Latest news with #Bronze
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lucy Bronze says Arsenal's Champions League triumph ‘fantastic for England'
Lucy Bronze believes Arsenal's Women's Champions League final success against Barcelona can help England's chances of winning more silverware on the international stage, as they prepare to face Spain in Catalonia on Tuesday. There were five members of the England squad involved in Arsenal's European Cup win in May and the Chelsea right-back Bronze – who has won the Champions League five times, for a combination of Lyon and Barcelona – knows how much confidence the north London club's success will give to their Lionesses for the European Championship this summer. Advertisement 'It exposes you to that feeling of playing in big finals, and to what it takes to win, and the more players that we [England] have that are used to that winning feeling and the experience, going up against the best players in the world, it's fantastic for England,' Bronze said, speaking at the RCDE Stadium, the home of Espanyol, where the world champions will host the European champions. Related: Brighton's Dario Vidosic: 'We want to challenge the establishment' 'It's something that I've always said, years and years ago, when I first went to Lyon, that was what I wanted to do: test myself against the best players, win the Champions League, bring that experience to England. And you see as the years go on, and more and more players have done it, and then now we've got all the Arsenal girls as well, it's just fantastic for us as an England team and us as a country, to have so many more players who are doing great things and achieving great things.' The Arsenal quintet of Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Lotte Wubben-Moy all featured in 1-0 win against Barcelona on 24 May, alongside Arsenal's Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who was full of praise for Wiegman's team on Monday: 'They have won already the Euros and have played big games already, and of course when you win, you feel stronger and have more confidence. That's always dangerous. We could see against Portugal [on Friday] how they won that game with six goals and they are one of the best teams in the world. We know and respect that, but we have confidence in ourselves as well.' Advertisement England have been without Bronze's Chelsea teammate Millie Bright in this international camp while the centre-back takes a break for her mental health as well as to allow her body to recover after the domestic season and – speaking for the first team about Bright's decision – Bronze said: 'She's missed. We've all spoken to Millie during the week. We've just offered her our support. Both physically and mentally, it's been a long season for everyone but, having spent every day with Millie, I know she's someone who's quite tough and maybe just holds a lot in, so I think it's been quite brave for her to come out and speak. And just from a friend's perspective, I just want her to be OK, and give her as much time as she needs to feel OK again.' Spain, who will be without the Manchester City left-back Leila Ouahabi (ankle), were 5-1 winners in Belgium on Friday to stay at the top of Group A3 of the Women's Nations League, with England in second spot, before the decider on Tuesday, with only one team progressing to the semi-finals in October. This contest is the final fixture before Wiegman names her 23-player squad for the European Championship on Thursday and the Dutchwoman says she is nearly ready to make her final decisions. 'We're pretty close,' she said, when asked how many more selections she had to make before Thursday. 'Of course you still want to get through the game [against Spain] and then make the final decisions, but we are pretty close.' Wiegman – whose side will be without the suspended midfielder Grace Clinton but will welcome back a fit-again Ella Toone – also insisted she will not take any risks on any of her players' fitness for the European Championship when they face Spain, saying: 'We want to win that game and also that's preparation for the Euros. So, short-term, trying to win that game, and a little longer-term, a bit long-term, it's preparation for the Euros, which of course is the bigger picture. Advertisement 'If a player has a little injury and is a risk for the Euros then I wouldn't play her. That's one difference. But we're a good team too and will do everything to win that game.' The match is also a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final, won by Spain, although the last time these sides met it was the Lionesses who were victorious at Wembley in February.
France 24
11 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
'Brave' Bright missed: England's Bronze
Chelsea captain Bright, 31, withdrew from the England camp last week, saying she was "mentally and physically" at her limit. Bright was pivotal to England's Euro 2022 triumph and it is not yet known if she will return for her country's trophy defence in Switzerland this summer. "She's missed definitely in the sense of what she brings, both on and off the pitch," her Chelsea and England colleague Bronze told reporters Monday. "She's one of the leaders in the team, not just because she's the oldest, but just because of her experience, her attributes as a person. "We've all spoke to Millie through the week... we just want to make sure that she's OK, both physically and mentally." Bronze and Bright won a domestic treble at Chelsea this season and also reached the Champions League semi-finals. "It's been a long season for everyone, having spent every day with Millie, I know that she's obviously someone who's quite tough and maybe holds a lot in, so I think it's been quite brave for her to come out and speak," added Bronze. "I think just from a friend perspective, I just want for her to be okay, and give her as much time as she needs to feel okay again." England's Euros defence begins on July 5 against France, but first they are aiming to reach the Nations League semi-finals. They must beat 2023 World Cup winners Spain to finish top of Group A3 and progress to the final four in October. The match will also offer coach Sarina Wiegman the chance to fine-tune her preparations for the Euros. 'Harm them' Spain beat England in the World Cup final but Wiegman's team got a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory against La Roja at Wembley in February. "Of course we all know what they're capable of, they're very tight on the ball, so we have to be aware of that," said England's Dutch coach. "We have to, out of possession, be really tight and play compact and be very aggressive in moments, but I also think we had the ball too (in February)... "We put them under pressure, and that's what we want to do tomorrow too. You can't control everything, so I think it's going to go back and forth. "They might be a little bit more on the ball than us, but we're definitely going to be on the ball too. And we're definitely going to find some moments where we hopefully harm them." Wiegman confirmed everybody in the squad was fit, including Arsenal striker Alessia Russo after a calf problem kept her out of England's 6-0 romp against Portugal on Friday. Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones came in for her and netted a hat-trick. "It's really good for Alessia that she's back -- we have a decision to make and that's nice," said Wiegman. Hannah Hampton started in goal against Portugal in the wake of Mary Earps' shock retirement last week. Paris Saint-Germain stopper Earps, 32, was in goal as England won Euro 2022 and on the run to the 2023 World Cup final, but had fallen behind Hampton in the pecking order. "I think I was the first person Mary called to tell," said Bronze. "The news was difficult to take as team-mates because we all love Mary, we all want her to be here, but as a person and as a friend we accept her decision. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Brave' Bright missed: England's Bronze
England defender Millie Bright withdrew from the camp because she was "mentally and physically" at her limits (Ben STANSALL) Lucy Bronze admitted her England team-mate Millie Bright will be missed ahead of the women's Nations League clash against Spain on Tuesday, after the defender withdrew from national duty because of burnout. Chelsea captain Bright, 31, withdrew from the England camp last week, saying she was "mentally and physically" at her limit. Advertisement Bright was pivotal to England's Euro 2022 triumph and it is not yet known if she will return for her country's trophy defence in Switzerland this summer. "She's missed definitely in the sense of what she brings, both on and off the pitch," her Chelsea and England colleague Bronze told reporters Monday. "She's one of the leaders in the team, not just because she's the oldest, but just because of her experience, her attributes as a person. "We've all spoke to Millie through the week... we just want to make sure that she's OK, both physically and mentally." Advertisement Bronze and Bright won a domestic treble at Chelsea this season and also reached the Champions League semi-finals. "It's been a long season for everyone, having spent every day with Millie, I know that she's obviously someone who's quite tough and maybe holds a lot in, so I think it's been quite brave for her to come out and speak," added Bronze. "I think just from a friend perspective, I just want for her to be okay, and give her as much time as she needs to feel okay again." England's Euros defence begins on July 5 against France, but first they are aiming to reach the Nations League semi-finals. Advertisement They must beat 2023 World Cup winners Spain to finish top of Group A3 and progress to the final four in October. The match will also offer coach Sarina Wiegman the chance to fine-tune her preparations for the Euros. - 'Harm them' - Spain beat England in the World Cup final but Wiegman's team got a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory against La Roja at Wembley in February. "Of course we all know what they're capable of, they're very tight on the ball, so we have to be aware of that," said England's Dutch coach. "We have to, out of possession, be really tight and play compact and be very aggressive in moments, but I also think we had the ball too (in February)... Advertisement "We put them under pressure, and that's what we want to do tomorrow too. You can't control everything, so I think it's going to go back and forth. "They might be a little bit more on the ball than us, but we're definitely going to be on the ball too. And we're definitely going to find some moments where we hopefully harm them." Wiegman confirmed everybody in the squad was fit, including Arsenal striker Alessia Russo after a calf problem kept her out of England's 6-0 romp against Portugal on Friday. Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones came in for her and netted a hat-trick. Advertisement "It's really good for Alessia that she's back -- we have a decision to make and that's nice," said Wiegman. Hannah Hampton started in goal against Portugal in the wake of Mary Earps' shock retirement last week. Paris Saint-Germain stopper Earps, 32, was in goal as England won Euro 2022 and on the run to the 2023 World Cup final, but had fallen behind Hampton in the pecking order. "I think I was the first person Mary called to tell," said Bronze. "The news was difficult to take as team-mates because we all love Mary, we all want her to be here, but as a person and as a friend we accept her decision. "We celebrate everything she's done for this team both off and on the pitch." rbs/pi
San Francisco Chronicle
12 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Millie Bright 'brave' to pull out of England camp because of burnout, teammate Bronze says
Millie Bright's decision to withdraw from international duty for England's women's team because of mental and physical burnout was hailed as 'brave' by teammate Lucy Bronze on Monday. Bright made herself unavailable for England's final camp before the Women's European Championship, meaning she missed the 6-0 win over Portugal in the Nations League on Friday and will not play against world champion Spain in the same competition on Tuesday. The Football Association's official reason for Bright's absence was that she was undertaking 'an extended period of recovery' at the end of the season. The Chelsea defender expanded on that in a podcast with England teammate Rachel Daly last week, saying 'mentally and physically I'm at my limits' and that 'you need to value yourself and your mental health and body.' Asked about how Bright's absence was affecting the England team, Bronze — part of the same back four at Chelsea — said her friend was missed for what she brought on and off the field and that England players have been speaking to Bright throughout the past week. 'We've offered her our support. We just want to make sure she's OK, both physically and mentally,' Bronze said. 'It's been a long season for everyone. 'Having spent every day with Millie, I know that she is someone who is quite tough and holds a lot in, but I think it's quite brave of her to come out and speak. Just from a friend perspective, I just want her to be OK and give her as much time as she needs to feel OK again.' The 31-year-old Bright is a regular for England, playing in the team that won the Euros in 2022 and captaining the side on its run to the World Cup final in 2023. ___
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
England win over Spain would be confidence boost ahead of Euros, says Bronze
BARCELONA - England defender Lucy Bronze said a positive result from Tuesday's Nations League game against world champions Spain would set her team up nicely for the defence of their European Championship title. While England are coming off a 6-0 Nations League thrashing of Portugal on Friday at Wembley, Spain defeated Belgium 5-1 to remain top of the group with one game remaining. The winners of the four groups advance to the knockout finals starting in October. "(A win would give us) a lot of confidence, but we already have beaten them this year so we've got a lot of confidence from that," Bronze told reporters on Monday, referring to England's 1-0 Nations League win over the Spaniards in February. "That Spain performance from us in Wembley was brilliant. You can find things to gain confidence from. It's not the be-all and end-all (Tuesday)," she said. "In terms of the Nations League it is. (But) we might not even face Spain in the Euros. We get confidence from ourselves and others." Tuesday's match in Barcelona is England's last before manager Sarina Wiegman announces her European Championship squad on Thursday. "We are pretty close (to finalising the squad)," Wiegman said. "Still you want to go to the game tomorrow and then make the final decisions, but we are pretty close." The one big Euros question mark is the fitness of Chelsea striker Lauren James, who has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in April. "We're trying to get her fit. She's trying to get fit with all the support from Chelsea and us. She is doing really well," Wiegman said. "She needs to tick some boxes and progress. We need her to be fit and healthy and perform at her highest level." Wiegman is also without defender Millie Bright, who withdrew from camp for an extended period saying she was "mentally and physically" at her limit. "Millie is a real big personality and big player for England and Chelsea," Bronze said. "She's missed with what she brings on and off the pitch. We want to make sure she's OK both physically and mentally. She's someone who's quite tough and it's brave that she came out and spoke.." England kick off their European Championship campaign in Switzerland against France on July 5. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
