Latest news with #Mead
Hans India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Women's Euro: Beth Mead reflects on bench role in England's run to SF, says ‘I love being on the pitch'
New Delhi: England's Beth Mead reflected on her transition from being named the player of the tournament, winning the golden boot award for six goals in England's 2022 Euro-winning campaign to now serving the team with an outburst of injury from the bench in the ongoing Women's European Championship. With the semi-final against Italy scheduled for Wednesday (IST), Mead has so far started only one of England's four games, and grabbed a goal in the 6-1 win over Wales. "You've got to be ready to go into the moment. 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,' Mead told BBC Sport. After conceding two early goals against Sweden, the defending champions roared back and drew thequarterfinal clash 2-2, before eventually moving past on penalties (3-2). The Lionesses have shown togetherness throughout the tournament, which Mead believes sets them apart from the others in the tournament. "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. 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,' she added.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lionesses stars identify key Sweden danger ahead of Euro 2025 quarter-final
England go into their Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden off the back of successive victories but their opponents boast a perfect record in Switzerland so far England star Beth Mead agrees with captain Leah Williamson about the tendency of some to underestimate Euros opponents Sweden. Williamson suggested some might have been "disrespectful" to Peter Gerhardsson's side by excluding them from pre-tournament conversations, and Mead - like her Arsenal colleague - knows the opposition very well. Fellow Arsenal star Stina Blackstenius has been leading the line brilliantly for Sweden, while former club colleague Lina Hurtig came off the bench to score the fourth goal in Saturday's statement victory over Germany. And Mead - one of several Arsenal players in England's camp - knows what to expect. "We know a few [of Sweden's players] personally, Stina obviously from Arsenal," Mead said on That Lionesses Podcast connected by EE. "We know what we're in for and and hopefully we can nullify that best a team, but it's always a tough game against Sweden, we've played them a lot of times in tournaments especially. "And I think that not that people underestimate them, but they're always successful in tournaments and people sometimes I think write them off a little bit too early, when they're a team that just goes by their business. And they looked pretty good against Germany the other night so we know what we've got coming but it's going to be tough." Mead said she was expecting a physical contest, with the pace of the Swedes a threat. Team-mate Lotte Wubben-Moy is also wary of the threat they pose on the break, highlighting counter-attacks as a particular danger. Speaking on Tuesday, Williamson was asked about that Sweden victory over Germany in particular. It was 3-1 at half-time, with Carlotta Wamser sent off for the Germans, with Hurtig rounding off the scoring late on. "I said this the other day as well, maybe disrespectful is too strong a word but I do think that they deserve a little bit more recognition," the skipper said. "Germany were most people's favourites and still probably are, but it didn't necessarily surprise me. "Sweden are capable of that and having played against them it's a hard game they're a tough opponent. But the game changed so much with the red card so it's tough to take from it either way." The prospect of facing off against club colleague Blackstenius is an enticing one for England's captain, and one which Williamson has addressed directly. "It's different because playing each other in training with restrictions, it's rare that I get to play against Stina in this setting. I enjoy it, I like Stina," she added. "It's tough to remove all of that to just go at it, you don't want to focus on it too much, there's lots of things that come into play when you play against a teammate but I think I've know Stina long enough now that I know who she is and it's time to focus on us." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Grieving Toone, Mead find support in each other at Euro 2025
ST. GALLEN: When England midfielder Ella Toone scored a scrappy goal from close range in the first half of their 6-1 rout of Wales at Euro 2025 on Sunday, the 25-year-old kissed her hands and pointed to the sky. It was a gesture to her late father Nick, who died in September of prostate cancer. Beth Mead, who has said she is dedicating Euro 2025 to her mother June who died in 2023 from ovarian cancer, similarly pointed to the sky when she added to England's tally with a second-half goal. The two, who are playing in their first major tournaments since losing their parents, have found a strong shoulder for each other. "We've really bonded over such a terrible thing," Toone told reporters after the game. "It's nice to have someone who's been through it and who understands and knows exactly what's going on and what's going on in my head as well. "We've definitely got each other's backs. We're proud of each other and what's nice is that we're constantly talking about them. We know we're doing them proud." Toone wrote a first person piece about grieving the loss of her dad, who was diagnosed the day after England's Euro 2022 victory over Germany in the final, for The Players' Tribune in January. Mead, whose mother died six months after England's victory in 2022, said their opening game of this tournament against France - a 2-1 loss - was emotional. "We both said in the first game we really struggled a little bit," Mead said. "You look to the stands for your person who was standing there and they're not there anymore. I think my mum was the first person I would look for in the stands. "I obviously understand what Ella felt in that moment and it's just special to be able to have that moment, think about them and dedicate it to them."
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Grieving Toone, Mead find support in each other at Euro 2025
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland - When England midfielder Ella Toone scored a scrappy goal from close range in the first half of their 6-1 rout of Wales at Euro 2025 on Sunday, the 25-year-old kissed her hands and pointed to the sky. It was a gesture to her late father Nick, who died in September of prostate cancer. Beth Mead, who has said she is dedicating Euro 2025 to her mother June who died in 2023 from ovarian cancer, similarly pointed to the sky when she added to England's tally with a second-half goal. The two, who are playing in their first major tournaments since losing their parents, have found a strong shoulder for each other. "We've really bonded over such a terrible thing," Toone told reporters after the game. "It's nice to have someone who's been through it and who understands and knows exactly what's going on and what's going on in my head as well. "We've definitely got each other's backs. We're proud of each other and what's nice is that we're constantly talking about them. We know we're doing them proud." Toone wrote a first person piece about grieving the loss of her dad, who was diagnosed the day after England's Euro 2022 victory over Germany in the final, for The Players' Tribune in January. Mead, whose mother died six months after England's victory in 2022, said their opening game of this tournament against France - a 2-1 loss - was emotional. "We both said in the first game we really struggled a little bit," Mead said. "You look to the stands for your person who was standing there and they're not there anymore. I think my mum was the first person I would look for in the stands. "I obviously understand what Ella felt in that moment and it's just special to be able to have that moment, think about them and dedicate it to them." England take on Sweden in the quarter-finals on Thursday in Zurich. REUTERS
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Electric Ella Toone lighting up England's title defense at Euro 2025
ZURICH (AP) — England midfielder Ella Toone is back to her 'unbelievable' best. Toone stole the show in Sunday's 6-1 thrashing of Wales at the Women's European Championship with a sensational first-half performance to propel the defending champion into the quarterfinals. The Manchester United star set up two of England's four goals in the first period and netted one of the others herself for her second goal of the tournament. 'I think she was unbelievable,' said England teammate Beth Mead. Toone also had an incredible 100% pass completion against Wales before being substituted off at halftime, with the outcome a foregone conclusion and the defending champion's place in the quarterfinals guaranteed. 'Well, I mean, it might not have been 100% if I stayed on the second half, but I'll take it,' Toone said with a laugh. 'But I'm a number 10, I want to take risks, I want to find passes that sometimes might not come off and I always think that it's okay to make a mistake. 'I feel really good at the minute, feel really confident and really enjoying my football. So hopefully I can continue with that in the next games.' England will face Sweden in the quarterfinals, on Thursday in Zurich — where the Lionesses played their first two matches of Euro 2025. The 25-year-old Toone is all but assured of a place in the starting lineup, especially as England coach Sarina Wiegman normally avoids tinkering with a winning team in tournaments. Wiegman kept the same starting lineup for all six of England's matches in its triumphant Euro 2022 run and made only the one change after England opened its defense with a disappointing defeat to France . That was to bring Toone, who had come off the bench against France, in for Mead against the Netherlands, shifting Lauren James to the right. England won 4-0 . Mead herself had a sublime performance against Wales, after coming off the bench at halftime, with a goal and an assist as England wrapped up the scoring. 'That's the Beth that I saw in 2022 at the Euros when she took an extra touch in the box and sat a few defenders down and got a goal and I'm so happy for her,' Toone said. But the 30-year-old Mead, who was the Euro 2022 player of the tournament, is likely to start again from the bench against Sweden. 'I think Tooney is really coming into her own and sometimes in situations where you feel a little bit low, it brings you to the top of your game,' Mead said. 'And I have completely felt that and done that before, been in a tough place and come back … and she deserves everything she's getting right now because she has worked really hard for it.' Bonding over grief Mead and Toone have both lost parents since England lifted the Euro 2022 trophy. Mead's mother died from ovarian cancer in January 2023, while Toone lost her father to prostate cancer last September. Both players pointed to the sky after scoring on Sunday. 'We both said the first game we really struggled a little bit,' Mead said. 'You look to the stands for your person who was standing there and they're not there anymore. 'I think my mum was the first person I would look for in the stands, so I obviously understand what Ella felt in that moment and it's just special to be able to have that moment, think about them and dedicate it to them.' Toone says she and Mead have 'really bonded over such a terrible thing' and that her teammate has been a mentor to her as she understands what she is going through. 'I was buzzing for her that she got that tonight and we both could celebrate to the sky,' Toone added. 'I am sure they will be up there with a few pints in their hand watching us.' ___ AP soccer:
