Latest news with #BethMead
BBC News
a minute ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Golden Boot winner to substitute - England's Mead on role 'shift'
England forward Beth Mead's role at Euro 2025 is very different to the one she enjoyed three years player of the tournament and winner of the Golden Boot, Mead played a starring role in England's success at Euro stunning performances were capped off with six goals and five assists - the most in the led to countless honours including being named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, as well as coming runner-up in the Ballon d'Or and Uefa Player of the Year Awards. But so far in Switzerland, 30-year-old Mead has started just one of England's four games, scoring once in the 6-1 Group D win over has adapted to a new role as one of Sarina Wiegman's 'finishers' - a term the squad use to express the importance of the substitutes."You've got to be ready to go into the moment," Arsenal forward Mead told BBC Sport. "You've got to be ready to go into a position that you might not want to play or don't normally play in and that was what was different for me [against Sweden]. "I ended up playing in midfield as a number six and then I was a number 10 - I changed position a few times in the game and I loved it. "I love being on the pitch, I love being able to do what I can do for the team but they're the things that you have to be able to do as a player. "You have to expect the unexpected and be willing to do what you need to do for the team and the greater good."England's substitutes have played a key role in Switzerland, scoring three goals en route to the Euro 2022, England substitutes have scored four result-altering goals - all in knockout games - which is more than any other is up to Mead, among others, to continue to provide Wiegman with squad depth."It's not easy when you know you're not starting and you're playing well or whatever but I think that's what has set us apart as a team," she added. "The togetherness, the willingness to try to make each other better, to try to make each other feel like we can figure it out."That's something that I've also seen as a shift of my role. I really know how important that is - from being a starter to being competitive in training - to make us better. So far I think we're doing a good job of that."
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Why did goalkeeper Jennifer Falk take Sweden's fifth penalty against England?
On the eve of Sweden's Euro 2025 quarter-final against England, in what transpired to be his final match in charge, Peter Gerhardsson was asked for an insight into how he prepares his team for penalty shoot-outs. Gerhardsson gave a long response, essentially explaining that it was impossible to pick five players to take a penalty until the moment actually arrived. 'This is one of the most difficult moments in football,' Gerhardsson said. 'Because it is so difficult to prepare for. It is difficult to have a plan. No one knows what our final 11 will look like after 120 minutes. It's one of the most unpredictable things in football.' Gerhardsson's point was actually illustrated by England's final 11 that finished extra time: a random assortment of emergency defenders, impact forwards, and an improvised midfield of Grace Clinton, Lauren James and Beth Mead to hold it all together. This was certainly not Sarina Wiegman's plan, which had long been thrown out of the window. As Sweden's players huddled together at the end of extra time, Gerhardsson surveyed his options and chose his takers. The Sweden squad had held a team meeting before their quarter-final and concluded that they wanted the decision taken out of their hands: Gerhardsson and his coaching staff would list the penalty takers in order, from one to 11. 'They wanted that order so we listened,' Gerhardsson later explained. 'That made it easier for us. We picked the ones we believed in.' Within that, Gerhardsson and his coaching staff made a choice that would later define the shoot-out. There was an audible gasp in the Stadion Letzigrund as goalkeeper Jennifer Falk stepped forward to take Sweden's fifth penalty. Having saved three penalties herself, she now had the chance to send Sweden through to the semi-finals. Standing on the line, England's Hannah Hampton did not know what to do. The England goalkeeper and Wiegman's backroom team had done their research, compiling the numbers and trends behind Sweden's strongest penalty takers, such as Fridolina Rolfo, Stina Blackstenius and Kosovare Asllani. But with those starting forwards off the pitch and out of the equation, there was no record of Falk's penalty history, in terms of taking them, to consult. 'I was more panicking that we didn't have any data on her or where she was going so I was like oh my goodness this is down to me,' Hampton said. 'I was a bit surprised but she did unbelievably well in the shoot-out herself with the amount of saves that she did. I was thinking she might just focus on saving them like I tried to do.' With a place in the semi-finals on the line, Falk's run-up hardly suggested a confident penalty taker. It was the same technique as taking a goal-kick, and Falk's strike followed the same trajectory as it sailed over the bar. "Peter asked if I could do it and then I said yes,' Falk later said, as reported by Expressen. 'I just thought I would take a few deep breaths and put it to the left, which I didn't do. It was f---ing c--p and then it was just about focusing on saving the next penalty." "It's the coaches who decided that," Gerhardsson confirmed. "We have 11 players who can stand there. It's small margins, it's very hard to prepare for, it's been that way all the time. If they miss, someone else should have taken it, and if they score, it was right.' Falk saved Grace Clinton's effort in sudden death to give Sweden another chance to reach the semi-finals, but Hampton then dived to her right to keep out Sofia Jacobson's penalty at full stretch. After Lucy Bronze psyched out Falk by blasting down the middle - 'I watched the goalkeeper in every penalty and she dived quite early,' Bronze explained - the pressure fell onto Sweden's 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg. Another penalty sailed over the bar to send England through. 'Everyone supports her, and not only her,' said Gerhardsson, who is stepping down after the Euros. 'The sadness is not because you are 18, others are just as sad at 27 or 30. What you saw after the shoot-out was support; everyone supported one another. 'It will be difficult to deal with later, but we in the coaching team made the choice of players, and we have never been cowardly to make a decision, but sometimes things do not go your way.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
England: Sarina Wiegman has more questions to answer as gamechangers rescue Lionesses at Women's Euros
It tells you everything about this quarter-final that, afterwards, Sarina Wiegman admitted she thought England were going home on at least three separate occasions. England have enjoyed some dramatic and historic nights during Wiegman's tenure, but it is hard to recall one quite like this. Indeed, before Thursday, no team had ever come from two goals down to win a knockout game at a Women's Euros. The manner of England's victory over Sweden made it all the more remarkable. For 70 minutes, Wiegman's side were abject. Slow and off the pace, England could not handle the intensity of the game as they clung on for dear life. In truth, had it not been for Hannah Hampton, this tie would have been over long before the bench came to England's rescue. Wiegman deserves credit for how she changed the game with her substitutes. The Lionesses switched to a back three in defence as they went for broke, and it worked. The substitutes were at the heart of the goals, with Chloe Kelly's brilliant cross headed home by Lucy Bronze. Beth Mead then found Michelle Agyemang and, in the space of two minutes, England had turned the game on its head. After that, anything seemed possible - and the penalty shootout was scarcely believable. To sum up the chaotic nature of it, nine of the 14 spot-kicks were missed. Sweden's goalkeeper, Jennifer Falk, saved three in succession before blasting her own penalty over the bar when presented with the chance to win it. Fittingly, the decisive penalty was scored by Bronze simply putting her foot through the ball and smashing it into the roof of the net. 'That's a quality that is so strong in this team, that togetherness and fighting back,' said Wiegman. 'It shows so much resilience. 'I don't know why but this team is just incredible. They stick together. That is so powerful from this team. Then there is luck as well, yes, at least three times I thought we were out.' England are through, however, and now Wiegman must turn her attention to a semi-final showdown with Italy on Tuesday. The Lionesses will go into that tie as clear favourites, but there are issues that Wiegman must address. Even if England overcome Italy, they will have little chance against the likes of France or Spain in the final if they deliver a performance like this one against Sweden. England's issues were not new. The left side of the defence has been a long-standing concern throughout Wiegman's reign. Three years ago, Rachel Daly - a striker and top scorer in the Women's Super League two seasons ago - was the solution as she filled in at left-back. Sweden, like France before them, targeted the left side of England's defence. Wiegman eventually swapped centre-backs Jess Carter and Leah Williamson round, deploying the latter on the left, but by then England were already 2–0 down. They stick together. That is so powerful from this team. Then there is luck as well, yes, at least three times I thought we were out Sarina Wiegman England looked more solid when they moved to a back three and Wiegman will be tempted to start like that against Italy. Williamson limping off with an ankle injury complicates matters, though, as does Bronze requiring hamstring strapping to finish Thursday's match. Another perennial problem occurred last night, with Keira Walsh swamped in midfield and her influence reduced. The introduction of Kelly and Mead helped as England shifted play wide instead of forcing it through the middle. Both wingers could justifiably start on Tuesday, although Wiegman will be tempted to keep them on the bench. Having such firepower in reserve is a luxury few other sides enjoy. And then, there is Agyemang. Before this, the 19-year-old had played 14 minutes of international football. The Arsenal striker looked at home on the big stage, however, and she caused chaos alongside Russo with her pace and power. As with Kelly and Mead, she has made a strong case to start against Italy - especially if Wiegman opts to play in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Wiegman has plenty to ponder and she has, historically, always found the answers. There are many questions still to answer before Tuesday, though, and precious little time to do so.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
How the Lionesses saved their own skin
England are through to the semi-finals of the women's Euros after twice coming back from the dead to beat Sweden. Here's how an astonishing quarter-final played out, and how the players reacted after reaching the semi-final against Italy. England's horror first half 2mins: After just two minutes, a badly conceived pass from Jess Carter puts Keira Walsh under huge pressure. Sweden's Stina Blackstenius pounces, steals possession and plays in Kosovare Asllani who gleefully accepts the chance to open the scoring. England are behind after just two minutes A nightmare start for England 😩 Kosovare Asllani finds the net and the Lionesses are behind after less than two minutes. #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 25mins: After plenty more shaky defending, England concede again. This time Carter is burned by Blackstenius after Sweden send through a searching ball. Blackstenius angles a low finish into the corner to double Sweden's advantage. England look like toast after less than half an hour. It's two. Stina Blackstenius doubles Sweden's lead and England have a mountain to climb. #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 Comeback #1 – two goals in 103 seconds 70mins: Sarina Wiegman makes a triple change. Carter is replaced by Esme Morgan. The tactical switch pays off – Morgan helps shore up the defence. 79mins: Beth Mead lays a pass back to Chloe Kelly, who has acres of space and sends over an inch-perfect, deep cross which sails over Madelen Janogy's head and towards Lucy Bronze at the far post. The defender tracks the flight of the ball and from a tight angle produces a header which beats the keeper. Is a comeback on the cards? Lucy Bronze pulls one back for England! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 81mins: Alex Greenwood threads a promising pass through to Chloe Kelly, who shows superb control to turn her marker inside out before sending in an enticing cross towards Mead, who can't quite get her head to it. Sweden's defensive fault lines are open and Michelle Agyemang is the first to pounce, stabbing home a low shot past keeper Jennifer Falk. Just 103 seconds separate England's goals. INCREDIBLE! 😮 Two goals in two minutes and England are level! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 Extra time – Hampton's bloody nose Deep into extra time and with the match seemingly destined for penalties, England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton collides with a Swedish player and her own team-mate, Alex Greenwood, and emerges with blood streaming from her nose. Speaking after the game, Hampton said: 'It's fine. Me and nosebleeds never go well. Me and the doctor have had some great history in the past with having to go to hospital and stuff so as soon as he came over he was thinking 'not again.'' Meanwhile Lucy Bronze, starts to strap up her own leg in preparation for the heroics that will follow. Comeback #2 – a 'crazy' penalty shoot-out The final whistle blows and the quarter-final goes to penalties. The shoot-out proves to be a flawed classic. With England shooting first and in front of their own supporters, here's how it played out. ✔️ Alessi Russo rifles a powerful shot to put England ahead. England 1 Sweden 0 ❌ Hannah Hampton saves a right-footed effort from Filippa Angeldal. England 1 Sweden 0 Advantage England! 🧤 Hannah Hampton saves from Filippa Angeldahl after Alessia Russo had put England 1-0 up in the penalty shootout. #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 ❌ Lauren James's weak right-footed shot is well read by Jennifer Falk. England 1 Sweden 0 ✔️ Julia Zigiotti Olme strikes a beautifully sweet shot high out of Hampton's reach. England 1 Sweden 1 ❌ Beth Mead sends a right-footed penalty towards Falk, who gets down to save. England 1 Sweden 1 ❌ Magdalena Erikkson's left footed effort clips the bottom of the right-hand post. England 1 Sweden 1 ❌ Falk body saves Alex Greenwood's tame left-footed effort. England 1 Sweden 1 ✔️ Nathalie Bjorn gets the better of Hampton to put Sweden into a lead. England 1 Sweden 2 ✔️ Chloe Kelly converts the ultimate pressure penalty. With her trademark jump-start run-up, she sends Falk the wrong way. England 2 Sweden 2 ❌ Goalkeeper Falk, of all candidates, steps up to the spot but blasts her effort sky high. England 2 Sweden 2 - SUDDEN DEATH Crazy scenes! 😱 Sweden goalkeeper Jennifer Falk steps up and has the chance to win the penalty shootout but blazes over the bar! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 ❌ Grace Clinton's low-footed right effort is easily saved by Falk. England 2 Sweden 2 ❌ Hampton dives to her right to save Sofia Jacobsson's flimsy effort. England 2 Sweden 2 ✔️ Bronze coolly converts an emphatic penalty to edge England ahead once again. Sweden must score. England 3 Sweden 2 ❌ Teenager Smilla Holmberg sends her shot high and wide to seal Sweden's fate. England 3 Sweden 2 Lucy Bronze scores! Smilla Holmberg misses! England go through! And relax. 😰 #BBCFootball #WEuros2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2025 How the Lionesses reacted Sarina Wiegman 'It was one of the hardest matches I've ever watched. We could have been out four or five times during the game. We started really badly, got better but couldn't create anything, then we changed shaped and scored two goals. That was crazy already. Then extra time, some players were injured and had cramp, Hannah [Hampton] had blood all over the missed a lot and they missed even more and we're through. I need to decompress. We showed that we're absolutely never done.' Hannah Hampton 'It just all has gone so quickly, that last little bit of the penalty shoot-out. We're very happy. The fans knew we could bring this back and you never write us off. Stressful. Stressful watching, stressful playing. Every time I saved one I was thinking 'please just put it in so we have a bit of a cushion'. Their keeper then just went and saved the next one and I was thinking 'oh goodness, here we go.'' Lucy Bronze 'It was a roller coaster, a crazy game.' Leah Williamson 'It was awful to watch at the end but we're never done, we fought back and turned the game around. There were a few more misses than normal [in the shoot-out] but everyone does work on it. There is a science behind it, it's the easiest and hardest thing in the world. Everybody covered so much ground and did their job to help each other out. I'm a happy girl.' Chloe Kelly 'We knew we had to bounce back, we weren't at our best in the first half but we knew we were capable of doing so. I didn't feel under pressure [coming on]. I just wanted to create some goals for the girls, to put the ball in the box and play to their strengths.'
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Bronze and grit help England beat Sweden
ZURICH, July 17 (Reuters) - England heroine Lucy Bronze said it was "grit, determination and hard work" that pushed the team to win their UEFA Women's quarter-final against Sweden, as her teammates and coach paid tribute to her action-packed performance. The defending champions clawed their way back into the match after conceding two first half goals and scoring twice in the second half to take the match at Zurich's Letzigrund stadium to extra time and penalties. Bronze scored England's first goal, and the Chelsea defender went on to get the decisive goal in the penalty shootout, where England triumphed 3-2. The team was determined not to lose, Bronze said. "It wasn't beautiful, but it got us through." When asked about her own performance, she said: "I just keep going and going and going. "Hopefully that can just leak into the rest of the team. I think we have the type of team where we can influence each other, to push each other, to go for more." Coach Sarina Wiegman and teammate Beth Mead both paid tribute to Bronze. "Lucy Bronze is just one of a kind. I have never, ever seen this before in my life, and I'm... a very lucky person that I've worked with so many incredible people, incredible football players," Wiegman said. "What defines her is that resilience, that fight." Mead, a second-half substitute, also praised Bronze's performance. "I mean she did it all, and I think Lucy really showed her experience in those moments," Mead said. "She's our most experienced England player, and I think she was one of the players that very much got that determination out of us all today."
