked on the horizon. I only broke into the squad for the 2013 Euros because there was a lot of unfortunate injuries."

She was part of the team that beat Portugal 2-1 last Thursday, and before the game, insisted her dad's loyalties would not be split, external.

"He’ll be told who to support," she said.

Fran Kirby – mother passed away when she was just 14

The second-youngest player in the squad, striker Fran Kirby - dubbed ‘Mini Messi’ by coach Sampson - has been on inspirational form this tournament, with a crucial goal from her in the second minute helping England win against Spain.

It has been a tough road to recovery after a year out through injury - Fran was unavailable for 12 internationals.

After coming back from injury against Sunderland in May, she went on to net six goals in five appearances for Chelsea Ladies.

This summer also saw a poignant anniversary for the young striker: last month marked seven years since her mum, Denise, passed away. Fran quit the game four years ago after struggling with depression, but is back making an impression.

"Everything I do is to make mum proud,” she’s said. “I'm sure I've done that."

England go into tonight’s game as the highest ranked team left in the tournament. Their turn-around from the team who crashed out of the group stages at Euro 2013 has been remarkable.

Perhaps it's due to manager Mark Sampson's new training regime, but it must also be testament to the Lionesses' spirit of togetherness.

As right-back Lucy Bronze has said: "We do a lot of work off the pitch to bring us together.

"You don't have to be the best of friends, but have some sort of relationship, so that when you are on the pitch, you have each other's backs, no matter what."