Latest news with #fractured tibia
Daily Mail
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Doctor gives verdict on England hero Lucy Bronze's claim that she played whole of Lionesses' triumphant Euros with a 'broken leg'
A leading doctor has said it is 'remarkable' Lucy Bronze was able to play throughout Euro 2025 after the defender revealed she had battled through the tournament with a 'fractured tibia'. Bronze was a key member of Sariana Wiegman's victorious team throughout the competition. The 33-year-old right back played 598 minutes at the tournament, the fourth most in the England team, playing in each match. Bronze was substituted in the latter stages of two England group matches, but came through back-to-back 120 minute contests as the Lionesses went to extra-time in the quarters and semi-finals. She was forced off at half-time in extra time during Sunday's final, which ended 1-1 before England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel. But when asked about the new knee injury she picked up during the game, Bronze disclosed that she had already been playing through far worse. 'I have actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia,' she told BBC Sport. 'And then I have hurt my knee on my other leg. 'That's why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game, as I've been in a lot of pain. If that's what it takes to play for England, that's what I'll do. Very painful.' While confirming she had a fractured tibia, Bronze has not disclosed the full extent of the problem. Speaking to the BBC, Dr Mark Bowditch, President of the British Orthopaedic Association, said it was 'remarkable' Bronze had played so much at Euro 2025 due to the injury. Bowditch, a consultant knee and sports surgeon, suggested Bronze would likely have been playing with a stress fracture, which would likely have seen pain emerge after matches. 'Fractures of the tibia range from partial break, such as a stress or fatigue split, through to a complete break and separation,' Bowditch said. 'A complete break is the high-energy sudden injury from a fall from a height, twist or direct blow, such as a studs-up tackle. You cannot continue to play on or even walk on a complete break. 'Stress/fatigue fractures - which is likely to be the type Lucy Bronze has - are low-energy repeated injury and usually seen in athletes or army personnel. 'They normally present with pain after activity, rather than a sudden incident.' Bowditch suggested the England medical team would have had to adjust Bronze's training to enable her to remain on the pitch during the competition. 'She probably has had to reduce the amount of training she has done in between games or train in a low weight-bearing environment such as a swimming pool or anti-gravity trainer,' he added. 'It's a great tribute to Dr Ritan Mehta and Lionesses medical team that they have managed to keep Lucy going.' England boss Wiegman admitted they had attempted to manage Bronze's injury while at the tournament. Wiegman had brought off Bronze in the latter stages of group matches against the Netherlands and Wales, where England had held convincing leads to help book their place in the knock-out stage.
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
LIZ JONES: Molly-Mae Hague 'made it' by donning a cheese-wire thong on national TV. Now fans are recoiling at the woman she has become
Compare and contrast the following quotes, both uttered by young women in the public eye in the past 24 hours. Exhibit A: 'I played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no one knew.'
New York Times
27-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
England's Lucy Bronze says she played in Euros with fractured leg: ‘It's painful but I'm going to party'
England defender Lucy Bronze says that she played the entirety of the Women's European Championship tournament with a fractured tibia in her left leg. The 33-year-old played in all six of England's successful Euro campaign, including playing 105 minutes in the final against Spain, which England won via a penalty kick shootout. However, the Chelsea defender, who was taken off at half-time of extra-time with a knee injury, revealed after the final whistle that she had entered the tournament with an injury. Speaking to BBC Sport after the win, she said: 'I've played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but nobody knee, and I've hurt my knee today on my other leg. 'Which is why the girls gave me a lot of love after the Sweden game because I've been in a lot of pain. If that is what it takes to play for England, that is what I'll do. It's very painful, but I'm going to party.' Advertisement Bronze had several key moments during the tournament, including a pivotal penalty during the shootout victory over Sweden on July 17. The defender celebrated with her teammates with a visible bandage on her right knee and was seen struggling to walk during post-match jubilation. The Euros victory was Bronze's 26th career trophy. 'We never lost belief in ourselves,' she added. 'There was a lot of noise on the outside, but we stuck together. To go to extra time back to back to back is incredible. We give each other energy and what we've done today is incredible. 'I don't think we were thinking too much about the World Cup (final defeat). It always goes that they win, then we win, then they win, so it was our turn today. 'To win on penalties is an amazing feeling but to lose on penalties is the worst feeling. They (Spain) are great players and they've achieved a lot. It wasn't meant for them today, it was meant for England.'
