Lionesses stumbled at start of Euros but want to feel like 'Proper England' again

Sky News

4 days ago

Beyond the home comforts at the Lionesses' temporary base in Zurich, a permanent slice of English life can be found here at the Nelson.
And while you'll never find the players dropping into the pub, the sign - "the real English place" - chimes with the team's mantra.
Spending recent weeks around the team, there is constant talk about a "Proper England" approach to games.
It was used to inspire the recovery through the group stage at Euro 2025, galvanising the Lionesses after opening their trophy defence with a defeat to France.
And as Sarina Wiegman's side prepares to face Sweden on Thursday in the quarter-finals, it is a concept serving as a rallying cry as much as a footballing philosophy.
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For some players, it's about showing fight and togetherness. For others, about being resilient and hard to beat.
The best insight came from asking the player who has seen so much. Lucy Bronze is at her seventh major tournament with England under her fourth permanent manager.
It was with Wiegman that she finally won a trophy with her country at Euro 2022 - adding to her collection of major club titles.
"We've never negated tactics or anything else that comes with the game with the term 'Proper England'," Bronze said. "I think it was more the fact that we've said again, we're a new England and new team.
"And what was meant by that was we had a lot of younger players and new players who have very different experiences of playing for England compared to the likes of myself where we know that England used to have to dig deep all the time, dig out performances and maybe as the underdog. You're not the favourites.
"Whereas this England team has developed. Football has changed. Obviously we're a very talented team. A lot of technical ability, tactics. All that comes in the game.
"But we don't want to ever forget that we are England. We are 'Proper England'. And if push comes to shove, we can win a game by any means possible."
For Wiegman, the concept is still rooted in tactics, but more than that.
"Also our behaviours," she said. "How we want to support each other together, work really hard and of course play to our strengths."
Maybe there is nothing more English than a pint and fish and chips - even the Swiss version at the Nelson. There is even a darts board there.
But that's one area Wiegman concedes she does not excel at. Both Wiegman and Bronze agreed, the team's darts star is Lauren Hemp.
We don't know about Sweden's darts credentials but we know they are a country influenced by English football going back to the 19th century.
And many of this Euros squad have experience with English clubs, including Kosovare Asllani - a league and cup winner with Manchester City, who just took the London City Lionesses into the Women's Super League.
"We always had the physical part," the Sweden captain said. "I feel the Swedish team has become a more technical side and we play more intense football
"So I think the combination... is why we have been developing so much as a national team. But I think the English team definitely has the physical part as well."