Latest news with #Williamson
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
The winner takes it all but Leah Williamson won't ‘banish Abba' for Sweden clash
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the last four – a defeat made 'easier to bear' by the use of the song, according to Abba's own Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was a closer affair when they met in the qualifiers for this tournament, drawing twice, including the goalless July 2024 stalemate that was enough for England to book a direct place in the finals. A post shared by ABBA Voyage (@abbavoyage) Hearing some Swedish fans had claimed Abba were better than the Beatles, and therefore Sweden would beat England, Williamson replied: 'I don't (agree with that) I'm afraid. One might be easier to dance to, but no. 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.' The England centre-back is gearing up for a battle with Arsenal team-mate Stina Blackstenius. In May, the Swedish forward struck in the winning goal in Lisbon, where the Gunners lifted the Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over heavy favourites Barcelona. Blackstenius has already contributed two goals at these Euros for Group C winners Sweden, but is just one of the threats on what Williamson feels is a 'very organised team' that 'work for each other' and 'deserve a bit more recognition'. 'Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer,' said Williamson. 'I think she's very intelligent with her runs, she's a hard player to play against in that respect. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal, and not so much now. 'So we'll see, but she's a great player and she has been for many years now, so her experience speaks for itself.' Despite their familiarity, an international tournament is a rare chance for the club-mates to properly battle it out. 'It's different,' explained Williamson. 'Obviously playing against each other in training (it's) maybe in a drill with restrictions, but it's very rare that I'll play against her in this setting. 'So I enjoy it. I like Stina, so it's tough to just remove all that to then just go at it, and you don't want to focus too much (on it). 'There's loads of different things that come into play when you play against a team-mate, but I think I've know Stina long enough now that it's kind of fun. 'I know who she is, and it's time for us to focus on us.' Williamson captained England to the trophy at Wembley in 2022 but missed the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2023, just months before the tournament. She added: 'I was part of that squad, and I will forever be proud to have been part of that squad, but we don't want it to be the only one. 'It's a constant driver. You want to do more. You always want to do more, and I'd like to say that on that day I felt as happy as I ever felt, and that probably would have been enough for me, but the next day it creeps around and everybody wants more all the time.'
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
The winner takes it all but Leah Williamson won't ‘banish Abba' for Sweden clash
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the last four – a defeat made 'easier to bear' by the use of the song, according to Abba's own Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was a closer affair when they met in the qualifiers for this tournament, drawing twice, including the goalless July 2024 stalemate that was enough for England to book a direct place in the finals. Hearing some Swedish fans had claimed Abba were better than the Beatles, and therefore Sweden would beat England, Williamson replied: 'I don't (agree with that) I'm afraid. One might be easier to dance to, but no. 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.' The England centre-back is gearing up for a battle with Arsenal team-mate Stina Blackstenius. In May, the Swedish forward struck in the winning goal in Lisbon, where the Gunners lifted the Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over heavy favourites Barcelona. Blackstenius has already contributed two goals at these Euros for Group C winners Sweden, but is just one of the threats on what Williamson feels is a 'very organised team' that 'work for each other' and 'deserve a bit more recognition'. Williamson and Blackstenius are Arsenal team-mates (Zac Goodwin/PA) 'Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer,' said Williamson. 'I think she's very intelligent with her runs, she's a hard player to play against in that respect. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal, and not so much now. 'So we'll see, but she's a great player and she has been for many years now, so her experience speaks for itself.' Despite their familiarity, an international tournament is a rare chance for the club-mates to properly battle it out. 'It's different,' explained Williamson. 'Obviously playing against each other in training (it's) maybe in a drill with restrictions, but it's very rare that I'll play against her in this setting. 'So I enjoy it. I like Stina, so it's tough to just remove all that to then just go at it, and you don't want to focus too much (on it). 'There's loads of different things that come into play when you play against a team-mate, but I think I've know Stina long enough now that it's kind of fun. 'I know who she is, and it's time for us to focus on us.' Williamson captained England to the trophy at Wembley in 2022 but missed the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2023, just months before the tournament. She added: 'I was part of that squad, and I will forever be proud to have been part of that squad, but we don't want it to be the only one. 'It's a constant driver. You want to do more. You always want to do more, and I'd like to say that on that day I felt as happy as I ever felt, and that probably would have been enough for me, but the next day it creeps around and everybody wants more all the time.'
Rhyl Journal
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
The winner takes it all but Leah Williamson won't ‘banish Abba' for Sweden clash
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the last four – a defeat made 'easier to bear' by the use of the song, according to Abba's own Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was a closer affair when they met in the qualifiers for this tournament, drawing twice, including the goalless July 2024 stalemate that was enough for England to book a direct place in the finals. A post shared by ABBA Voyage (@abbavoyage) Hearing some Swedish fans had claimed Abba were better than the Beatles, and therefore Sweden would beat England, Williamson replied: 'I don't (agree with that) I'm afraid. One might be easier to dance to, but no. 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.' The England centre-back is gearing up for a battle with Arsenal team-mate Stina Blackstenius. In May, the Swedish forward struck in the winning goal in Lisbon, where the Gunners lifted the Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over heavy favourites Barcelona. Blackstenius has already contributed two goals at these Euros for Group C winners Sweden, but is just one of the threats on what Williamson feels is a 'very organised team' that 'work for each other' and 'deserve a bit more recognition'. 'Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer,' said Williamson. 'I think she's very intelligent with her runs, she's a hard player to play against in that respect. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal, and not so much now. 'So we'll see, but she's a great player and she has been for many years now, so her experience speaks for itself.' Despite their familiarity, an international tournament is a rare chance for the club-mates to properly battle it out. 'It's different,' explained Williamson. 'Obviously playing against each other in training (it's) maybe in a drill with restrictions, but it's very rare that I'll play against her in this setting. 'So I enjoy it. I like Stina, so it's tough to just remove all that to then just go at it, and you don't want to focus too much (on it). 'There's loads of different things that come into play when you play against a team-mate, but I think I've know Stina long enough now that it's kind of fun. 'I know who she is, and it's time for us to focus on us.' Williamson captained England to the trophy at Wembley in 2022 but missed the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2023, just months before the tournament. She added: 'I was part of that squad, and I will forever be proud to have been part of that squad, but we don't want it to be the only one. 'It's a constant driver. You want to do more. You always want to do more, and I'd like to say that on that day I felt as happy as I ever felt, and that probably would have been enough for me, but the next day it creeps around and everybody wants more all the time.'
South Wales Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
The winner takes it all but Leah Williamson won't ‘banish Abba' for Sweden clash
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the last four – a defeat made 'easier to bear' by the use of the song, according to Abba's own Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was a closer affair when they met in the qualifiers for this tournament, drawing twice, including the goalless July 2024 stalemate that was enough for England to book a direct place in the finals. A post shared by ABBA Voyage (@abbavoyage) Hearing some Swedish fans had claimed Abba were better than the Beatles, and therefore Sweden would beat England, Williamson replied: 'I don't (agree with that) I'm afraid. One might be easier to dance to, but no. 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.' The England centre-back is gearing up for a battle with Arsenal team-mate Stina Blackstenius. In May, the Swedish forward struck in the winning goal in Lisbon, where the Gunners lifted the Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over heavy favourites Barcelona. Blackstenius has already contributed two goals at these Euros for Group C winners Sweden, but is just one of the threats on what Williamson feels is a 'very organised team' that 'work for each other' and 'deserve a bit more recognition'. 'Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer,' said Williamson. 'I think she's very intelligent with her runs, she's a hard player to play against in that respect. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal, and not so much now. 'So we'll see, but she's a great player and she has been for many years now, so her experience speaks for itself.' Despite their familiarity, an international tournament is a rare chance for the club-mates to properly battle it out. 'It's different,' explained Williamson. 'Obviously playing against each other in training (it's) maybe in a drill with restrictions, but it's very rare that I'll play against her in this setting. 'So I enjoy it. I like Stina, so it's tough to just remove all that to then just go at it, and you don't want to focus too much (on it). 'There's loads of different things that come into play when you play against a team-mate, but I think I've know Stina long enough now that it's kind of fun. 'I know who she is, and it's time for us to focus on us.' Williamson captained England to the trophy at Wembley in 2022 but missed the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2023, just months before the tournament. She added: 'I was part of that squad, and I will forever be proud to have been part of that squad, but we don't want it to be the only one. 'It's a constant driver. You want to do more. You always want to do more, and I'd like to say that on that day I felt as happy as I ever felt, and that probably would have been enough for me, but the next day it creeps around and everybody wants more all the time.'
The Star
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-England, Sweden are different teams than in Euro 2022 semi-final, says Williamson
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Women's Euro 2022 - Semi Final - England v Sweden - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - July 26, 2022 England's Leah Williamson in action with Sweden's Stina Blackstenius REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo ZURICH (Reuters) -England's run to the Women's Euro 2022 title included a 4-0 semi-final victory over Sweden, but captain Leah Williamson said that thrashing at Bramall Lane was ancient history as the sides prepare to meet again on Thursday. England play their familiar foe in the European championship quarter-finals in Zurich, and while they would love to sweep them aside again, Williamson said England have tremendous respect for their opponents. "I think when you come up against a team, when you have had a previous fixture like that (2022 semi), then you're always probably going to remember it," Williamson said on Tuesday at England's base camp in Zurich. "But I think so much has happened since. It's different, two very different teams now compared to that night." Sweden dismantled plenty of people's favourites Germany 4-1 to top Group C and Williamson said they had not been getting the respect they deserved in Switzerland. "I do think they deserve more recognition. The history of Sweden's previous results in tournaments is incredible," she added. "They're relentless when it comes to tournament football. "They're just a very organised team. They work hard. Obviously some familiar faces. We know their characteristics, so it will be tough." Arsenal teammate and good friend Stina Blackstenius is one of those familiar faces. Blackstenius scored the late winner in Arsenal's stunning Champions League victory over Barcelona and continued her goal-scoring run at the Euros, striking in Sweden's wins over Poland and Germany. "Stina is an incredibly powerful footballer, and I think she's very intelligent, she's a hard player to play against. I was celebrating her success at Arsenal -- not so much now," Williamson said, laughing. The 28-year-old Williamson is in esteemed company having lifted a major championship trophy as England captain, and would be in a class of her own were she to lift a second. Asked if she was driven by the chance to make more history, Williamson said winning another major title definitely drove the team. "To do it alongside the team in 2022 was special. I'll be forever proud to have been part of that squad," said Williamson, who admitted the 2022 players still had an active WhatsApp chat group. "But we don't want it to be the only one. You always want to do more. And I'd like to say that on that day, I felt as happy as I'd ever felt, and that probably would have been enough for me. "But you start the next day, it creeps around, and everybody wants more all the time. We always say about how we work as hard as we can and we'll do everything we can, and we keep our dreams sort of up there." (Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Toby Davis)
