Soccer Aid star Joelah Noble backing England for World Cup glory after 'special' Euros

EXCLUSIVE After getting up close and personal with England's camp en route to the Euro 2022 crown last year, Joelah Noble enjoyed a starring role at Soccer Aid and is backing the Lionesses for World Cup glory

Joelah Noble had a front-row seat to England's Euro 2022 triumph at Wembley almost exactly one year ago - and she's firm in her belief World Cup history may be on the horizon.

Having got behind the scenes presenting Lionesses Live on the way to England ending 56 years of hurt, there are few more acquainted with the title-winning squad (who aren't employed by or related to the team). Her star has since grown after presenting Soccer Aid's 'Extra Time' show with Jermaine Jenas, an experience she called 'amazing' and would take on again without question.

Radio 1Xtra host Noble told Daily Star Sport she's 'so gassed' to see her colleagues of last summer get up and running in Australia, with co-hosts New Zealand kicking things off against Norway on Thursday.

"When I bump into them at random events, it's always a pleasure. I saw [BBC Women's Footballer of the Year] Beth Mead last week, and that was just so amazing to see her. It's always like seeing a family member or old friend you haven't seen for ages.

READ MORE: Eight in ten Brits feel optimistic about England winning Women's World Cup, study finds

"We shared something so special and so niche, I guess. You don't really share that with a lot of people - obviously I wasn't actually in the team [laughs] - but I saw them and was speaking about it every single day."

Sarina Wiegman's side begin their World Cup quest against tournament debutants Haiti on Saturday, with tougher tests (on paper) to come from Denmark and China.

Noble made sure to assert she has 'no favourites' among the squad but is looking forward to seeing Chelsea forward Lauren James - younger sister of fellow England international Reece - in action. The 21-year-old had yet to make her senior bow for the Lionesses when they lifted last year's continental crown, but she's since made great strides and is in Wiegman's selection this time around.

Who are you backing to win the 2023 Women's World Cup? Let us know in the comments section below.

Excitement is building around the notion of England winning back-to-back titles at major tournaments. A first World Cup this summer would see the Lionesses join Norway and Germany (twice) as the only nations to clinch the global title at the first time of asking after securing the European crown.

But for all that anticipation, Noble is eager to not move on from last summer's achievement too swiftly, highlighting the strides that moment made in the name of women's football.

"It would just be such an amazing accomplishment for them," she said. "But I think the fact they [won] the Euros in itself was so amazing, and they've done so much for the women's game since then.

"If they were able to [also] win the World Cup, it would definitely progress it even further. But the fact there are so many more eyes and ears on [the women's game], I think they've done a lot as it is, and so it's inevitable it's just gonna get bigger and better as the generations go on."

Euro 2022 broke records and pushed boundaries for the Women's European Championship, going down as the most watched event of its kind. More than 365 million people watched the event on television globally, standing as proof the appetite for the female format is on the rise at a rapid pace.

Follow the Daily Star on Threads

The same could be said for Noble, who didn't gravitate towards sports media but has thrived in the industry after 'it chose her'. Shining in any role she's taken on thus far, the fashion, arts and music enthusiast looks certain to remain a frequent fixture in future.

Having been born in England but raised partly in Brooklyn, New York, one might understand why the 32-year-old would have a soft spot for the reigning champions. Not for Noble, however, who is fully behind the Lionesses in their bid for more greatness.

"Of course the United States will be top contenders," she replied. "They've won the last two World Cups, so that's definitely the team to watch out for.

"They're the ones I'd be worried about. . .but I think we've got it!"

Assuming the Lionesses advance from Group D to the knockout stages of the competition, they'll be positioned on the opposite side of the bracket to the US in Group E. As such, a potential final against the Stars and Stripes could be on the cards for the current queens of Europe.

That would be the dream decider for many fans, but other strong candidates like Sweden, Germany, Spain and France will have something to say in the matter. Noble may not be as close to the action this time around, but England still have her backing to get the job done Down Under.