England forward Aggie Beever-Jones: It's hard to block ‘outside noise' at Euros
England manager Sarina Wiegman handed Beever-Jones her major tournament debut in the 84th minute of the defending champions' 4-0 group-stage triumph over the Netherlands on Wednesday, though many had hoped she would have been introduced a game sooner, in their 2-1 defeat to France.
'If I'm honest, it's tough,' said Beever-Jones, asked about the challenge of balancing patience and expectation.
'I think there can be a lot of outside noise and ultimately you do have to block it. It comes back to being in the bubble of, for me, I have to make Sarina happy and hopefully I can give her as many headaches in the right way as possible.
'But the times I have played for England, I've absolutely loved it. Whenever you put the shirt on, you have immense pride.
'I never take it for granted. Scoring a hat-trick at Wembley is a day I'll never forget – even that feels surreal for me.'
Beever-Jones, one of England's seven major-tournament newcomers, is adamant she trusts Wiegman's decision not to bring her in against France, when the Lionesses were desperately in need of both firepower and an equaliser.
'She did say it was a tough game and she obviously looked elsewhere to bring other people on and I have to respect that,' said Beever-Jones.
'I think for myself, I know my strengths and I know I've done it for two years coming off the bench at Chelsea and hopefully making an impact. Sarina is well aware of that and I respected that decision.
'I'll be ready no matter what, whenever the time comes and she knows that.'
Victory for England against Wales on Sunday night would see them through to the quarter-finals.
Beever-Jones hopes the 'young ones' in Switzerland are able to 'offer something a bit new', with some of the substitutes who played a huge part in England lifting the Euro 2022 trophy on home soil now playing much bigger roles in this tournament.
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo has led the line in both of England's group stage matches so far, while Ella Toone earned the nod over Beth Mead against the Netherlands and scored in the second half.
Beever-Jones hopes to make an impact for England (Nick Potts/PA)
Beever-Jones added: 'Everyone's so aware that you have starters, you have finishers, people who might not set foot on the pitch, but everyone is equally as important.
'Everyone knows the impact Tooney and Less (Russo) had last Euros and obviously there's a lot of noise going on about who's going to be the next two to do that.
'But I think we're just happy that we have such a world-class squad of 11 players who start and equally people who can come on and create that impact.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
a few seconds ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Lionesses' Euros triumph shows why it's time to start closing the gender pay gap in football
The victory of the Lionesses, winning their second Euros in a row by beating current world champions Spain, reaffirmed the very high level of achievement of this particular national side. Their historic triumph, lifting more silverware against another top team in Europe, is an extraordinary feat which everyone now recognises after decades in which women's football was regarded as a joke by mainstream broadcasters.
Daily Mirror
a minute ago
- Daily Mirror
Matheus Cunha thinks player Man Utd 'should sign' over Benjamin Sesko can win Ballon d'Or
Matheus Cunha and Manchester City's Rodri are big admirers of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who Rio Ferdinand wants Manchester United to sign over striker Benjamin Sesko Matheus Cunha believes a midfielder Manchester United have been urged to sign can win the Ballon d'Or. Rio Ferdinand has advised United to abandon their pursuit of Benjamin Sekso and instead go all out for Brighton's Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils have already bolstered their attack this summer with the acquisitions of Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee eager to make their mark at Old Trafford after challenging starts, Ferdinand reckons manager Ruben Amorim is well-stocked with forwards and should turn his attention to beefing up his midfield. Should United heed Ferdinand's advice and hunt for a midfielder, he has one name in mind -21-year-old sensation Baleba, who has been turning heads at Brighton since his transfer from Lille in 2023. Baleba himself has lofty ambitions, fuelled by encouragement from Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and others, including Cunha. He revealed his aspirations to The Sun in May, saying: " Declan Rice, Matheus Cunha, Joelinton, they've all told me I've got it in me. I want to win the Ballon d'Or like Rodri." On his admiration for Rodri, he said: "I watched him [Rodri] during the Euros and before his injury I played against him and time I got the ball, he was right in front of me. It was my first game against Manchester City, and it was very difficult. "He made it so hard to dribble or pass. That showed his class. His success has opened the door for midfielders like us to believe we can win the Ballon d'Or someday." Ferdinand revealed why he rates Baleba so highly on his YouTube channel, saying: "If I don't get a striker, I'd go midfield. There's only one name I'm thinking about, I've got to be honest, who I think fits the bill for what we need. "An Amorim-type player as well. Physically great, can drive with the ball, can take it in all areas, very good tactically, great energy, great legs, Premier League experience, centre midfield. Baleba. "That's who I go and get. That's my man. That's the one I go and get. I go and break the bank. So if I got the money for the four players that are surplus to requirements now, would I get a number nine or would I get Baleba? "Would I get a number nine I'm not sure about, who's a bit young, inexperienced, or would I get Baleba with Premier League experience and know what he can do here? I'm going Baleba, sorry. "I'm going to go with Baleba. I think he'll have a huge impact on this squad, on this team. You free up a few people in that midfield area as well to have a little less responsibility defensively because I think he's all-action. He can do it all." The Red Devils have switched their focus to Sesko after determining he represented a more achievable target than Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins. Newcastle are also pursuing the Slovenian forward, with mixed reports emerging regarding the 22-year-old's preferred destination. Initially, it was believed that the Red Devils were Sesko's favoured choice. However, reports from his home country now indicate that he is more inclined towards a move to Newcastle, who have turned down a £110m offer from Liverpool for Alexander Isak.
BBC News
a minute ago
- BBC News
Wallaroos rain on Wales' parade as World Cup looms
You win some and you learn some, it's a comforting saying when things don't go to is what Sean Lynn said to his drenched and disappointed players after their tour of Australia ended in an anti-climax on headed to the second Test in Sydney full of confidence after victory in Brisbane - one of their best results in recent years, but the weather and the Wallaroos combined to rain on their parade. The emphasis all week had been on backing the performance up and avoiding a repeat of what happened last September, when Wales beat Australia at Rodney Parade only to be hammered in Cape Town a week later. But Wales were a shadow of the side from six days earlier. They were outmuscled and outclassed against a rejuvenated Australia who had a point to prove to themselves. Both sides had made personnel changes, but Wales' incomings were all seasoned internationals - the likes of Carys Phillips, Abbie Fleming and Kate Williams. This was far from a second string on defeat, Lynn says lessons will be learned and those lessons will have to be learned quickly with what is shaping up to be a crucial Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland in just three weeks."I said to the girls at the end there that this is still another pre-season game for us," said Lynn."We enjoyed that win last week and I thought Australia's reaction to it was great. "They won the physical battle, they won the territorial battle, but also they turned pressure into points, we need to learn to be ruthless that way."We're going to review on Sunday, we'll put Australia to bed in Australia and as soon as we go back, we're back in camp." Pre-season positives Anyone who has met Lynn knows he is all about finding the positives and there are plenty to reflect on as he and his team make the long journey back to World Cup selection on the line, there were a few individuals who stuck their hand up for starting jerseys, notably the Pyrs used to be known as the not so little sister of prop Gwenllian, but the 19-year-old has catapulted herself out that 5ft 11in her physicality was outstanding on her start in Brisbane and she made a big impact when she came on in the second half in same goes for front row forwards Maisie Davies and Molly Reardon who are doing more than just nipping at the heels of senior Metcalfe did not have the best game in Sydney, but her two-try showing the week before was a timely reminder of her capabilities in the back line. Two weeks down under has also provided time for the team to bond and the players are certainly speaking highly of the environment that has been is a stark contrast to this time last year when players were embroiled in a bitter contract row with the Welsh Rugby Union, with then-captain Hannah Dallavalle admitting she came close to quitting her international Joyce-Butchers, who scored on her 50th appearance on Friday, said she feels she can finally be herself."Last weekend was one of the best I've ever felt in a Welsh jersey, not just because we won, but the whole atmosphere," she said."The girls are brilliant, Lynny and the coaching staff have been outstanding. It's definitely a place now where I can be my true self and express who I am and I don't get judged for that."Even when we lose it's still a happy place to be. Yes we're hurting, yes we're gutted, but we've just got to remember that we are in such a better place than we were last year."A few eyebrows were raised when the tour was announced, with it being so far away and so close to the World Cup, but Lynn says it has definitely been worthwhile."The way we have connected as a group, players and staff, it has been so beneficial, I'm taking this trip as a real big positive for us," he said."I've learned a lot and myself and the coaching team will go away and have a think about what works well for us, what combinations are working and certain individuals have definitely been putting their hands up." Worrying wait and final preparations There is always the worry that players will get injured in warm-up matches before major tournaments, but it is a risk coaches have to for Wales it was their talismanic co-captain Alex Callender who went down with a foot injury after just four minutes in was later all smiles as she returned to the side line wearing a boot and on crutches, but let us hope that was not just the adrenalin kicking in. We should know more about her scan on 25-year-old back-rower was a big miss in the opening three games of Wales' wooden spoon Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury, but she burst back onto the scene in Brisbane with an outstanding should the worst happen and Callender not be fit for Scotland, Wales still have a safe pair of hands in co-captain Kate after the match on Friday, Williams said she was "gutted" for Callender, but Wales will take "some really good learnings" from the tour."We've definitely come closer as a group and that's going to put us in really good stead for the World Cup," Williams said. "We're playing much better rugby since we've been out here and if we can build on that going into the World Cup, I think we can really take it to Scotland."Wales are due to fly home this weekend and there will be little time for jet lag as they will be back in training on Friday. Lynn will announce his 32-strong squad the following Monday before heading up to their base in with Canada, the second best team in the world, expected to win Pool B, it would likely leave Wales, Scotland and Fiji battling it out for the other place to progress to the just like the World Cup in 2022, it is all eyes on Wales v Scotland come 23 August.
