SheBelieves Cup: England head coach Mark Sampson salutes Lioness stalwarts Fara Williams and Eni Aluko

England international Eni Aluko (Getty)

The England head coach Mark Sampson paid tribute to the midfielder Fara Williams and striker Eniola Aluko as they prepare to make landmark appearances in tonight’s SheBelieves Cup tie against Germany in America.

Williams, the recent Arsenal acquisition from Liverpool, is set to win her 150th cap while Chelsea’s Aluko – a late substitute in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat by the world champions USA at Tampa Bay – is in line to reach 100 caps against the European champions here.

“It’s a privilege to work with Fara and Eni,” said Sampson. “They’re both world class talents who have played a big part in the England team’s development and success in the two years I’ve been in charge, and they’re also great ambassadors for the women’s game – they represent the team’s identity on and off the pitch.”

It will be fitting for Williams to make her 150th appearance against Germany. Her penalty in last year’s 1-0 World Cup third place play-off gave England their first ever win over Germany as well as a bronze medal. Sampson’s team have since held the Germans to a goalless away draw and Williams, who has overcome well-documented homelessness problems to keep her football career on track, said: “Getting my 150th cap will be an unbelievable achievement, but helping us beat Germany is more important.

“We’re well over the almost fear we used to have about playing them and so we’ll go into this game feeling confident, especially after playing so well against America but losing to their only shot of the match.”

With just France to face after Germany in the four-nation event, England must beat the Germans – who beat the French 1-0 in their opener – to keep alive their hopes of winning the tournament.

Aluko, a qualified lawyer, said: “I’ve only thought about reaching 100 caps in the last few months, but it would be really exciting to get there in what’s a very important game for us.”