Football Daily - Can England win the Women’s Euros again?

Episode Date: June 23, 2025

Mark Chapman looks ahead to UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 through the England lens. He’s joined by three Lionesses in Izzy Christiansen, Karen Bardsley and Steph Houghton. Also hear from Aggie Beever-Jones, Maya Le Tissier and Leah Williamson.00:45 Initial feelings going into England’s title defence, 01:50 Steph reacts to *that* Bonucci challenge at Soccer Aid, 07:15 Aggie Beever-Jones & Maya Le Tissier INTERVIEW, 09:55 Do England have leaders in the squad? 15:40 Adapting from club style to country style, 21:10 Leah Williamson INTERVIEW, 23:20 Are we seeing a new Leah Williamson? 31:15 Players coming off social media, 34:35 How will Hannah Hampton be feeling? 43:45 Are there enough options in midfield? 47:45 Is forward England’s strongest position? 51:15 England face a tough group.BBC Sounds / 5 Sports Extra commentaries: Wed 1700 England v Netherlands in UEFA U21 Championship.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magindy. And thanks to my exclusive access, I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. And this week I'll be answering your questions and you can literally ask me anything. I just think Matt will probably regret that. 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, I think it was practice,

he crashed and he left one hand on the steering wheel, he'd end up breaking his wrist. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the inside track, wherever you get your podcasts. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. The Football Daily Podcast. with Mark Chapman. So we're 10 days out from Euro 2025. Over the next hour we're focusing on England and can they head to Switzerland and repeat the success of three years ago. We have three Lionesses with us this evening,

Izzy Christensen, Karen Bardsley, and Steph Horton. Could do with a fourth, and then I'd have all four areas of the pitch covered, really. I've got goalkeeper, defensive, midfield sort of. I just need a striker, and then we do it. Where's Ellen? Then I'd be sorted.

Although I'm grateful for you three, obviously. Don't need a fourth. How are you feeling ahead of this? Do you feel positive? I do yeah yeah definitely I think okay there's a change in in in you know players in terms of selection in terms of making themselves available but I still think the youth that's come through it's a complexion that's completely different than what we're used to seeing but I do think there's a lot of quality and talent in this squad I'm really excited for it. And actually Steph you need that youth don't you?

Any squad and I don't think it really matters whether it's a domestic team going into a new season or whether it's an international team going into a tournament. It always needs freshening. Yeah it definitely does and I think the level that the girls are playing now it's important that you keep bringing in fresh blood. You have people with not that much experience but you have them experienced players that have experienced winning with England two, three years ago so yeah I think it's really important and you see it in the Premier League, you see it in all different leagues that if you have the same squad you're not necessarily going

to get the same results because everybody's trying to be better and have better strengths so I think for me this is an exciting year for England that's for sure. When Steph was hobnobbing at Soccer Aid with Benucci and the lot. How was your back Steph? Yeah, are you alright? Can I just say I was going to get the stock. Is that a game ready machine in the background? If I get any more Benucci gifts on my social media honestly I'm not

going on social media anymore. And you know what he was the nicest guy as well and I thought you know what why am I doing right wing first at Old Trafford. And as soon as I went down I said right okay I'm at Old Trafford I need to get up no matter what even my back and my ribs are so sore I'm getting up at Old Trafford. So I'm actually proud of myself for getting up. But honestly, what a guy and soccer aid. Izzy, I know that you've done it, but one of the best experiences ever. It's, yeah, it was amazing.

You played well. I was watching it. Oh, thanks. I couldn't help but watch it with a tactical eye. I know, but Izzy, I was playing in center midfield and Harry was like just sitting in front of the back four stuff, I'm like, I've never played here for 15 years So what are you doing out on the right one? I don't know I got a bit excited didn't I?

That's where the space was So whilst she was flying up and down the Old Trafford pitch I had a chat with Jack Wilshere because Socray came off the back of England's men not having a brilliant time in their couple of England's men not having a brilliant time in their couple of games that they had had. And he had said to me that he really didn't mind England stumbling the way they had in the Andorra game and the Senegal game because that was the time to do it with a look ahead to a tournament a year off. So when you look at England and their last 12 months going into these Euros Would you apply the same logic there? Yeah, a hundred percent and I remember

Approximately six six months ago England were playing a friendly at Wembley and there was a little bit of noise coming into the game around the state of the squad, you know a little bit of unrest a little bit of lack of form and I think people had sort of noticed and that's what comes with winning and obviously we know that they're the defending champions of this competition, the Euros finalists at the World Cup in Australia so they've had a pretty good run in the last four or five years under Wigman but I think they're in a perfect position right now, I really do and I'm not just saying that, I think they are because I think you know a little bit of unrest okay that's happened that's gone and the team look like they've sort of ridden a storm if you like and I think they're gonna be in the perfect

condition to start this tournament on the front foot which you know in their opening game against France they're gonna need to start very very strongly I mean what you would say I suppose is that the games where you go that's not brilliant it's not like they've been walloped I mean, they've still been tight games or there's only been a draw, you know, they've had big wins The beat Belgium by five the beat Portugal by six the beat Spain by a goal to L.A But they've also lost to Spain and they've lost to Belgium and they've drawn with Portugal. So it's not all doom and gloom It's not all brilliant. It's a little bit up and down

Yeah I know I think it's definitely balanced isn't it if you go even further back with some of the friendlies obviously the US was a really Interesting performance wasn't it they were very They were tested with a lot of changes on both teams And I think they were very solid and they worked on their structure defensively And I thought that was something that they they really focused on and I thought that was a massive benefit for where the team are now. Obviously got exposed massively

in that first half against Germany. And I think, you know, it just, in friendlies that's what it's for. And I think, you know, a lot of times this criticism with the Nations League coming in, you don't get to experiment as much as you probably like to with maybe change of formation or change of players. But what we have seen in the Nations League

are the games have become more competitive. You're not getting the 20 nils against, what was it, Latvia, was it? Yeah. So I do think there's a lot of learnings to be taken away. And it has been clumsy at times. It has been very, very good at times. But ultimately for me, you've had the opportunities

for someone like Michelle Ajiman to come in, take her opportunity to get selected in the squad. And I think, yeah, they've all, for me, taken all the opportunities to put themselves with the best foot forward, give themselves an opportunity to get into the squad, but then also really build that confidence and that new look like complexion that we spoke about and integrating the younger players into the senior squad as well so I think it's been beneficial even though it's been a bit up and down. Yeah I always find that I don't know what you think girls but I think the turn of the year when there's an a Euros or a World Cup in six months time I think as an international player your focus does come solely on the tournament and not about club football and I think KB you

mentioned the Germany game at Wembley and I think that was a performance where we went right, okay, there's something actually fundamentally wrong in the way that we are set up. And I think we did need that game to be able to go right, okay, we're gonna have to do better against the likes of Germany and Spain and yeah, inconsistent performances. But at the end of the day, I think where they are now

and how they're gonna peak going into this tournament, I think they're in a great position. And yeah, of course, there's some big names missing, but ultimately you have younger players that are coming in, but also it allows other players to step up and to really perform. So I think that mindset just as a player really does change Chappers. You've got 13 players who remain from the squad that won the Euros. You've got seven of the squad making their major tournament debuts. We can hear from a couple of them now. So here are Agui Beaver Jones and Mare Letizia. It's pretty cool isn't it? We're excited. Because Mare, you were standby at the World Cup. So you travelled out to Australia didn't you?

Is it different this time around? Yeah, no definitely I think. Obviously that was a hard moment for me but a really nice one as well getting to go out to Australia with the girls But yeah soon as I answered that phone call I just had like PTSD from the last Thinking oh my god, please But yeah, obviously when Saruna said congrats I was buzzing. How nervous were you then? So nervous. What was it like? So describe it like phone pings. Did you answer it straight away? No, I had text Saruna because I booked a flight You're gonna rig me what? Yeah, I booked a flight that morning, so I wasn't actually... I was available towards the back end of the slots.

So I texted her and said, oh, I'll land it this time. And then we got a little bit delayed. So then as soon as I landed, I turned on my data and it said Serena missed video call. Video call as well? If it was a voice call, I could do it on the plane, like once we'd landed. But you know, it's so quiet when everyone lands.

So I thought, okay I'm going to have to wait until I get down them steps and no one was getting out from my row. And I was at the window seat and I was just like, guys you need to get out. As soon as I got down the steps I called her. Did you get scared when you saw that it was Serena that actually rang? Because when we used to do it, if the assistant called you then maybe you were definitely in. And then if the head coach called you, you were getting bad news. I think we knew that Serena was going to call everyone. So it was like, lucky there was no hints of whether you was in or out.

But the last World Cup call, she did a voice call, and this one was a video call. Yeah, the video threw me off as well. Did you just read into everything then? Can you imagine if she had a filter on, she's like, I am, I am. I mean, you know her better than I do. I'm gonna say it's probably an idea. So what about for you, Aggie then? Yeah, it was similar to Meia. We just got told keep yourself available. I was at home actually with my family and I said, oh, she's gonna call

between, I think it was like maybe nine and 11 or something. I can't remember exactly. And then I didn't know it was a video call either. I literally my hair was a mess, everything was a mess. I was just downstairs and then I had my phone on ringer because I never have my phone on ringer. Obviously I was getting a call, my family were like you better go take that. So I was like I'm gonna go somewhere private just in case. Went upstairs, was on the phone, obviously she said what she said and I was just grinning ear to ear. And then just came back downstairs and my family were all like so like what's happening? And I was like I'm going to the Euros.

And obviously it was a very cute moment. And it was nice to kind of have them there as well and kind of see the delight that I had with myself. You can feel the energy, can't you? I mean, I'm not sure you want a video call on your overseas data, to be honest with you, but anyhow. It's hilarious. You don't know, do you?

You need to get to the wifi. Absolutely, yeah, but to be fair, airport wifi's not great. So I think my Letizia did the right thing. But you know, you speak about the debutants and Maya Letizia being one. She's, you know, been the captain of Manchester United for this last season and you're talking about, you know, a possible lack of leaders within the group. There's absolutely leaders in there and I think Maya Letizia can lead in different ways. Like, will she play a big part role in terms of on the pitch? We'll see. Maybe not down to start, but she's a player that's had a tremendous consistent season and her qualities.

I've seen it week in, week out in the WSL as a leader, as a consistent footballer. She will certainly play a huge part in what that team does. Why do you think this leadership or lack of leadership has become such a big topic of discussion Steph when Izzy talks about Letitia as the captain of Manchester United. I go back to the 13 players who have been in this squad before and leadership is inherited isn't it from one squad to the next. Is it just a bit of an easy stick to beat them with because of the three that are no longer there? Yeah, I think it's because of the people that are not gonna be part of that squad.

I think you look at Millie Bright, who capped on the side in the World Cup. I think if Millie Bright wasn't in the pitch, it was always gonna be Mary Earps, especially when Lee Williamson was injured. So, and you look at their profiles of play and what they've done for England over these last few years and the legacy of what this England team's done, they've been a big, big part of that. But I agree with Izzy in the sense

of I think leadership and being there and doing it, I think normally the focus is always on one person, but I think leadership is for the wider group and using people's strengths and being able to utilise people's different experiences and we're speaking about new players. I love the fact that them two are bringing energy. I think they've both had fantastic seasons for Manchester United and Chelsea in different ways. I don't think I look at Aguibiva Jones as a leader but she leads on the pitch, she leads by example, and she shows that enthusiasm every time she steps on the pitch for England.

So I think that's gonna be crucial, chap us in terms of the tournament's long, and you spend a lot of time in hotels, try to switch off, trying to find ways to kinda occupy yourself when you're not on the training pitch. And of course, the game's gone so big now. You're not a million miles away from England.

The hype around this tournament is gonna be big because there's so much expectation on the girls, but I think it is important that it's not just down to Leah in terms of having the captain's armband. She's gonna lead in a different way, but all the leadership is shared, and this group, they've been there and done it before. They've been successful over this last few years,

and it's so important that everybody kind of pitches in with that leadership role at different times because there's going to be times when it can't just be on Leah, she might have played 90 minutes, she might be tired, the next group are going to go out and train and it's time for somebody else to stand up so I think if England are going to do anything special it's about everybody being able to just show their strengths and show them in any which way that they can. So it's a little bit like a carousel at the airport when you're waiting to collect your bag leadership, I think it's just going round and round and you get your

moment and I think that we spoke about Maya Letizia but then you look at players stepping into those or Georgia Stanwy, like if she's you know hopefully back fully fit firing, big parts play in the midfield, also big parts play in terms of leadership. She can lead in the way that she tackles, the way that she grafts on the pitch. And then I look at players who play domestically, Chelsea, serial winners in the WSL, Arsenal just off the back, winning the Champions League, Alessia Russo, she's a leader. Like you say, Steph, it's different moments for different people.

You've got 11 of the 23, Karen, from either Chelsea or Arsenal, which given the seasons that they both had in the end, either domestically or European-wise, I mean, that has to be of a benefit. Oh, absolutely. I think you mentioned, you know, obviously what Chelsea and Arsenal have been able to do domestically and, you know, on the European front as well. It's no small feat. You know, you've got players now who we probably would

consider to be still quite young in their careers like Kira Walsh as well who can carve open a team just with one pass as she did in that European Championship, the Euros final and she did that week in week out for Chelsea and Barcelona as well. So I mean, Steph touched on it as well around leadership. It's subjective, isn't it, to everyone? It looks very, very different. So it could be, like you say, a Georgia stand-away crunching tackle in the midfield. It could be an incisive pass.

It could be, you know, making sure that, you know, when the card's down, someone is there and available to lift the team up. And I think it doesn't have to just be on the pitch. And I think you're right, Chappers, it probably is an easy stick to beat the team with just because some big personalities and some players that have had quite a lot of success have left. I think when we talk about the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and the amount of players that

they have in the squad, I think for me that is an advantage for England. I think you don't really find that many other countries are like that, maybe apart from Spain with their Barcelona contingent in terms of they playing together every single week and I think we've been part of teams when we were at all at Man City and it just makes that a little bit easier when you're going in a national set up because you know how each other plays, you know where people are going to be on the pitch and you look at them two teams like Karen's just alluded to in terms of they win and that's so important for this competition is that they've got a really tough group in the sense of France first game, then Netherlands, then Wales. That's not an easy group to come out of to potentially top the group or come runners up and you need to be able to be firing straight away and that helps that you've got them connections already and them connections chapas have been growing for a number of years now. So how did you three all find

it then all being from City and England together? It's funny I was actually having this conversation earlier. I actually had this conversation earlier today because I think there was between there was either seven or nine of us from City, Man City, in the squad at the same time. And this was back at a time where Manchester City, we started this new team and we went on to do what we did in the WSL and we had a really fixated way of playing and us as players were maybe a little narrow minded

in that we could only play the City way, but we knew how successful it was and how much it worked on the pitch. It was then a challenge to go into the England environment and go, actually we're playing differently here and it's okay, football can be played in other ways. But we had such a good core group of players there coming from Manchester City and that squad and we almost, I think, fair to say we brought the team up with us. I think we were coming from a place, we know how hard we worked in order to sort of change the perception of football at Manchester City, women's football. We know how hard we worked and we definitely took that into an England environment and we started to pave the way in terms of physical

performance, physical output in order to compete and And that's a big part of tournament football, is being ready physically, because you've got to go the full length. Karen just got a book out of her, but is that your diary from the time? You won't believe this, but I was cleaning out one of my, yeah, like the office, and I found an old diary from like 2014 to 2016,

and I was like, I need to bring this in and just take a look at it. So I'm just away from the mic here, but yeah, you know, it's just about like- I cannot believe So I'm just away from the mic here. But yeah, you know, it's just about like... I cannot believe Izzy did that on June the 27th. What was I doing at the club on June the 27th? That was probably an IB for Jack. No, honestly, but like I was just going through it.

And, you know, like some of the principles were just so simple. You know, it was like I think one of the friendlies was just like against the US. Or no, it was a She Believes Cup, actually. And it was like, Nolify, Carly Lloyd, you know, like was like, I think one of the friendlies was just like against the US or no, it was the She Believes Cup actually, and it was like nullify Carly Lloyd, you know, like don't let her face up, force her backwards, like just simple, simple principles and things like that. So yeah, I was shocked when I saw that,

but touching on Izzy's point as well, you know, like you bring in a few ideas that you confident that work at club level and you try to see if you can integrate them into some, you know, really basic things at national level as well. I remember killing the counter-attack was a big one, so the rest defence essentially was something that was quite foreign at the time I think, and Lucy Bronson was exquisite at it, so she was quite happy being very, very high in an uncomfortable position for most full-backs and defenders, and that was

something we tried to drip-feed into the back line as well. I wonder how Steph felt about Lucy going higher. Right side and centre back. You found yourself on the wing again. I was arrested mate, that's all I'm saying. How you doing your sprints weren't you? I remember that as well. Trying to keep that physical up.

It's a balance isn't it though of this is what we do at club level are we able to international level or your international level coaching team going well that may work if you're here but we may want to do YNTED rather than X. I think respectfully you always end up you know obviously following what the managers asked you to do in terms of getting everyone on the same page but yeah I think touching on your original point around just how well Chelsea have done and how dominant they've been domestically and obviously the success that Arsenal have had, you know, to be able to turn Arsenal's season around in the manner that they did with so much

change and, you know, the form that Alessi Russo has managed to get herself into and the likes of, you know, Chloe Kelly's transformation going to Arsenal, it's been quite tremendous. So I think England are in a very good place. Well, the other thing with those two clubs as well, of course, Steph, is that they've both been injected with fresh ideas, either at the start of the campaign in Chelsea's case or midway through a campaign in Arsenal's case. So they're not coming with,

this is how we've done it for the last three or four years. Those groups of players have both undergone changes within that how their club teams play. And change is good Chappers. I think as a footballer it is important that you do have them changes and it does probably feel uncomfortable at times, especially in the early days. And I'm sure when a new manager comes in, it gives you a chance to impress. And you've been there as a player where you're like, I wonder if the manager likes this, will I get picked?

Will I be starting? But actually it probably gives you that bit more of an extra motivation to train even harder, to try and implement the system that they're trying to do. And let's get it right. We're not gonna probably see anything different from England this summer, I think, in terms of the way that we play. It's pretty much sorted in that 4-3-3 formation.

This is about the players performing and then players informing. KB spoke about Russo, who's been exceptional this season, and that comes with the new manager. She really brought confidence to her. She started to score goals. Her all-around game was a lot better, and she was a handful of defences. You speak about Chloe Kelly getting that loan move from Manchester City, that was fresh, that was a different change but even Chelsea, they've been ruthless for a number of years and you can't really kind of buy that experience of what it takes to win and that mentality to go again but there's no doubt that this England side are going to be fired up for this tournament. I think especially with the stuff

that we perceive as probably negative in the media in terms of the retirements and big players missing as a player internally that gives you more motivation to prove people wrong. Well somebody who isn't missing is Leah Williamson who was though a couple of years ago missing didn't feature in the World Cup because of that ACL injury but she's been back playing for the last year for Arsenal and she is ready to lead this summer. I thought that the challenge was going through the rehab and I think this season has been my first season back. I still struggled until about November but from November

onwards it was like I don't know just just learning how to be this new version of me instead of trying to get back to something just trying to be whatever the game required because I think it changed so much whilst I was off the pitch as well so trying to adapt and and like I say like teach myself to learn yeah that sounds kind of you know but you know you have to learn how to do that again and I think this year I proved to myself that I could still do it. We were talking about earlier I'm excited I feel like you know I missed the last one and you know how this time goes in between and it's, yeah, we're grafting and there's no game at the end of it so it feels a little frustrating but everything around the place is just gearing up to this massive massive event

and we get to be a part of it in an England show, it's unbelievable. Going in in the position that no England captain or player in fact has been in, you're going to defend a title. What does that mean and does it change things? I didn't, when you said that to me I'm like, oh yeah, that's the thing. I think as an athlete there's noise because of factual things, which is absolutely fine,

but you're literally part of your job is to remove yourself from that like situation and although that is real what's actually real and what's what's the day today so from within the camp we don't see it like that and there's also it's such a new team like the amount of people that were that are technically defending a trophy is smaller than what you would think so we don't have that noise I mean you can you've been in part and around us for a while where you it's not spoken about We're just focused on the day day today

and like I said that everything's changed so much if you go back to 2022 and now the game is Everything is completely different. So it'll be it'll be naive of us I think to go in with any sort of I don't know but an item in or a patient Yeah, yeah, 100% because it would be, I think it would be wrong. There's a lot to unpick there. Let's start with new self post injury rather than old self pre-injury, which you, during that interview with her, said to her that makes complete sense to you. And I think both Steph and Izzy nodded as well, but you go first, Karen. Yeah. No, I completely agreed with that that statement I mean I myself have suffered quite a lot of injuries and I think you're always trying to

Keep the game from getting away from you too much while you're not involved while you're off the pitch and I think you know When you do get back and you get fully fit things feel a little bit different than perhaps they did previously and I think you're trying To comprehend what's going on on the pitch? What's what dynamics have changed in the style of play and their teammates etc but then also what your new range is like whether you're passing whether that what what angles of you know the way you receive the ball how that changes how you see things the speed and you're just kind of going okay like this is my new normal or is this going to change and that you're

constantly sort of reevaluating that over a certain period of time until it kind of becomes regular. And you know, for Leah, she mentioned November, didn't she? And that's quite a lengthy period of time. And I think her form kind of ebbed and flowed over that that period of time. But I think it was, it culminated so nicely, didn't it, in that Champions League final when she was absolutely exceptional. So I think she has found a new normal, she set a new bar out for herself and it couldn't be a better timing really. I think the Arsenal Champions League win has done incredible things for the squad and the morale going into this sort of pre-tournament sort of phase where they're preparing and I think the energy the players have even spoken about it around the energy that the Arsenal players have brought in to the team

has been you know infectious and Leah Williamson in that game I was commentating on the game for 5-5 and she honestly she was outstanding like the way that she read the game and we're talking about you know topside in Europe and Barcelona right now and the way that she read the game the way that she defended you know how resilient she. And I just think that was probably her finding herself again on the pitch, you know, really from 90 minutes and then coming into a tournament now off the back of that particular performance, you know, puts herself in really good stead.

In having to read it better to adjust to her new self. Absolutely. Yeah. And herself in the way that she defends, you know, if you were to describe Leah's defending skills, she's she reads the game very well. She's front-footed, she's aggressive and she's got this wonderful technical ability probably since the former captain Steph Horton on the ball at right-sided centre-back and I just think that she then imposed herself on that game in a way that where she had this sort of bit between her teeth and that

enthusiasm infected her team and the way that Arsenal suffered a lot in that game, a lot, and the way that she just stood up to everything that Barcelona chucked at them I think sent a message to her team and I think that's really helped England in a roundabout way. Yeah I think she played with a lot of confidence, didn't she? And I think that the moment that really stood out to me was there was a ball played over the top to Eo Peor, who ran in behind, I think. She just tracked the run. And she just looked like she was, like Leah Williams, and looked like she was never going to catch her.

She got into the box, slowed down, kept her away from goal. And then Peor showed the ball just a little bit and she went that front foot left tackle like just left foot in there and just looked so composed she didn't dive in with the opposite foot she didn't get turned inside out won the ball and then made the pass as well to her teammate and then just was so so composed and I thought that just that just typifies Leah Williamson for me. I agree with what the girl's singing and when she first started to speak, I think the one word that probably stuck out was perspective. I think when you're injured and you've been part of an England winning side and you miss a massive tournament in the World Cup, you miss a big chunk of games for Arsenal, I think you do gain some perspective, not only just in football terms, but in life as well. And the way that she's speaking, I think when she's saying about finding the new me, I think she really appreciates the time on the grass,

the work that she's put in. And I think we've all been there with injuries and especially when you're England captain, she's one of the most high profile players, not in England, but the world now. And I think she is going to be scrutinized for the moment that she came back from injury to where she is now.

And yeah, of course, them first few months back after an ACL, it's hard. Like I'm looking at Rodry for Man City and everybody's expecting him to be that Ballon d'Or winner where he's where he left before he got injured it's gonna take him a while to get back to that level because you've been out for eight nine months and you've had to do the rehab most of the time spent in the gym it's not with people around you and you've got another 21 players that are on the pitch and you're trying to find them passes, it's impossible. So for me, I think the way that she's went about it, I think it's been fantastic.

And as a leader, I think now she's even more experienced, especially after the experiences what she's had personally. She also has. I mean, this has got nothing to do with her on the pitch stuff. But I also find she has quite an erring ability to make you believe everything that she says. And by that I mean, I interviewed her before the Champions League final and she was actually relishing being the underdog.

And I genuinely believe, you know, you interview so many sports people and they're like, you don't believe what you're saying to me, but we'll go along with it. The truth's coming out now, Chaffers, isn't it? But I genuinely believe that with her. And now when she says she doesn't think about being defending champion because in many ways so many things have moved on in three years, I believe her as well.

Yeah, no, she's right and I I think that that terminology is really fragile. You know, being the champions is one thing to go into a major tournament, the target on your back. And I actually had this conversation with Sreena Vigman a few months ago, um, around just the language. And it's a bit like the substitute language. Some coaches managers call it finishes because substitutes is deemed negative to be on the bench to come off it then if you call yourself a defending champion which you absolutely are because England obviously are the holders this competition it almost puts yourselves on the back foot and relieves

a little bit of pressure verbally and how you then project yourself forward from that is completely and largely in their own hands about how they prepare what they do and what condition they're gonna start the tournament in. I think that's really interesting I think it's it's quite a psychological game isn't it, in a sense, because, you know, once you're holding on to something as well, it's yours to lose, isn't it? You know, so if you kind of put the shoe on the other foot and you are chasing after something, and like we touched on at the top of the show, so much has changed in that short space of time since they actually won the tournament, that this is a different, you know, the game

has moved on, you know, Germany, a completely different team, Spainers, you know, the game has moved on, Germany a completely different team, Spain, you know, we know Spain very well now, you know, we know what they're capable of doing and we know kind of what their strengths and weaknesses are. And I think, you know, with this injection of new talent, you've got a team that's been there and done it and then you've got a team that's even hungrier to go and do it again, I think, with the youthful players, and I think that blend is fascinating

because some of these players are so unfazed and so confident in their youthfulness. It just blows me away and they look like they've been there a million times before. They're so confident in the way they approach the game and I just think that's a really exciting position to be in. I find that side of it, Steph, the discussion about how much the game has moved on in three years, really interesting when it, in how that would affect a psychology or expectations because the pace of change has been beyond belief in many ways. These young kids chapters are actually not phased one bit about joining the England senior team, that's how I can describe it. You coach the girls at the academy and you see all these under 16s,

and they're like, yeah, I want to be captain of England. Their ambitions are there because they see it every single day, whether it's on social media, whether it's on TV. And for me, I think it was key what Leah was saying in terms of how many of the squad weren't part of that Euro 22. So I think they see this as a kind of a new chapter.

And I think psychologically, that's how they've tried to phase that in the heads in terms of, you know, it was interesting that they don't want to get bogged down by the social media element. And I can remember, in Euro 2017, I don't know whether you can remember girls, I used to have a big A-free piece of paper chapters,

and I had everybody's name down. It was like, right, okay, do you want to be on social media or not? And I used to literally just put a tick or a cross. And if it was a cross and you didn't want to be on social media or not? And I used to literally just put a tick or a cross. And if it was a cross and you didn't wanna be on social media because you wanted to concentrate solely on the tournament, on the bus you weren't allowed to talk about whatever was going on back at home.

And that was just a rule that we had because we knew that that was getting bigger. And that was 2017. Now we're in 2025 where we have Instagram, TikTok. People managing our accounts. Honestly, like your managers, your agents doing all these accounts and stuff like that. And it's just a different world.

And I think, for me, there's so many variables that can probably affect how you prepare for the tournament. And I think, for me, there's a real humility about this team, even though they are reigning champions. Did you carry that A3 sheet of paper onto the bus each time, then, to make sure the right people... To be fair, yeah, I was in the back of the bus and I just stuck it on the window. So we didn't know what you were saying back home.

Do you know what, I remember that. Could have been a lot more high tech. I mean it was only 2017. They did have tablets and iPads back then, didn't they? We didn't get paid that much to get an iPad. I remember we had that social media meeting ahead of that tournament in like the basement of a hotel somewhere in maybe Eastern Europe, I can't remember where we were, but we were in a dark room altogether and everyone just had to raise their hand as to whether they

wanted to be on social media and I'm glad you've said that Steph because I was trying to rack my brains to remember what the outcome was, and I actually couldn't remember whether that was on it or not. But it was- What did the majority do then? I think a lot of people came off. It was half and half chapters, you know, yeah.

I think a lot of people did come off or somebody was just going to post after we'd won or, and there was so many different pervades. I'm just too many rules. Hence the paper. Yeah. But each individual, I suppose, has to make their own choice on that. Because for some, astonishingly, it might be a positive for some.

For me, I definitely wanted to come off it immediately. I think there were members of the goalkeeper union that were like... And there wasn't a major tournament either. Just all the time. No, it is a necessary evil, isn't it? It is something that you kind of need to obviously promote yourself and things like that. But at the same time, it can become quite toxic quite quickly. And I think, like for me, I was like, no, I'll just get rid.

Because you want to be in the moment, don't you? You know, you want to live and eat and breathe, you know, everything with your teammates that's going on. And I think there are some people that really enjoyed it. And we kind of had to tell each other like, yeah, please don't tell me about anything. I don't want to know. And everyone was really respectful, to be fair. But yeah, it was awkward just to have that conversation. But it was actually really beneficial.

Yeah. Women's Football Weekly on the Football Daily. I'm Ben Haynes. I'm Ellen White. And I'm Jen Beattie. And on Tuesdays on the Football Daily, we bring you the Women's Football Daily. I'm Ben Haynes. I'm Ellen White. And I'm Jen Beattie. And on Tuesdays on the Football Daily, we bring you the Women's Football Weekly. Really pleased with the fact we are now champions

and we got this title. We had time to enjoy with the fans and we'll have some time with friends and family after the game. As we dive headfirst into all things WSL and beyond in the Women's game. Women's Football Weekly only on the football daily. Listen now on BBC Sounds. Welcome to the Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards.

This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magendie, and thanks to my exclusive access, I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. And this week I'll be answering your questions, and you can literally ask me anything. I think Matt will probably regret that.

2023 Dutch Grand Prix, I think it was practice, he crashed and he left one hand on the steering wheel and ended up breaking his wrist. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the inside track wherever you get your podcasts. On the goalkeeping situation, let me start, Karen, with you and we'll flip it slightly. How does Hannah Hampton feel? Do you think about everything that's gone on? Because that surely is actually the most important part of all of this. Absolutely. I think it is. And I think it's up to her teammates, it's up to us in the media to not put too much pressure

on her as well, considering everything that's happened. So I think how she feels is the fact that she just wants to play. That's what she enjoys the most. She enjoys being between the sticks. And she just wants to get the tournament underway. She's not really worried about the noise. I think she just wants to get out there and enjoy herself

and let her football do the talking, to be honest. You know, you could unpick it until the cows come home. You know, she's had a tremendous season for Chelsea. She's done really well for herself in her own right. Obviously, Golden Glove contender as well. You know, it was shared with Falantulas Joyce, I believe, as well. But, you know, she's a fantastic goalkeeper.

She's very good with the ball at her feet. She's very competent, very confident as well. Agile, good shot stopper. So I think, yes, okay, Mary Earps has a presence. She commands her area really well. Big personality, and she's been very successful in her own right in a very short space of time. But there's no reason that this team shouldn't be confident with Hannah Hampton in goal. And I think I don't know if I was Hannah Hampton Steph I sort of feel like I'd be saying well all this noise around Mary Earps but I've started six of the last seven I conceded just three in those six I kept four clean sheets I've had a great season with Chelsea you know back off everybody. I think personally I think that's good that Hannahampton hasn't been spoken

about with Mary Earp's leaving in the sense of more the focus is on why Mary's retired, why it was that time, but what KB's saying in terms of Hannah's season, she's been exceptional for Chelsea I think to be able to keep as many clean sheets as she did and I think it was pretty obvious in them Spain games when Serena was picking Hannah Hampton, that she was potentially going to be number one. And I think you could probably see it from the outside, but being there as a player,

and you always have that little bit of hope that she might change her mind, or any manager might change her mind in selection. But I think as pundits, and we watch a lot of the games, you could see that was where that Serena was going. And yeah, the questionable timing from Mary, but for Hannah, I think this is obviously a big tournament for her. And I think she has that experience from Chelsea.

And also she's got really good players around her. You look at them players, the likes of Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze. You have three very capable leaders and experienced people in these situations where if maybe there's a little bit of a rush of blood to the head and she potentially makes a mistake, whether it's a wrong pass or the wrong decision, it's about okay, just calm down, getting back to basics.

I really hope that she has a great tournament if I'm being honest, especially with the last kind of few weeks and all the noise around it all. The interesting thing about goalkeeping situation, going into a major tournament, you look at your teammates in the eyes and you go, they're my direct competition to play for a starting shirt. You know who you're trying to compete with

and you find that sort of high performance level by competing with those people. And ultimately it's the coaches decision but you've got to control everything you can. With Hannah Hampton and Mary Earps what I saw there was two top top keepers vying for a number one spot which if you want to be a top nation which England are you need that. And now I don't have a question around Hannah Hampton because I completely believe and agree with Steph and Karen here. I think Hannah Hampton has got the ability to go on and be a world-class goalkeeper.

I just wonder how she's going to find that level of competition with the competition around her, and Kiara Keaton in particular, who is a player who is going to find her best form in the next few years as a goalkeeper at Manchester City. How is player who is going to find her best form in the next few years as a goalkeeper at Manchester City. How is Hannah Hampton going to find that level now? But they're funny, I'm going to talk like you're not here, they're funny though aren't they? Goalkeepers. Yeah because there always has to be, it always feels like, a number one and if you if you go into it to a season or a tournament with all these two these two are vying for it I'm not sure what then all of a sudden that's

massive uncertainty rather it's always build as massive uncertainty rather than we've got amazing competition for our number one goal look at what happened with them Ramsdale and and David Ryre for six months at Arsenal yeah no that was a that was a bit of a mess, wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah, no, I think... So do you want to, these two characters fighting each other? The goalkeeping area is unique to the outfield area

in terms of that competition, it's different. It is different. Because in midfield you can adjust. No, it's not. I'm just waiting till I agree. If you've got six midfielders in a squad, you can adapt. No, it's not. I'm just waiting to. No, I agree. If you've got six midfielders in a squad, you can adapt. We'll see Georgia Stanway probably dropping into a six role in this tournament as a deep line midfielder,

but she's an offensive minded player. So we see that adaptation with the goalkeeper's a goalkeeper. Yeah, they are. If anyone else wants to speak, set up and get anything else to say. That's it, that's it. KB, I actually have a question. Go on.

I actually have a question. So KB, in say 2017-2019, you were England's number one. As part of that goalkeeper unit, did you feel competition? Or did you know that you were the number one? Even though when I got told that I was going to be the number one for both of those tournaments respectively, you always feel like you have to be at the top of your game all the time because you know someone wants what you've got. So therefore there's a huge challenge on Kiara Keating now to get Hannah Hampton to a level where she feels a competition. It is, but at the same time it's on Hannah Hampton as well to keep pushing that regardless

of whether she's at the level or not. But does that suit Hannah Hampton? That's my point. Like, you know, when some people are actually quite comfortable with just being, okay, I'm definitely first choice in the half, I'm definitely first choice right back. Some people can feel really comfortable without that competition. Does that get the best out of Hannah,

that she hasn't got a Mary Earps breathing down her neck for this tournament? I'm just trying to play a bit of devil's advocate, because I understand the competition, it brings out the best in people, but sometimes it doesn't. I think Hannah is the only- And I think that's why people move but she can't move countries.

She can't move nationalities. She's the only one that can answer that question. She is the only one that can answer that question. And I think to your point is... It's just an interesting point. Around Kiara Keating, she was exceptional the previous, not this season, but the previous season. Wasn't she a Golden Glove winner?

Yeah. Had a bit of an up and down season obviously this season with Manchester City, really through no fault of her own until she made a few mistakes. So I do think the quality is there, she's still quite young, she's only 20. It's now Kiara, she will find her performance level. But what I'm saying is she is that profile of goalkeeper that will be able to compete with her and just because maybe she hasn't been as consistent as Hannah has been over the course of this season she's still more than capable of being

better at certain things than Hannah is or vice versa so I think that level of competition is still there but Steph to your point you know I was quite comfortable as a goalkeeper going okay like I'm just gonna have to push myself intrinsically regardless because that's just how I get my... But you're one of a kind, KB. Oh, well. And you'll always be the schoolkeeper. Depends who you ask stuff.

This is what... This is my point, like, this is where I know that, like, if you didn't have competition, you could compete with yourself, whereas this is a different type of player, and this is not a disrespect to anybody. Like, Hannah's done so well for Chelsea, and I think that's where the timing's quite questionable

with Mary Mary because would have Serena have done something different with Kiara and Anna in terms of the build-up leading up to this tournament because you might have given them more exposure but because you're presuming Mary's going to be part of the squad. She didn't feel as though she had to do that even though Kiara's had a poor season compared to last year. I don't know if I'm explained. No I think it's safe to say that the plans for the goalkeepers would have been significantly different if Mary would have stayed within the squad. Would it have developed into a distraction as the tournament went on?

I think it's a distraction now. Do you? A little bit. Yeah I don't agree with that. No and the fact that we're still talking about this. Yeah. Yes it is. Maybe I'm seeing very tunnel vision here but I see it as a real, if Mary was going to make

that decision, which she has, I think it's great that it was weeks ago. It's not now, and I think the squad seems so calm and settled. This is what I mean. To your point earlier, we spoke outside the studio. We've gone beyond this, and I think the squad's moved beyond it as well

because this decision was made, what, three weeks ago. And they're focused now. Hannah's number one, the preparation's there, Kiara, Anna know exactly what they need to do to help Hannah get to where she needs to be to perform at her best. You know, and now they just wanna play. Like you're gearing up in this period of time

for a friendly against Jamaica and you just want to be in Switzerland, you just want to be playing France now. You know what I mean? So in terms of the fact that we're talking about this, yeah, it's a bit of a distraction, but for me, I think Hannah knows exactly where she stands, that she's gonna play, and now she knows exactly

what she needs to do in order to prepare. Let's move on to the midfield part of this England team and this England squad. Are there enough options in midfield? Yeah, I think if you'd asked me the same question six weeks ago I would have hesitated in agreeing but now I think I look at it and I think it looks really healthy I think I think it's big it's big big tournament time for for players such as Jess Park Grace Clinton

you know being first major tournaments now Ella, Ella Toon, of course, is a player who has had a huge impact in an England shirt, and it's how her role will play out because if I'm picking the team and I'm going who's the three midfield, I'm picking Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton, and Kiera Walsh. And in that, I'm kind of moving Georgia Stanway around as sort of the moveable piece there to sort of play alongside Keira Walsh in that sort of deep line role to give England more security to then attack and Grace Clinton's a player that requires a nice amount of freedom within a framework and I think then it's going to be on Jess Park and Nella Toon to play a role possibly from the bench

in terms of what the game needs. Brings you back to the finishers point. There we go yeah exactly and I just think that you know I think all of that midfield is going to be used. And of course we've got Lauren James in the squad as well. Is she going to be used centrally? Is she going to be used wide? That would be fascinating to see where Serena Wigman plays her. But I look at that midfield and I go, I'm quite excited about that. I think my question was initially around, you know, Fran Kirby and obviously her retirement

and not being selected for the squad as well. There's questions around the creativity in terms of the output maybe from Ella Toon. Will we get that creativity from Grace Clinton if she is going to play in the 10? Do you think Fran Kirby, you know, was a bit of an oversight from Serena Vigman in terms of, could she still added that element of the creativity that we've seen from her in the past if she was selected? To answer that in short, yeah. I think that the magic that Frank Kirby can bring with her feet is sometimes unrivaled in women's football. In terms of what she can do in and around the box, she needs half a yard to drop a shoulder, but she's obviously made her decision,

which I totally respect and understand. And I think it's now time for you know the the other creative players in that squad to to make some magic in that sort of final third. Would you have sacrificed someone in a different position to have her in? I'm not sure I think that's kind of the still I'm I'm on the bob a little bit about that I still think that you know Fran Kirby you know yeah okay she she hadn't been consistently fit she'd been struggling with with with illness for quite some time but I still think she had a good season for Brighton. I still think she sees passes and executes passes that perhaps go amiss at times.

So even if it is coming on for five or 10 minutes, possibly to impact or influence the game, maybe she wouldn't have been first choice, but I still think she possibly could have done a job. I think that's why I think Serena sees Lauren James as that 10 that's going to come on for the last 15, 10 minutes, whatever. I don't think she'll start because of her injury problems, she'll come back to fitness. But I think when the games open and you've seen her do it for Chelsea sometimes off the left-hand side, but in them central areas, I think Lauren

James is going to be key in terms of finishing games. And I agree with Izzy in the sense of I think that start in midfield is going to be Stanway, Walsh and Clinton. I think Lauren James is going to be key in terms of finishing games and I agree with Izzy in the sense of I think that start midfield is going to be Stanway, Walsh and Clinton. I think that's what we've seen in the last couple of games in terms of you've got experience and also you've got the legs of Clinton that can get up and down and she can press from the front and she can be a bit of a goal scorer and threat. But I think in terms of Ella Toome, she played her part off the bench in the Euros 2022, and she had a great season for Man United, especially since Christmas, but I do see her as a bit of a finisher, someone that's going to come on and finish the job, and Jess Parks, bit new to the tournament in the sense of playing a little bit off the right-hand side,

playing a bit more central last few games, but I do think in terms of where Lauren James and the Fran Kirby debate I think Lauren James could provide a bit more of a fret in them areas when the game is a little bit more stretched. Well you would say further forward though Steph is I mean there are there are options here there and everywhere aren't they? I mean that is well I know you think that's probably England's strongest area of this squad Without a doubt. I think you look at the likes of Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Aggie Beaver-Jones, you've got Lauren James that can play in there Like I don't know many teams in the Euros that are going to compete with that front six and we talked about competition That is competition. I think even though Russo's probably a nailed on starter,

you know that you've got Aggy Beaver-Jones that can come on and do that number nine role as she did against Portugal, scoring a hat-trick. And obviously on that right-hand side with Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly, who do that at Arsenal every single week. And Lauren Hemt coming back from injury from Man City, you're gonna have a fresh Lauren Hemt

that's gonna be eager to impress. And she's at the age where she's going to be in her peak years. So I do feel as though if we can get them forward players firing with the pace that we have but also the finishing ability. I really do think that the likes of Netherlands and the France that we are playing in them first two group games, it's going to be a real struggle to keep them at bay. I think Lauren Hemp's the interesting one you know Russo and Aguibiva Jones you know tremendous players so exciting to watch but for me Lauren Hemp is the absolute creme de la creme of wingers like she honestly I just hope she has the tournament where she can reach the level she can because if she does do that she's a player we spoke with going back to earlier in the show about leadership Lauren Hemt would

never ever in a million years describe herself as a leader but she is one because of the way she plays she's ridiculous on the dribble like if she gets the ball and gets faced up with a fullback she's going to cause so many problems and she just needs a supply line and that sort of she's so consistent in what she does as well so how that sort of hybrid role works is she going to be ready to play 90 on 90 on 90 not sure it's how they then use that area of the pitch elsewhere with regards to like Lauren James like you mentioned Steph I think I think that's going to be key isn't it that rotation as well because I think that's what Serena Vigman mastered so well in the 2022 Euros. You know, that rotation of coming in from, you know, Alessi Russo coming on, Tuni coming on, etc.

And I think with the injury question around how much fitness is George Stanway got, how much fitness is Lauren James and and Lauren Hemp? Like, they're really going to have to manage carefully. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if things go according to plan, you know, with France and Netherlands. Do we see a lot of changes come that Wells game as well in the third group game? Because it's a long time to be away. There are physical games, there's things that happen that you can't necessarily control, so it is going to have to be managed quite well. My temptation would be to say

to all three of you, what's your starting from three then? But then you could flip that and go, well, it's horses for courses depending on the opposition but sometimes you wonder whether she's a horses for courses manager don't you and and she likes her players and then the finishes will do their job. Yeah I go into the finer bit of who play left-back for France and I'm looking at Selma Basho who plays for Lyon who's likely gonna start in that role she's very offensive very wants to get forward she's like the Lucy Bronze for France she wants you know powerful runner erratic so to get her riled up and to

you know I would say you need to get Chloe Kelly up against her. Yes, gaffer. Well anyway that's the way I see it but like Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo down the middle and Lauren Hemp on the other side. Not all round? Yeah, no, I agree. Agree. This is the toughest group, isn't it?

You know, France and Netherlands and then a derby in Inverted Commons against Wales, but they are in a tough group. It is tough and I know this is really obvious, but the two former winners, 2017 and 2022 2022 are both in the same group in the Netherlands and England and I do have this funny feeling about France and before the end of the show I just wanted to get off my chair I think France could be Dark Horse in this competition Okay Which would mean a thing We say this every tournament with France

But I have a bit of a back up this time It's different this time Steph This is different Happy to be wrong I just think something seems fresh and right about them. Is that because you've lived there? In about six years ago, yeah. And I just felt it brewing back then. No, I just think like there's been some big decisions made

by the new coach and I think the squad looks healthy. It looks good and it looks powerful. And I think they could be. Okay. If they emerge from the ground. And France in the women's the same as sort of Turkey in the men's who it feels like for about 20 years every time we go into a tournament somebody tips Turkey as a dark horse. And I wonder how many times though Steph you tip someone as a dark horse before they're

not a dark horse anymore. Yeah, I think France's every tournament we're like yeah France they definitely are honestly they've got these players in peak condition and it just doesn't happen but watch it now they're gonna win aren't they? Hopefully not. I've just got a feeling. They're filled with conflict over the years. Exactly. And there's been no conflict this year that's why it's been France.

Oh there has. Has there? Yeah. What was it? I think Kenzadali didn't get selected. Runaway's got it right. But that's like, that'll come out after the Euros. I think, like now.

Has it caused a stir in France that Kenza Dali's not been picked? Well I think the fact that their captain has it. Le Samir. And Le Samir, you know, all the time. She's the all-time leading goal scorer for France. Yeah. She's a good player. Yeah. Exactly. No, I still, yeah.

But you know, the manager said that, you know, doing the same thing every single time and expecting a different result is insanity, so... There we go. There we go. Change is important, guys. There we go. So you're now on the French trains there? Just because you said it, C-Stan's fine, yeah. There's your local knowledge coming through, Izzy. Hey. Look, thank you very much to all three of

you this evening, to Karen and to Izzy and to Steph. That's it for the Football Daily, two episodes coming your way on Tuesday with the Women's Football Weekly England special and then another episode looking ahead to Wales-Europe. It's the scandal that rocked Rugby Union to its core. The so-called a bloodgate scandal It seems so clear that this wasn't real blood it's out and out cheating This is a story of lies and deception conspiracies and cover-ups

There was terror that it could tear the house down courtroom drama and secret deals So obviously a lie. And a human cost that changed lives and careers forever. Dee Richards is found guilty and banned for three years. I'm Ross Kemp and this is Sports Strangers Crimes, Bloodgate. Listen on BBC Sounds. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards.

This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. I'm Matt Magindy. Thanks to my exclusive access, I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. This week, I'll be answering your questions and you can literally ask me anything. I think Matt will probably regret that. 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, I think it was practice, he crashed and he left one hand on the steering wheel and ended up breaking his wrist. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the inside track wherever you get your podcasts.