Bronze reveals how England are dealing with pressure of Euro defence

Rebranding Sarina Wiegman’s Women’s Euro 2025 squad as a ‘new England’ will help the roster manage the pressure of defending their title, claims Lucy Bronze. 

The right back, who spoke to Women’s Health UK ahead of her seventh major tournament, is a Lionesses legend and is one of 13 players in Wiegman’s 23-strong group that won the Euros in 2022. 

But the reigning champions’ preparations for next month’s tournament in Switzerland have been less than ideal.

Mary Earps and Fran Kirby have both retired from international football, while Millie Bright also made herself unavailable for selection, saying she is unable to give ‘100 per cent mentally or physically’.

It means that a different England will take to the field in their opener against France on July 5 and Bronze, who is coming off another trophy-laden season – this time with Chelsea – has opened up on the ways in which the new-look roster is dealing with the pressure of being defending champions.

‘What we’ve spoken about [as a team] is that we admire what we’ve done in the past, being the Euros winners,’ said the 33-year-old. 

‘But we’re a ‘new England’ going into this and we’ll create our own history. There are people going to the Euros and it’ll be their first ever tournament wearing an England shirt. You want them to enjoy that. 

‘And I think taking away that pressure is a great way for them to do it…I’m always thinking about the Euros. I can’t not think about it. Everything I do is to play in the Euros and win the Euros. 

‘Though people who know me know that I am a little bit obsessed.’

England’s most decorated player is keen to add to a trophy cabinet of gargantuan proportions. Five Champions League titles, four Women’s Super League crowns and the 2022 European Championship are among her most prized team accolades, though that list neglects her domestic honours in France and Spain or the multitude of individual awards she has received during her professional career. 

Yet, the thing she has received most attention for – from the public, at least – was her brave decision to go public on her autism and ADHD diagnosis earlier this year. 

The 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up sat down with former Lionesses star Alex Scott and discussed the impact the diagnoses have had on her life inside and out of the sport. 

‘Doing that interview is the biggest reaction I’ve ever had to anything I’ve ever done in my whole career,’ she added. 

‘Even winning things football-wise or getting a degree or anything that I’ve done that I’ve had success with wouldn’t come close to the reaction I had from that…In a [recent game] a little kid ran up to me and said, “You’re my idol, because I’m autistic and I have ADHD and I’m so proud of you for speaking about it.” 

‘I thought, “He’s proud of me?! He’s seven!” Because he’s seen someone else [with neurodivergent traits], he thought it was really cool.’

Bronze will be hoping to continue to inspire with her performances this summer. 

In spite of the noise surrounding the team, the Lionesses remain one of the best sides on the continent and retain several key players with winning experience. 

Success three years ago appeared to spark serious change for women’s football in this country and Bronze is a firm believer that the sport has the power to change hearts and minds outside of it. 

She added: ‘When we won the Euros, it was empowering to so many women who didn’t even like football. Seeing women succeed in “a man’s game” or “a man’s world” gave [a feeling of] confidence and achievement. 

‘And for the men who loved football, but who maybe had a bit of underlying misogyny, they were like, “Do you know what, we love football and we’re so proud of these girls.” I think football can help change society.’