Latest news with #Euros
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ruthless Lionesses star aiming to knock one of her best friends out of Euros
England and Sweden will meet in the quarter-finals of the European Championships on Thursday and the game will see a number of club team-mates lock horns in Zurich England star Lucy Bronze is relishing the prospect of taking on one of her best friends from club side Chelsea when the Lionesses face Sweden on Thursday night Since returning to the WSL with the Blues last year, Bronze has developed a strong partnership down the right with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. The pair will be on opposite sides of the pitch in the quarter-final, but stopping Sweden's player of the match in their win over Germany could be key to Sarina Wiegman's team getting a result. "Johanna's actually probably the person I get on best with at Chelsea, she is one of my best friends there," Bronze said. "Obviously I play next to her as well, and I play next to [Sweden defender] Nathalie Bjorn, so I am very familiar with the both of them and they both have had fantastic tournaments so far. The thing with Johanna is her mindset. "One thing I'd say about myself is I'm very competitive and this girl is very competitive as well. I've seen it this season at Chelsea and when she puts on a Sweden shirt she's the same. She'll run through a brick wall for her team. 'How to stop her? Hopefully she is on the other side to me. She is a pacey player and done really well but I think if we stick to our jobs and our roles, we will be able to have a good game against her as well.' Sweden star Kosovare Asllani pointed to her team's physical ability and that's something England boss Wiegman is expecting to have to deal with. Sweden have put in more crosses than any other team at the Euros this year, and victories over Denmark, Poland and Germany suggest the approach has been working for Peter Gerhardsson's team. 'That's what they want to do of course, we know they have some qualities,' Wiegman said. 'They're good in the air, they want to put in crosses, they have some speed up front too. "So we're going to try and prevent that. Of course it helps when we have the ball a little bit more than they have.' Wiegman also spoke about the increase in female coaches making deep runs in the tournament. She was the only female head coach to take charge at a World Cup quarter-final in 2023 but is one of four at this year's Euros - along with Spain's Montse Tome, Switzerland boss Pia Sundhage, and Norway's English manager Gemma Grainger. 'What we're all working on is we hope more females stay involved in football," Wiegman said. "We want girls to play football, we want every girl, every woman having the opportunity to get involved in football in whatever role that is, and also in coaching "We have to push hard, we're moving into the right direction but we have to keep moving to keep having these opportunities - but not destroying men who are in the women's game also and have played a tremendous role.'
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Leah Williamson channelling memories of 2022 for Sweden
That year saw the Lionesses lift the Euros trophy for the first time after a dramatic 2-1 win over Germany at Wembley, with Williamson the first England captain to lead the national side to a trophy since Bobby Moore did for the men's team in 1966. Group C winners Sweden are the first of potentially three games that stand between this year's Lionesses and another title to bring back home and Williamson revealed the fire within still burns bright. Sweden were England's semi-final opponents back in 2022, with a stunning 4-0 win booking their place in the showpiece. 'We're all in the same boat and that's what drives me on,' said Williamson. 'To do it alongside the team in 2022 was special. I was part of that squad and I'm forever proud to be part of it but we don't want it to be the only one. 'We want it to be more, you always want to do more. On that day I felt as happy as I've ever felt and that would've been enough for me. 'But the next day it creeps around and everyone wants more.' A changing of the guard has since taken place between those halcyon days at Wembley, with Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Rachel Daly retiring from international duty, Ellen White and Jill Scott exiting the professional game altogether. Millie Bright has also withdrawn from this summer's tournament to prioritise her physical and mental recovery. While they may no longer be part of the changing room, their presence is keenly felt within the corridors of England's base in Zurich's Dolder Grand Hotel, not least thanks to a WhatsApp group. 'It's mostly just good luck and well done or we believe in you',' answered Williamson when asked what conversations are like in the chat. 'When players have been part of a set-up, especially ones who aren't necessarily here and those players are still in the group chat and for whatever reason, for them to reinforce their belief in the team and wanting to be part of it speaks volumes of the group. 'The group chat was originally created for the celebrations so every time it pops up it isn't a bad thing. 'Most group chats we all archive or mute at different points but not that one. 'We're very tame. I wish we had more banter but that's not going to come from me!'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Lucy Bronze is ready to set friendships for quarter-final
With a place in the final four at stake, the occasion will see Bronze and her England teammates battle a Sweden team featuring the right-back's clubmates Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Nathalie Björn. The trio have combined to great effect at club level, helping the Blues complete a domestic treble last season in what was Bronze's first back in English football since swapping Manchester City for Barcelona in 2022. Thursday will see them line up on opposite sides of the pitch and Bronze admits she is looking forward to going up against them. 'Johanna's the person I get on with the best at Chelsea, said Bronze. 'She's one of my best friends there and I play next to Nathalie Bjorn as well so I'm very familiar with the both of them. 'They've both had fantastic tournaments so far and the thing with Johanna is her mindset. It's something people say about myself. 'She's very competitive and I've seen that last season at Chelsea. 'When she puts on that Sweden shirt it's the same, she'll run through a brick wall for her team. 'Hopefully she's on the other side to me. 'She's a pacey player and they've done very well but if we stick to our jobs and our roles, we'll be able to play a good game.' England and Sweden have history at the Euros, with their semi-final match-up in 2022 immortalised after a 4-0 win for the Lionesses en route to lifting the trophy at Wembley. The teams most recently went head-to-head in qualifying for this summer's tournament, with both occasions ending in a draw and will cross paths again after Sweden topped Group C and England finished behind France in Group D. 'The teams are very different and have moved on,' added Bronze. 'For us, [2022] is a nice memory to look back on but we can hardly analyse that game because it was so long ago. 'Sweden are a team who do really well in tournaments, and I can't imagine they'll be focused on one defeat many years ago.' Head coach Sarina Wiegman added: 'Of course they've had a very good group stage with the three wins they had but we're in a very good place too and we're ready to go. 'Hopefully we can show that tomorrow.'
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Chloe Kelly admits 'I haven't bought a wedding anniversary card' amid Euro focus
Chloe Kelly described her husband Scott Moore as her 'best friend' having tied the knot in just under a year ago, but admits she's been so focused on the Euros her first anniversary is on the back burner England Lioness Chloe Kelly has admitted she's so focused on winning the Euros she hasn't even bought a card to celebrate her first wedding anniversary with husband Scott. The England hero, famed for her bunny hop penalties, is married to golf groundskeeper, Scott Moore. The pair tied the knot at a stunning ceremony at Merrydale Manor in Cheshire last July. But Chloe, 27, from Southall, West London, admitted she hasn't prepared anything for their first anniversary yet, which will fall just days after the Euros final on July 27. She said: "I haven't even got a card, to be honest. I'm sure in the moment, I'll think of something and get my mum to sort it "But no, we are just taking it each game as it comes and we've got a huge game coming up and we know that we need to be at our best for that, so not looking too far ahead. I'm sure Scott has, but I definitely haven't." England will take on Sweden today for a place in the semi-finals against Norway or Italy. And after their 6-1 thrashing of Wales at the weekend, the Lionesses enjoyed some much deserved downtime with family and a team barbecue before beginning their training again on Tuesday. Chloe, who recently moved from Manchester City to Arsenal, said it was 'incredible' having new hubby Scott in Zurich alongside her dad Noel, 61, and brother. She added: 'He's my best friend, so it's great to have the support of him, my dad and brother.. and it's nice that we get to spend some time together. "Leah was winding me up yesterday because me and Scott were playing darts, and he beat me and I high-fived him, she was like, 'Chloe you're meant to be against him?' I was like, "Yeah, but, we're a team now. So, yeah, it was really nice. We had a little darts tournament yesterday, and it's nice to share moments with our family and of course, Scott as well." In a series of behind the scenes photos released from the Lionesses den, the players were pictured playing table tennis, Monopoly Deal, completing jigsaws together and doing basketball trick shots. Speaking about the importance of downtime, Alessia Russo told how she has been taking naps every day in the plush Dolder Grand Hotel where England has set up camp. She said: "Downtime is important on camp, especially as the tournament goes on and you're away for longer and longer. You need little things to get you through. "We've been playing a lot of Monopoly Deal and actually I haven't even won a game since I've been out in Switzerland, so I think I'm sitting bottom of the leaderboard right now. "Darts is another one. Lots of people have been playing darts. I also like to go off to my room and watching a little series every now and again. I've been napping pretty much every day since I've been out here." After being dumped from Love Island, Alessia's older brother Giorgio will join the Russo clan in the stands to cheer on his little sister and 'best friend' today. Speaking about his time on the reality TV show, Alessia added: "Love Island as well – we've all been watching as a team. When my brother was in it, I didn't really like watching it with loads of people so I'd just watch it with Tooney and Beth maybe and then we'd have a debrief over breakfast. He's out of it now so hopefully he'll be coming out to Switzerland."
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Skipper Kosovare Asllani believes underdog perception ‘suits' Sweden
A spot in the final four of Euro 2025 is at stake when the teams meet at Stadion Letzigrund. Sweden earned their place in the quarter-finals after finishing top of Group C with three wins from as many games, including a thumping 4-1 victory over Germany in their last group match. The Scandinavians have progressed deep in their last two major tournaments, finishing third at the 2023 World Cup and reaching the semi-finals at Euro 2022 – where they were knocked out by the Lionesses – but Asllani believes their perception as underdogs can be beneficial. Sweden finished top of Group C (Nick Potts/PA) 'People rarely speak of us as a team that can win the tournament so we're flying under the radar,' she said in quotes reported on UEFA's website. 'That suits us a little. We know that we can beat any team in the world when we're at our best. People should talk about us more.' Asllani is relishing competing in the knockout stages, telling a press conference: 'It feels like the tournament really gets going once the group stage is over. 'We have experience in these kind of matches and it is a little bit like the fun starts now when you test your mettle against the best teams. It's just a longing for the game to start now. 'It's going to be an incredibly tough match but I do think we're fairly evenly matched. You can tell that from the last two games against England, two draws.' England and Sweden met at the last Euros (Danny Lawson/PA) Sweden were beaten 4-0 by England in the semi-finals of Euro 2022, but Asllani admitted it is not a result she has dwelt on having met the Lionesses since then, drawing twice in qualifiers for this tournament. She said: 'I haven't thought about that match at all to be honest with you. What is most recent in my mind are the two most recent matches against England, two draws, and since then a lot of things have happened. 'We've played a number of matches after that against other teams and that is what you need to focus on. Of course, it's not as if I've completely forgotten that match, but it's not something that I dwell on. 'For my own part, I'm just longing for this game to start and start it with the attitude of 'yes, we're going to win this match'.' Lauren James has been one of the key performers for England, where arguably her best outing at the tournament saw her score twice against the Netherlands, and Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson was full of praise for the Chelsea forward's skill. Lauren James has been a key performer for England (Nick Potts/PA) He said: 'I like that kind of player because she has something special, movement and things like that, but she's doing the things she thinks, right on the pitch. 'As a coach, sometimes, you want structure, 'do that, do that' but I think James, even if she listens to the coach, she makes her own decisions on the pitch. 'And every coach likes that kind of player. But I hope we can handle it tomorrow.'
