The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - England Into Semi-Finals After Stunning Comeback & Crazy Penalty Shootout

Episode Date: July 18, 2025

How on earth did England survive that penalty shootout against Sweden? Who were the stars that dragged England through that game and refused to accept defeat? With the substitutions making an incredible impact again, will we see some changes to the starting line-up for the next game? Millie and Rach also discuss what effect the draining nature of that game will have on the Lionesses preparations for their semi-final against Italy. Wherever it takes you. It Starts with a Swipe ®. Download Tinder today. https://tinder.com/en-GB/download  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we kick off today's episode of Daily Brightness, a massive thank you to our proud partners Shaw for backing us since day one. What started as a leap into the unknown has turned into something really special for us and it means a lot to have Shaw with us on the journey backing us like teammates. Right Rach, we're into the summer, what does life after the WSL season look like for you? This year I just had a nice week at home which was really nice to just like get my feet back on the ground after travelling and everything. And then I went away for a couple of weeks and then it's hit the ground running. Pre-season programme starts, it's like the hardest thing ever.

What about you? Yeah, I've really just taken a little bit of time to just do me really. Not been on any luxury holidays like you have because she sent me pictures every time you're away, which has been nice, but very jealous. Obviously we're going into a massive summer ahead for women's football we're gonna be back in the lioness's aren't we? Always. So a big thank you to Shaw for always showing up for us on and off the pitch and supporting the podcast and thank you all for tuning in. Whether you've been with us from the start or you're just jumping in now there's so much more to come keep subscribing and keep watching.

No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills keep watching. Vodka, soda, natural flavors. So, what should we talk about? No sugar added? Neutral. Refreshingly simple. Hey everyone, welcome to Daily Brightness. It is just me and Rach tonight. Ben is still in the stadium. He's going to be giving us all the goss on the next episode after speaking to the players. What a game. I'm knackered. I feel like I've played the game. It was exhausting to

watch. Honestly, I was at the edge of my seat. My heart was racing during them pens, but yeah, it was a bit of a shaky start, wasn't it? Yeah, I think a bit nonchalant, if I'm honest, to start with. And I was going to touch on that because obviously people do interviews and you see like you know Sweden should be scared and if anything I think that riled them up and they were definitely not a team to underestimate in those opening minutes and then on the flip side I think Sweden thought they'd won it before they had and made changes too early on so that played into our hands but again subs have been absolutely outstanding for me like unreal. I think I should give them a little click. Clickers!

To be fair though, it's like one of them where she didn't make a typical 60 sub did she? So I thought, oh, because we did actually start to really control it, there was momentum shift in that part of the second half. Do you know what, it was such a good game to watch, for me that was a semi-final. Well yeah, you said it before, it was a semi-final. It was unbelievable. Well yeah, you said it before, it was a semi-final, wasn't it? So I think as a fan, it was a great game to watch. But I think the subs are just instant,

Chloe's delivery always, always, always got something in the locker. Like for anyone obviously listening, unless you've played with Chloe Kelly, like I don't think you realize how good her delivery is. You just better be in that space because she will put it on a plate for you. But I think that's where Lucy was absolutely fucking unbelievable tonight by the way. She was class and she's basically got one leg by the end of it like that is.

Not her dropping a leg off. That's a true England player though. No I literally thought that. That's what you need. You need players like that. You have to. When she scored, I just like, it was one of them I was just like, I knew she was going to score.

Yeah. She scored against Sweden last time when she in the Euros. She was unbelievable tonight. But when she scored a penalty, I just thought, I literally wanted to say like greatest of all time. Like the best to have ever done it. Literally. Like she like embodies everything it is

to be an England player. Like bodies on the line, like doing a driving header on the halfway line in with two minutes to go, like not bothered, strapping around. I got not bothered. She deserves all the success, but she leads by example.

And for any youngster out there, especially the England ones, like take notes from Lucy Bronze, cause it doesn't matter what position you are, like the mentality, the desire, like without that, you'll never be successful. No, she, yeah. And without players like that in your team, you'll never succeed, because if you don't have Lucy Bronze

on the pitch tonight, we don't win. It's as simple as that. She just embodies England, doesn't she? And like what it means to like wear that shirt and the pride and you can feel how much it means to her, like every time she steps on the pitch, but I was so happy for her. But she, again, I think she probably thought

Chloe's on, get myself in the box, get on the end of something. But honestly, the subs for me, I think every time they've come on, that's the intensity that I wanna see from the start. So for me, I'm like next semi-final now, I'm like, start them. Like rather than put ourselves in that position,

I'm just like, you know when you're just needing that little something from the beginning, like for me, they give you that, that they really, really do. Like they took us up a notch. Like every single time they come on, it's a different game. Last like 15 minutes, I just thought like, oh yeah, this is beautiful.

Like this is so fun to watch. Mate, it was literally end to end. There was no doubt in my mind that we weren't gonna win that game. Like when the subs came on and started to like do a bit, like straight away, Chloe's first touch, delivery, goal. Two minutes later, delivery, Beth nods it down, Michelle scores.

Like it was just like- I thought those front three were incredible. Like I thought Meadows nonstop running, like pressing, blocking, getting, they give you momentum. But for me, I'm like, we need to start showing that from the start of games, because you start thinking of the semi-final, potentially the final.

Like, you look at the next opponent, like, you've got to bring that energy and intensity from the minute, because you've seen, today's a lesson. Today's a lesson learned. You can't go nonchalant into games. Honestly, credit to Sweden, though, because for me, that could have gone either way. The game could literally have gone either way.

Like it was so good to watch, but I'm just so, so happy that we've gone through. Yeah, so I didn't think it would go to penalties. I thought, first of all, I thought we were going to win it in normal time because of the momentum that we had and we were just flying. Yeah.

Then in extra time I thought, oh, it's ours, but I think it was a really cagey extra time. I think both teams were kind of like- Well it kept slipping though. Yeah. Momentum was with us and then it went with Sweden, then teams were kinda like- Well it kept slipping though. Yeah. Momentum was with us and then it went with Sweden, then it went with us and then it went with Sweden. That's why I'm like, for me, in open play,

the game could have gone either way. Yeah, 100%. It was who was gonna make the mistake. That was the game. But then, obviously, like you said, a little bit cagey and neither team did. They just pumped it long, both teams. And then it's penalties.

And my God, I've never watched a penalty shoe out like that I can't believe it when it was like sudden death I was like this is it this is it holy shit there's another miss there's another save I couldn't even work it out because I was like wait because the commentator were like oh if Sweden score this they win and I was like wait didn't Sweden go first I was like that like blacked out of like what's happening I was so confused but Didn't Sweden go first? I was like that like blacked out of like what was happening. I was so confused but I would say they weren't the best round of penalties but you know what who gives a shit we've got through it and That's all that matters. Hey listen no one will look back and reflect on that game. You're through to the semis and that is that. A win's a win no matter how you get it done. You are into the semis so fucking come on England. Come on. Listen before we get into the penalties,

we'll discuss them, we're just gonna take a quick break and we'll be right back. This episode is brought to you by Tinder. People think that dating is to just find the one, Mel, but I think there's so much more to it than that. We spoke about it before, about, you know, you have a soulmate in life, but you have a soul best friend

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and have a drink with or go do a pub quiz with, so I think there is a lot of success behind that as well. It's not just finding the one. Yeah, as you say, Tinder is for all types of connections. And it works because on Tinder, a new relationship starts every three seconds from slow burners to instant sparks. Wherever it takes you, it starts with a swipe.

Download Tinder today. Stop. Do you know how fast you were going? I'm gonna have to write you a ticket to my new movie, The Naked Gun. Liam Neeson. Buy your tickets now. And get a free chili dog.

Chili dog not included. The Naked Gun, tickets oneson. Buy your tickets now. And get a free chili dog. Chili dog not included. The Naked Gun. Tickets on sale now. August 1st. The new BMO VI Porter MasterCard is your ticket to more. More perks. More points.

More flights. More of all the things you want in a travel rewards card. And then some. Get your ticket to more with the new BMO ViPorter MasterCard and get up to $2,400 in value in your first 13 months Terms and conditions apply visit bmo.com slash vi porter to learn more Welcome back guys. Sorry. I was jumping the gun by talking about the penalties but we'll dive a little bit deeper into those. Did you think that was going to be the order of who would take them?

I think I got everyone right who was going to take them but I didn't know where LJ would go into that. I think maybe some would have been a little bit different. Really? I think some didn't look so confident stepping up but I also think... No but the personnel, did you think that they would be the ones that would take the first five? No, I didn't think so confident stepping up, but I also think- No, but the personnel, did you think that they would be the ones that would take the first five? No, I didn't think LJ would have took one.

See, I did. I can't remember, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think she likes taking penalties. I don't know. No, but I don't think she does, but I just thought she was playing well, like, you know, she's feeling it. Yeah, and I just thought she took that knock as well,

and I was just about to say, I don't think either team had the best of quality pens I think there was three that were like decent Lucy's Alessia's and I can't remember the girl's name we literally roofed it into the net and Chloe's of course well the thing is I said I said straight away I was like right this keeper is completely cheating every time like did you notice that every single time she was going off to the right and then diving so early like with Alessia, she was there, but it was such a good penalty that she couldn't save that one.

But listen, after 120 minutes, what I will say is every single player, I mean, I think we've picked up a few injuries after that, so I'm hoping everyone is getting wrapped in cotton wool, ready for the semis, but after 120 minutes of blood, sweat and tears, like body on the line, everyone's took a knock, defending for your lives, attacking for your lives.

I wouldn't expect anyone's legs to be fresh after that to be honest. So I can't imagine stepping up to a pen. Fair play to every player that did. Absolutely, because that is that. Wild, absolutely wild. Also, yeah, I said with Chloe, right, because I was like, because the keeper was cheating,

I'm like, Chloe smacks it, like she ain't probably not gonna save anyway because she's world class at politics. But I said right before she took it, I went, she's gonna switch this up here. Did you see a little smile to the keeper? I said, you better score now, Mrs. Kelly. I literally said that because I was like,

also if we didn't, they would have been through. But I think there's that level of confidence though. Like you need that. Like you absolutely have to have those characters. And I mean I mean God I'm excited for the semis, Jesus. Massive shout out to Hannah because bloody bus nose. Unbelievable. She's made some great saves in that game today. I think she really claimed her box today, I think she really dominated and you know

we don't think we see that enough from her and I'm always telling her in games for Chelsea, yeah. To go into those penalties with a blood all down her, like to be fair to her, right, I thought she might have took a pen. Like I would have been intrigued to see when she went. She always takes them at training, always. And I tell you what, she's one of the best.

I remember when we were at Villa and she stepped up against West Ham, literally car as you like top corner. I was like, sink it. Yeah, she is unbelievable at them. But also she had that, when she got that nosebleed, that was like the commentator said, oh, this might not be the best prep for it. And I was thinking, oh, how is she going to deal with it?

And also let's not forget, this is her first major tournament play here. Exactly. And probably her first major penalty shootout. So do you know what, part of the battle, like I said, I thought she was so dominant tonight. And I've been wanting to see that side of her for a long time. Like, come through your defenders,

knee them in the back, punch the ball away. Like, that's your box, it's your area to dominate. Take no prisoners, don't care if it's us that you have to come through. And that's the first time I've really seen a just grab it by both hands and be like, this is my box, I'm defending it.

Which is a nice sight to see. The thing that I loved about tonight is, obviously a lot of players played tonight, and it just showed the resilience to get through like you know that penalty shootouts are not easy. Like we've took some big knocks, big hits like. Also Leah's having to go off. I hope Leah's okay because that was nasty, nasty.

So God best wishes to Leah. And then it was LJ and I'm thinking, crap is she gonna make it through? Then Alex. Alex shoulder, then even me though, she was down at one point. I was like no, no, no girls, get up, get up, please get up, get up.

I was so scared. I was about to see my leg go. And then Lucy's strapping her leg, Alex is popping the pills, Hannah's got a tampon up her nose. I was like no. It better be recovery 101 tomorrow, in fact it better start tonight, it better start tonight.

Bless their little hearts and the fact that the game finished at like midnight. I know, but honestly, shout out to all the girls. We're so, so proud of you. We're buzzing for the semis. And please, please, please recover. Rest, recover. Rest up. Take your cherry juice.

Don't go on the training pitch. Just get to the semi-final and then put your boots on. Get to bed. We love you all and we can't wait for the semis. Honestly, but guys, thank you so much for listening. Obviously you all know we've jumped on straight after the game, so it's super late. Rach has got to be up mega early for testing.

I've got to get for rehab. We hope you enjoyed our little recap of the game and we will be back very, very soon. Keep subscribing. If you don't already, do it now. Come on, Lionesses. Come on. See you soon, guys. Bye.