Mead eyes Euros repeat for England after emotional rollercoaster
But even that moment of elation was tinged with the emotion of her mother's battle with cancer.
June Mead's diagnosis with ovarian cancer a year before the Euros provided her daughter with a "motivation I never knew that I had", the Arsenal forward later revealed.
"People on the outside just saw me breaking all these records, winning all these awards," Mead told the Players' Tribune.
"Mum was on such a high watching me that season. I think for all of us, football was our anchor. It was the one thing that was distracting us, and giving us so much joy.
"We rode that wave into the Euros — that whole July just absolutely flying, into the final, into lifting the trophy."
Mead was still coming to terms with her newfound fame when she was shaken by the news her mother's cancer had spread.
A few months later Mead suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury -- an all too common occurence in the women's game -- that would cost her a place in England's run to a first ever World Cup final in 2023.
What appeared her lowest moment, Mead now reflects on as a blessing.
Her injury allowed the 30-year-old to move back home to the coastal town of Whitby in England's north-east to spend time with her mum in the final weeks before she died in January 2023.
Miedema match up
It took another nine months for Mead to return to action on the field and much longer to find the form that guaranteed her a place back in the Arsenal and England side.
But the seeds of a return to brighter days were sown in those difficult times.
Mead recalls seeing up to 30 Arsenal players and staff at her mum's funeral having got up at 4.30am to make the five-hour drive from London.
"They rallied around me and we found that strength together," she added. "We held onto each other. Held so many different emotions for each other. And that's what a family does."
The spirit of Arsenal's band of sisters had its reward last month when they stunned the all-conquering Barcelona to win the Champions League in Lisbon.
Mead was central to that success. It was her moment of magic that split the Barca defence to tee up Stina Blackstenius for the only goal.
Mead has also re-established herself as a key part of the England side aiming to retain their title at the Euros in Switzerland.
Mead has scored three times in her last four caps.
"When you win things, you're more hungry to do it again, she said.
"I would wish more than anything for myself and for the team to be able to play like I did the last Euros. I'll do my very best to be able to get that level again."
England's defence begins with a tough opener against France on Saturday before Mead will face off against her partner, Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema in their second match in Group D.
Mead described that draw as "inevitable" but is focused on firing England to glory once again.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Cancelled Cold war-era football tie finally completed after 65 years
Glenavon FC hosted FC Erzgebirge Aue -- known as Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt during the communist era -- in Lurgan, 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of Belfast. Over 1,000 away fans traveled from Germany to cheer on the visitors, who were East German champions in 1960. The original tie was scrapped after both teams -- on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe after World War II -- were denied entry visas during a period of heightened political tension. "Those were hard times, governments weren't talking, no-one was let in or out," John Duggan, 91, who played for Glenavon in 1960, told AFP in Lurgan before the game. Duggan was part of a powerful Glenavon side which was crowned 1959-60 Irish League champions, granting qualification for the European Cup. But despite Europe's governing body Uefa allowing the home and away legs to take place in neutral countries, Glenavon withdrew from the competition due to lack of funds. Saturday's unique match, organised as a pre-season friendly after fans from both teams got in touch to probe the idea of fulfilling the long-forgotten fixture, ended in a 2-0 win for the German side. The game followed a "first-leg" of the rematch last year in Aue – 185 miles (300 kilometres) south of Berlin - which was won 5-0 by the Germans. 'Politics paused, football endured' The completion of the tie was "a missing chapter for both club's histories, it's great to finally get it played," Adam Carson, lifelong Glenavon fan and the club's supporter liaison officer, told AFP. "Politics paused it, but football endured," said Carson, who originally hatched the idea. When Glenavon qualified for European competition in 2014 Carson noticed that there was a European Cup game in 1960 that was never played and "put a couple of tweets" about it, he said. The idea was that "wouldn't it be great to go across to Germany and actually play this game 60 years later," he said. Carson's messages on social media were spotted by counterparts at the German side - who currently play in the third division of the Bundesliga - and a bond between the two clubs was forged. FC Erzgebirge Aue fan and its volunteer press official Max Richter, who first contacted Carson about a link-up, said that "today we close this little gap in our history and play this game which never happened. "The years when we were champions were in the 1950s and '60s, our club was big then, for all our fans that love the history of our club it was very important to be here," he told AFP. Robert Turkington, a Glenavon fan who was born in 1948 and has followed them since the 1950s "when we were a great side", remembers the original game's cancellation. "I was only a kid but I remember people were disappointed, today is just brilliant to see," he told AFP with a beaming smile. Glenavon fan Gareth Bridges, who went to the first leg in Germany, said that "a real camaraderie has developed between both sets of supporters. "Hopefully it is something that can develop between the two clubs into the future as well," the 39-year-old told AFP.
France 24
6 hours ago
- France 24
Alcaraz faces reformed Rublev as Sabalenka eyes Wimbledon glory
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the big favourite for the women's title ahead of her meeting against Elise Mertens, while British hopes now lie in the hands of Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie. AFP Sport looks at the matches to watch on day seven of the tournament at the All England Club: Win or lose 'in the right way' for Rublev Alcaraz has yet to hit top gear in south-west London after dropping three sets in his three matches en route to round four. Yet, Rublev is aware he has to be at the top of his game to cause an almighty upset and break his curse of never progressing beyond a Grand Slam quarter-final. The world number 14 has reached the last eight on 10 occasions without ever making it to a semi-final. "You cannot show any weaknesses," said Rublev on the challenge of facing Alcaraz. Rublev has already enjoyed a much happier time at Wimbledon than 12 months ago when he repeatedly smashed his racquet over his own leg during a shock first-round exit. But he has credited the influence of two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin, himself a notorious hothead in his prime, for bringing some calm to his game. "There are two options," he added. "Try to go deeper. Or if I lose, to lose it in a mature, adult way. "That would be success as well, to lose it in the right way." Pressure-proof Sabalenka a 'new person' Sabalenka is the only woman left standing of the top six seeds, and is keen to make up for lost time at the All England Club. The three-time Grand Slam champion missed last year's Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury and was excluded in 2022 as part of a blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Sabalenka overcame a stern test of her tennis and temperament to end British favourite Emma Raducanu's run in the third round in arguably the match of the tournament so far. After losing control of her emotions in defeat to Coco Gauff in the French Open final last month, the Belarusian said she feels like a "different person". She added: "Whatever happens on the court, you just have to be respectful, you have to be calm, and you just have to keep trying and keep fighting. "I was just reminding myself that I'm strong enough, and I can handle this pressure." Kartal enjoying the spotlight After the exits of Raducanu and world number four Jack Draper, Kartal and Norrie are tasked with maintaining British interest. South Africa-born Norrie, a Wimbledon semi-finalist three years ago, will fancy his chances of progressing against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry. Kartal, meanwhile, is enjoying the spotlight after reaching her first ever Grand Slam fourth round, where she will face Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. "I enjoy it. I think it's an honour. Obviously you've got a lot of attention on you, it means you're doing good things," said the 23-year-old. "I feel like I'm going to go out on the court in the next round kind of with nothing to lose at the minute. I'm going to go swinging," she added.
France 24
10 hours ago
- France 24
Ford inspires England to 'great' Argentina win on 100th cap
Ford, 32, kicked 15 points and assisted one of England's four tries as Steve Borthwick's side claimed victory before next Saturday's second and final Test of the series. The hosts trailed 22-0 after 50 minutes before crossing twice in a disappointing performance after beating the British and Irish Lions in their last game. "We just wanted to perform well and win today. It's all about the team. It's a great win for us," Ford told Sky Sports. "We know Argentina are going to come back at us next week and it's a challenge we look forward to," he added. Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi made seven changes from July 20's win over the Lions as No 8 Facundo Isa started the game in his first international appearance since October 2023. England boss Borthwick was without 13 first-choice players away with the Lions, including captain Maro Itoje, as centre Seb Atkinson and winger Will Muir made their international debuts. Ford ran out on his own in front of a packed crowd at a hostile Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi before kick-off as he became the eighth male player to reach a century of England Test appearances, having made his debut in 2014. Contepomi's Pumas controlled an ill-disciplined opening quarter from England as flanker Alex Coles was shown a yellow card but they failed to make the most of their dominance. Ford opened the scoring after 21 minutes with Coles off the field by slotting the seventh drop goal of his England career, three of them coming against Los Pumas in the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage. Atkinson followed Coles to the bin but Ford's clinical effort was the only points of the first half. Ford's influence on the encounter was illustrated even further as he played a crucial part to set-up full-back Freddie Steward with a vintage pass from the stand-off, sandwiched between two efforts from winger Tom Roebuck. The hosts' attempted comeback was kicked off by flanker Pablo Matera crossing on his 110th cap after 52 minutes before lock Pedro Rubiolo also strolled over as they cut the deficit to 10 points. Their hopes of victory were then dashed as Ford added two further penalties and winger Cadan Murley sneaked over in the final quarter as England won a third straight game over Argentina, a run which started with Ford's three drop goals two years ago.
