Former England youth international torn as partner Senesi faces Lionesses in World Cup semi-final

Kelci Bowers has spent most of her life cheering for England, but the AFC Bournemouth defender will be dressed in Argentina’s colours when the two nations meet in tonight’s World Cup semi-final — a split loyalty born from her relationship with Argentinian centre-back Marcos Senesi.

Bowers, 22, grew up in Gosport and represented England at under-19 level before establishing herself in Bournemouth’s women’s squad. Senesi, who plays for the club’s men’s side and recently had a high-profile move to Tottenham Hotspur announced, received a late call-up to the Argentina squad after Leonardo Balerdi was ruled out through injury. The pair met during a photoshoot at the club.

“It’s a very unusual situation for me,” Bowers told The Times. “I grew up wearing an England shirt and had the privilege of representing England, so that connection will always be incredibly strong. England making it to the semi-final is a crazy accomplishment and I’m super proud of my country.”

She has faced questions from “every single person” about where her loyalties lie, and offered a carefully balanced answer: she will support Senesi “personally” while “still feeling incredibly proud whenever I see England on a stage like this”.

“When your partner is playing in one of the biggest games of his career, naturally you want him to do well too,” she said. “It’s probably the only game where I’ll be feeling nervous for both sides.”

Bowers described watching Senesi compete at a World Cup as “one of the most special but nerve-racking experiences” she has had as a spectator, noting how different it feels to observe from the stands rather than prepare as a participant.

“As a player, you’re so used to experiencing tournaments from within the team environment, so watching from the stands has been completely different,” she said. “You naturally notice the tactical details, the movement, the decisions players make and the pressure they’re under.”

She added that she has also found a new appreciation for the supporter’s perspective: “It’s been nice to experience the game as a supporter and enjoy all the emotions without having to prepare to step onto the pitch myself.”

On the outcome, Bowers kept her diplomatic streak intact: “I have best intentions for both teams. Whatever the outcome is, we’ll just see.”