The versatile engine room figure replaced the injured Keira Walsh during the first half of the Lionesses hard-fought 1-0 win over Denmark – going onto to play 52 minutes of the success.
It represented the sixth time she’s represented her country, but the first time she’d worn the iconic white strip at the prestigious international tournament.
Coombs’ road to World Cup stardom hasn’t been the most conventional, with a staggering eight years separating her second and third England appearances between 2015 and 2023.
But she says she couldn’t be more proud of her journey to the grandest stage in women’s football.
“It was one of those moments where when someone goes down you don’t maybe think about coming on,” Coombs explained.
“You’re more worried for them and then you do get the call and you’re like ‘right, this is happening.’
“I wish in the moment I took it in a little bit more, but at the time I wanted to take on all the information I needed going on the pitch.
“Afterwards everyone was coming up to me like ‘wow you need to enjoy this, it won’t happen again’. That’s when I started really thinking like ‘wow that was amazing’.
“Before February, I hadn’t though about it [playing for England] for a number of years, I was just more focused on trying to even get in the team at City.
“Literally, this time last year [around the 2022 Euros] I remember being at home and scheduling my days around the games and watching the girls.
“Now I’m here with them and training every day, I’ve definitely taken the long route getting here, but I think everyone’s journey is different and I’m really proud of mine and the fact I’ve made it on at a World Cup.
“Career goals complete.”
After slender 1-0 wins over Haiti and Denmark in their opening two 2023 World Cup matches, England only need a draw in their final group fixture with China to reach the last-16.
The Asian nation, too, harbour ambitions of making the knockout phase of the competition, but will need to beat the Lionesses by two clear goals or better Denmark’s result (who currently occupy second place).
And Coombs believes Shui Qingxia’s side will provide a tough challenge during Tuesday’s clash at 12:00 (UK).
“I think they [China] are a very technical team and they look very organised from the video footage we’ve seen of them,” she added.
“They look like they’re really quick in attack. It will be a really good test because, like Haiti, they’re probably not a style we’re maybe used to playing against at club level, week-to-week.
“It will be a really good test for us.”
