The England head coach is fearful that her talisman’s outlandish behaviour will only mark her out as even more of a target for defenders.

Smith, last year voted the fifth-best player in the world, took England to the verge of a memorable victory in Tuesday’s opening group A game when, with the team trailing 1-0 to Japan, she scored two late goals before slipping off her personalised Umbro boots to kiss them in front of the TV cameras.