“She celebrated as if she had gained the Champions League,” stated England boss Sarina Wiegman with a smile.
And for Lucia Kendall, it wasn’t far off.
Wiegman was reflecting on the second the Aston Villa midfielder sprinted off into the nook after scoring her first Lionesses aim – six minutes into their at St Mary’s Stadium.
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“They’re nonetheless doing a little remedy on the grass!” she added with a joke, referring to Kendall’s immaculate knee slide.
Because the 21-year-old received to her ft, puffing out her cheeks in disbelief and surrounded by all of her team-mates, there was a broad smile on her face.
Kendall was “a part of the furnishings” at Southampton – a membership the place she had spent a decade, graduating from their academy and enjoying 103 video games earlier than she joined Villa in July.
So when she noticed the ball hit the again of the web at St Mary’s Stadium on her return, and on solely her third England look, it was the stuff of desires.
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“A extremely particular second for me to have the ability to do it right here, the place I grew up. This place made me into the participant I’m,” Kendall instructed ITV.
“It felt prefer it was written [in the stars]. It was so particular. I received overwhelmed with emotion actually.”
‘Issues have gone so rapidly so quick’
It could have been Southampton who “made” Kendall, however a giant choice aged 15 proved essential to her future.
The proficient teen was additionally a eager cricketer – her dad Will performed for Hampshire – however ultimately had to decide on between the sports activities simply as she was breaking into Southampton’s first-team squad. She opted for soccer.
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“It was an attention-grabbing one. There was no time for me to do each anymore,” Kendall stated in her first England media convention in October.
“I cherished enjoying cricket rising up. It was a very tough choice. I went forwards and backwards, however when the time got here, I [realised] I take pleasure in soccer a bit extra.”
Her idol rising up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder recognized for his goalscoring prowess – and Kendall has began out similarly.
Juggling life at Southampton with a psychology diploma at college, it was clear early on that Kendall had the drive and dedication to grow to be a star.
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The second-tier membership held on to her for so long as they might, however when her contract expired in the summertime, Villa pounced to place her within the Ladies’s Tremendous League highlight.
Inside months Winchester-born Kendall has made a reputation for herself, changing into an everyday within the prime flight and breaking into the England squad.
“She reveals consistency and that is not straightforward while you simply come into a brand new setting and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” admitted Wiegman.
“Issues have gone so rapidly so quick, however she simply retains up her ranges and reveals she is an efficient participant – and that’s spectacular.”
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Kendall definitely loved herself at St Mary’s, hitting the crossbar later within the first half and nearly teeing up Villa team-mate Missy Bo Kearns for a aim, earlier than Alessia Russo added a second with an injury-time penalty.
She got here off after an hour to a roar from the house crowd and the enthusiastic voice of the stadium announcer boasting that she was “Southampton’s very personal”.
Kendall scored 29 objectives for the membership in additional than a decade of service and added: “Being at Southampton for therefore lengthy, I performed common senior soccer from the age of 16 and that stood me in actually good stead.
“It was the constant belief they confirmed in me as a participant and the assumption. I felt like I used to be prepared for [the next step].
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“I knew that I needed to go in [to England] and show why I needs to be enjoying at this stage. The velocity of the sport is faster and it was like going up a division.”
‘Technically and tactically, she is a really sturdy midfielder’
Lucia Kendall made 103 appearances for Southampton earlier than her exit in 2025 [Getty Images]
Kendall has made an immediate impression at worldwide stage, with former England striker Ian Wright stating she has simply “received it” as a midfielder and regarded like a “pure”.
Wiegman is eager to guard her, saying the media can play a task in that and so can Villa, however she has no considerations due to how “humble” Kendall acts.
Days after being known as up by the Lionesses for the primary time, Kendall was sitting in entrance of the media saying she was eager to impress, but additionally understood the necessity for the workforce’s better good and no matter position she wanted to play in that.
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Arsenal striker Russo stated it felt like Kendall had “been right here for years” as she slotted straight into the squad.
“This workforce’s simply gone on to win back-to-back Euros, so to have the ability to be in and round them and be of their setting is one thing I actually did not assume I might get to take action quickly,” admitted Kendall.
“I take some time to come back out of my shell. I play the piano, I do a college diploma in psychology. I wish to maintain soccer to soccer, not letting it take over my complete life.
“I wish to cook dinner, spend time with my family and friends. I would not say I do an excessive amount of. I simply take pleasure in a peaceable life; a quiet life.”
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Having coached her at Southampton, Marieanne Spacey-Cale is aware of Kendall properly and described her mentality as “spot on” to play for her nation.
“I knew as quickly as I met her. She is formidable and a really grounded, very humble younger lady,” the previous Arsenal and England ahead instructed ITV.
“She is aware of what she needs and the best way to get there. She is an clever participant. For somebody as younger as her, she completely understands [the game].
“She will make lung-bursting runs ahead and she will defend. Technically and tactically, she is a really sturdy midfield participant.
“She has made a whole lot of errors however has been in a really protected setting to make them and that is helped her develop. I’ve been tremendous impressed.”