Beth Mead urges England to feed off the pressure of European title defence
The Lionesses squad travelling to Switzerland this summer is very different from the one that lifted the trophy on home soil at Euro 2022.
Seven members of Sarina Wiegman's group have never played in a major tournament and England will be defending a major title for the first time.
'There's a little bit of pressure that comes with it but I think it's a free adrenaline injection, pump it into your veins,' said forward Mead, who won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals at the 2022 Euros, where she was also named player of the tournament.
Two weeks to go until we begin our #WEURO2025 journey 💫 pic.twitter.com/M2q9oJlD1M
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 21, 2025
'We've been there, we've done it, we need to bottle that energy up and (bring) what we brought last time. It's a completely different tournament and teams look very different but we know what we're about and we've got to concentrate on being the best version of ourselves.'
England face Jamaica in a Leicester send-off on June 29 before travelling to their Switzerland base in Zurich. They kick off their title defence against France on July 5, then take on 2017 champions the Netherlands.
The group stage concludes in St Gallen against Wales, who have qualified for the first major tournament in their history.
Mead is relieved team-building activities this time around have not included a camping trip – a memorable Lionesses excursion under Phil Neville in 2019.
Training is hotting up! 🌡️🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/HewX2Iq6R6
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 20, 2025
'I think I slept two hours and then (got woken up) by the geese around the complex,' Mead recalls. 'That wasn't my favourite team-building activity. I think Toni Duggan snuck back into the hotel for the night instead.'
The group did host a movie night at their last camp – the thriller Sinners, starring Bournemouth minority owner Michael B Jordan – and this time opted for a graffiti painting session to, Mead notes, 'express yourself' and 'show how bad we all are at art'.
Much has also changed in Mead's personal and professional life since lifting the trophy in 2022 – her mother, June, died from ovarian cancer the following winter, shortly after Mead was named Sports Personality of the Year.
This year, she lifted the Champions League trophy alongside her Arsenal team-mates for the first time.
'I feel like I'm in a good place individually,' Mead added.
'I know I've got an amazing team around me. I've got very good connections with players in the team.
'All I can do is do my best. We can all only do our best and take our chances when we're given them.
'I'd like to think I've got quite a good amount of experience to head into the tournament and I've played against a lot of the teams that we're going to come up against and hopefully that experience can help within the game.
'But I'm excited. I'm a little bit older than I was last time, but it doesn't take the excitement away and it still feels like a first tournament even though I've obviously been very lucky to go to quite a few.
'This is a new challenge, new competition, very different teams. I can't wait to get started.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
5.00 Royal Ascot result – day 5: Who won the Wokingham Stakes 2025? How every horse finished in huge race
THE final race of Royal Ascot is rolling on at speed with the Wokingham Stakes up NEXT! SunSport brings you how every horse finished in the blockbuster 5pm race. 1 5.00 Royal Ascot result Full result and horse placing to follow... FULL Royal Ascot race schedule All times BST Saturday, June 21 14:30 The Chesham Stakes (Listed) £110,000 (ITV) 15:05 The Jersey Stakes (G3) £150,000 (ITV) 15:40 The Hardwicke Stakes (G2) £250,000 (ITV) 16:20 The Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) £1,000,000 (ITV) 17:00 The Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) £175,000 (ITV) 17:35 The Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) £110,000 (ITV) 18:10 The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) £110,000 (ITV4) What TV channel is Royal Ascot 2025 on and can it be live streamed FREE? All 35 races at Royal Ascot will be available to watch for FREE on ITV. ITV1 will air the first six races of each day before switching to ITV4 for the final contest of the day. You will be able to live stream Royal Ascot in its entirety for FREE via the ITVX app/website. The opening show will be broadcast on ITV4 from 9.30am-10.30am from Tuesday to Saturday. Sky Sports Racing will also be providing coverage of Royal Ascot, but you will require a subscription to access their service. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu handed tough draw on return from injury
Emma Raducanu is expected to return to action at next week's Lexus Eastbourne Open despite an ongoing back problem. The 22-year-old has been managing the back issue since May, which led her to withdraw from the Berlin Open to prioritise recovery for Wimbledon. Raducanu has been handed a challenging draw at Eastbourne, facing American Ann Li in the first round. Should she advance, Raducanu could potentially play two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in the second round and defending champion Daria Kasatkina in the quarter-finals. Raducanu described her back issue as a 'vulnerability' requiring careful management, though she is not overly concerned about its seriousness.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
King Charles beams as he arrives at Ascot for fifth consecutive day alongside Queen Camilla in horse drawn carriage
King Charles was pictured beaming and waving at crowds as he arrived at Royal Ascot on Saturday, for the event's fifth and final day. The event, which is considered one of the most important in the racing calendar, always attracts huge crowds - and several members of the Royal Family. And the monarch's fifth appearance in a raw showed how important he sees the Berkshire attraction. Despite the roasting 28C heat, Charles - who has been undergoing regular weekly treatment for cancer more than a year - dressed in his finery as he joined the other equestrian enthusiasts at the racecourse. Over the week, he has been seen donning a traditional grey suit, complete with tails, a waistcoat, and the obligatory top hat. The Royal Family - who are known to adore equestrian sports - make appearances at Royal Ascot every year. And this year is no dIfferent: King Charles and Queen Camilla are not the only royals who've showed up to the Berkshire racecourse. Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, alongside his NHS nurse girlfriend Harriet Sperling attended on Thursday. And on Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – who were celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary – joined the King and Queen in the royal carriage procession down from Windsor Castle. They were joined by Charles' sister, Princess Anne, her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, niece Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, as well his other niece Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike. There, they join hundreds of thousands of other punters, who are there to watch the racing as well as socialise and have a drink or two. While they are believed to very much enjoy the event, it has been reported that the King and Queen were not just at Ascot for pleasure, but also for a more serious reason. The royal couple are said to feel strongly that Royal Ascot is an important showcase for both the British racing industry and the UK as a global tourist attraction, more generally, and their appearance highlights its importance in the social and racing calendar. Ascot's head of corporate affairs, Will Aitkenhead, noted that seeing the monarch and his family is an intrinsic part of what makes the event so popular with the public. He added that the event, founded by Queen Anne in 1711, has seen record attendance figures all week. 'Three hundred years later, we are still putting on top class racing,' he explained. 'Thirteen monarchs through to His Majesty The King now. The support of the Royal Family for the meeting is incredible. People really look forward to seeing them here. 'Sometimes they have runners on the day and sometimes they are just here to support the industry, but either way they are an intrinsic part of the day. 'We welcome guests from around the world in particular America, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, UAE and across Europe. Royal Ascot is also broadcast in 180 countries. 'Horses from Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Australia, America, Ireland and Qatar compete, and lots of jockeys from overseas as well. Royal Ascot is a huge soft power asset for Britain.' A royal aide agreed, stressing how much Charles, 76, had embraced the 'sport of kings' so loved by his late mother and enjoyed interacting with so many members of the public, adding: 'The King feels it is important to show support for what is a huge industry and global showcase for the UK, especially given the number of high-level international visitors it attracts. 'He also genuinely enjoys the chance to catch up with old friends, celebrate royal tradition and see members of the wider public particularly given the [health] issues [he has endured] over the last year.' One of the more intriguing aspects of Ascot is the dress code - which differs depending which of the enclosures guests are visiting. For example, no dress code rules apply in the Windsor Enclosure, although the majority of guests choose to dress up regardless. Meanwhile, a strict dress code operates across the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Hats are a must in both Royal enclosures. Alternatively, a headpiece or 'hatinator' with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches (10cm) is also acceptable. Dresses must be knee length or longer and forget spaghetti straps - all shoulders must be a minimum width of 1 inch (2.5cm). Strapless, off-the-shoulder and one shoulder items are also banned in the Royal and Queen Anne Enclosures. Shorts of any kind are not permitted. But having been included in the dress code since 1971, trouser suits remain a popular choice - although they mustn't be mismatched. From 2017 onwards, jumpsuits have also been accepted as Ascot worthy, while men must stick to black dress shoes worn with ankle socks, but there are no footwear specifications for women. The dress codes are adhered to despite the temperatures, which reached record heights on Thursday - the hottest day of the year so far. But as the mercury soared to temperatures in excess of 32C –almost 90F – racegoers clad in their finery, including full morning suits for the men, began dropping like flies. At least one person was taken to hospital and more than 40 treated for heat-related illness. As the Hawaii-topping highs of 34C were predicted for tomorrow, in contrast, Honolulu, capital of the US Pacific Island state, is only forecast to reach 29C (84F), while Barbados should hit 32C (89F). The mercury soared to temperatures in excess of 32C –almost 90F – seeing racegoers clad in their finery, including full morning suits for the men, begin dropping like flies. At least one person was taken to hospital and more than 40 treated for heat-related illness. The last time Britain reached 34C in June was almost six years ago on June 29, 2019, at Northolt and Heathrow. The record for the month is 35.6C (96.1F) on June 29, 1957, at Camden Square, central London. As The UK Health Security Agency issued a four-day amber heat health alert from noon on Wednesday until 9am on Monday, even Newcastle-upon-Tyne is forecast to hit 31C (87.8F) tomorrow. The agency warned 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths – particularly among those aged 65 and over. An official heatwave is logged when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25-28C (77-82F) in different parts. Temperatures are set to fall back to the mid-20s by the start of next week.
