The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Euro 2022 Rewind: A Nervy Start, A Bucket Full Of Goals & A Run-In With A Lamppost

Episode Date: July 11, 2025

What was it like stepping out at Old Trafford for that first game against Austria? Why was the game against Norway a real ‘pinch me’ moment? How did an accident with a lamppost threaten to derail the Lionesses Euros campaign before it even got started? In the second of our Euro 2022 Rewind mini-series, Millie and Rach relive the group stage as they explain how the side continued to build belief and momentum and why the rare ‘family days’ were so important. 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 get into today's episode of Daily Brighteners, we just want to say a huge thank you to our proud partners, Shaw, for being with us from the very beginning and what a start it's been. I think the reaction to our podcast so far has been nothing but positive from our family, from our friends, from our teammates, from our fans. It's been really nice to see all the positive reviews and feedback, so keep that all coming. Yeah, I also think that we've probably learned a lot about ourselves and me and Rach always talk about this podcast, you know, it's more than just us chatting, it's actually like a little therapy session and I've actually learned a lot about myself and

I feel like it's given me the confidence to open up a little bit more and show that more vulnerable side. So yeah, it's been really, really refreshing. And we also get to appreciate all the things that we've achieved. Rach, everything you're achieving with Villa, you know, the form at the end of the season, me getting my 200th in the WSL and talking about all our accomplishments, the hard times. Yeah, it's becoming a really nice platform actually, and I'm really enjoying where it's going. But thank you to everyone for the amazing support. So thanks again to Shaw for showing up for Women's Football and back in the pod from day one and thank you all for tuning in.

No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC optimum points on your first five orders. Shop now at nofrills.ca Hello and welcome to the Restless Football Daily Brightness. Today, little surprise, me and Rachel are actually in person. Hello. Here we are and we are continuing our Euro 2022 Rewind mini series and we are going gonna take you back to the group stages. If you didn't catch the pre-tournament episode, head back to Daily Brightness and do have a listen to that first one as well. We're gonna go straight into the group stage now.

First game against Austria. What do you remember from the night before that game, Mill? Oh, I think just pure excitement. I think we were just, we were so happy that the game was finally here. We spoke about before the lead up kinda to the first game is really long. And it's just like, you're training, you're training,

you're like, oh my God, I wanna play. And I think for us as well, knowing we were the opening game, home Euro, it was Old Trafford, like, expecting a sellout. It was just, yeah, pure excitement. But really, I remember it being really calm. The camp was really like relaxed and- Yeah, I remember that.

Like, I'm sure we were probably doing TikTok or something the night before. It was super, super chill. The lead up to it was quite long, wasn't it? So we had quite a lot of prep camps, loads of games. And then it was that wait for the first game, then all of a sudden it just rolled back around. And I remember going for a walk the night before.

I don't think I was with you. I think I literally just went on my own. Everywhere was just like, your roads, your roads, your roads. People shouting at us down the street like, go on, remember we were for that team walk in the morning? But that's the thing, that's because we came out of our little bubble.

Yeah. We were at the Lensbury and then we got to Manchester and then it was just like, that was our first real insight into the outside world. And fan experience and stuff. Holy shit, we're here, the your roads is beginning. Yeah. So when we're in the hotel, it's fine because you're in your room and everything's quiet. And Holy shit, we're here, like the Euros is beginning. Yeah. So when we're in the hotel, it's fine

because you're in your room and everything's quiet. And then outside, I was like, I'll just keep my curtains shut, like I won't look outside. I know, and then I remember like, obviously we went to the game. Because yeah, like you said, we were at the Lensbury, for those of you that didn't know, at the Lensbury Hotel, and that was our base camp.

And then we went up to Manchester the night before, stayed overnight there, didn't leave the centre of Manchester. So we'd go up to Manchester, had the night there, whatever, went to the game the next day, and it was so surreal. Like, I remember pulling up around Old Trafford and it was just packed. Yeah, it was rammed down.

Wasn't it? Like, it always is at, like, big games, but this was just like, had a different feel to it, didn't it? It was just literally chocker. And then Jill's friend should not laugh. Shouldn't laugh. Okay, so just, let's just cast our minds back.

Imagine you're on the bus, you've got the opening game of a home Euros and you're preparing for the first game. There's been a lot of outside talk, everyone's expecting us to thrash Austria. We know it's going to be a difficult game. We're all looking outside the windows, aren't we? We were like, oh my God, look at the fans. I wonder where our families are. We were probably joking, saying, where's Lulu?

Rachael's mom, because she's always the first one waving at us as we get off the bus. And then out of nowhere, Jill's like, oh, my friend, my friend, girls, bang on the window, bang on the window, get her attention. Here we go, banging on the window. What happens? The poor girl was like running

to try and keep up with the bus, wasn't she, to like get to Jill? But she was looking out. But so she's like running to try and keep up with the bus, weren't you, to like get to Jill? But she was looking at me. But so she's like running along. That she was sprinting. The bus is behind. She was actually sprinting. She was going fast.

How did it happen? She must have been. She was proper legging the bus. Yeah, I know, but the bus must have been behind because she was running, looking at it. Next thing you know, bam, run into a lamppost. And it was one of those moments where obviously like we were like, oh my God, to the doctor,

like get off the bus, like what's happening? We were in slow moving traffic. Yeah. Because it was obviously packed, so we were like there and then there was just this blood, just like blushing on her head. All down her face, bless her. We were freaked out, we didn't know what to do.

Yeah. Retard, retard, get off the bus, like help her, help her. The girl had literally cracked her whole head and then we were like getting her attention. We were even saying, chill, get off the bus, help her, help her. The girl had literally cracked her whole head and then we were like getting her attention. We were even saying, chill, get off the bus, go help her, go help her. But bearing in mind, this is like an hour and a half before kickoff, our first Euro game.

She made it to the end. It almost kind of grounded you a little bit, didn't it? It's like, oh, normal shit's happening still. Much to her bad fortune. But I mean, people, I mean, like, people think we're sheltered from stuff like that, don't they? It's not an everyday occurrence, but no, but people do think we're sheltered from like that side of. I was going to school and I was moving to my dad.

I've definitely rode my bike into a. She was going pretty fast. But honestly, we were just like, OK, we've got to switch on to the game. Yeah, but then I remember being in the changing room of the game, like Jill, is your friend all right? Have you heard from your friend? Is your friend all right? But we had to have a good balance of checking it

and as a human, you were like, holy shit, is she all right? Crap, we're going out in 30 seconds to prepare. Did she actually make the game or? I think she did. No, but at the time we were like, she's not still coming, is she? Surely not. Her white England kit kits turned red. Bless her, poor thing. Hope she's okay.

We're really not laughing at her. No, not laughing at her. It's just like, there's so like- It's a so hard situation. We'd been in this bubble, like literally like wrapped up in cotton wool for this whole time and all of a sudden, it's like we get learners out of the zoo. Open the gates, it's like a free for all, but bless her, that was, but I think that was, that was for me like. I'm falling off.

It was so bad. I'll never forget how much blood was coming out of her poor face. Oh God. For fuck's sake. Oh Jill, please, if you're listening to this, please give her our best, because we're not really not laughing at her,

it's not funny at all, but. I'm literally crying. I remember after the game we'd won and obviously we was all buzzing, but first thing we're like, Jill, is your friend all right? Anyway, so. Of all plays, it's Jill.

Yeah. And then she's like. Your friend has been knocked out. That is such a Jill thing. I know. It's a lot happened, and then she blamed us, it was like, she was banging on the windows. Oh God.

Anyway, let's move on to the football. Oh my God. Obviously that was a weird game, wasn't it? Because I think everyone put so much pressure on us to just like batter Austria, and it's like, wow. Like all we went into that game was three points. You just need three points to have the board. No problem, it's home, it's first game.

Which is exactly what we did. And you never know what you're gonna feel like for the opening game, like you just never do. I really needed to just, I'm literally crying. Anyway, as always, the pod is making us laugh. Sometimes cry. But yeah, the game, the pod is making us laugh, sometimes cry. But yeah, the game, the game was really, really hard. Like it was one of those games

where you had to stay like super focused. Like we would just like clean sheet, get a goal. I remember it being like a really close game. Do you remember how long we waited for VAR as well for the goal? Shock. We were waiting for ages and I was thinking, please, please, just let us calm down now.

We need this. But I remember that was kind of just let us calm down now, we need this. But I remember that was kind of a bit of a weird moment because we weren't that used to VR then, were we? No, and also I think because we'd had such a good lead up to the games, we were fine with it being like how the game was, it was everybody else. Yeah, external expectations, wasn't it? And the game ending and I remember going through

the mix zone and the media were being dead negative and I was like, did I just play a different game? Like, yeah, it weren't outstanding but one, it's game number one. Yeah, we've got three points on the board. Two, we've been growing the tournament and three, we've just won and got a clean sheet. Like, that's all that matters. Exactly. The performance, just tick it off, see you later.

Game one, you've won, you move on. There's no time to be like, oh, we played really well but we lost. Like, no one cares, you want to win this tournament. And I don't think we necessarily played bad. I think it was just people expected like a 4-5-0 scoreline. Yeah, don't disrespect us. Os to win. It's a tournament. And I don't think we necessarily played bad. I think it was just people expected like a four or five nil scoreline. It's like, Austria is a good side. Again, it's so different than in a prep camp,

leading up to your games before, to a tournament, a tournament football for anyone that doesn't know is one of the most challenging things, isn't it? Like, especially at international level. Like, you can't replicate that. No. Because it's literally 90 minutes and it's anyone's game.

Yeah, and I do remember the walkout, like you couldn't see the pitch for ages. I can't even see the people in the crowd. I know. There's so much smoke. And I was just like, holy shit, this is like a moment in football where I'm like, this is like gonna go down like it's one of my favourite moments of my career.

Like it was just so good, the atmosphere was sick. Old Trafford's like such a good stadium. But yeah, I just remember, like, I was actually quite annoyed when I came out the mix zone because I was like, we've just got off to a really good start. Perfect, game number one. But I think that's equally why we really thrive being in the bubble because obviously we were in the hotel with no sky spots on the TVs,

no, like, outside noise. No one was telling us we were good, we were bad, we were ugly. So I think we quite relished in that silence as well, didn't we? Yeah. Not having any external noise and distractions. Can you remember the couple days after the first game? I actually can't. I feel like so many parts of my time in that...

Bit of a blur. Yeah. I can't remember after feel like so many parts of my time in that... Bit of a blur. Yeah, I can't remember after what game I felt what. And I can't remember where we flew to and when we flew, if we did we drive, did we fly. But I think I remember immediately afterwards, we were all just like, good start guys, let's just keep on this path. I think we all said collectively as well,

forget the media, they're a relevant category, and just focus on the fact that we've worn clean sheet, lots to build on, like lots of positives and Oshu are a very tough team. I just remember being like, can we get back to Lensbury on a basketball? Yeah, true. Like we went straight, I remember going straight back there and just going in the games room. That was one of the best things.

That basketball thing actually, like I think I might get one installed at home. Any companies out there, let me know. But I think it was quite normal, wasn't it? It wasn't like, I feel like it didn't really feel as though we were in a tournament. It was like, done, next. We were never on a super high, and we were never on a low.

On a low, no. We were always very like, I think it's the best way to be in a tournament. I think we might have had a family day after that. Our first family day, where they could have come and seen us. I think we might have done that. But I don that, our first family day where they could have come and seen us. I think we might have done that. But I don't, it's all a bit of a blur, like after what game we did what,

but then obviously leading into Norway, which I think was arguably supposed to be the toughest game of the group for us, wasn't it? Obviously got off to a decent start and then, this game was wild. There's two games in that tournament where I was just like wild, but the Norway game, the Amex stadium was sick, wasn't it? Like the atmosphere there was so cool.

Like what I liked about that is it was so like open, but you still feel closed in. It's one of my favorite stadiums at the Amex. We always kept saying, can we go back and play there? I know. Just because of like, we were like, that's definitely a good job now. But that game was just wild. Like the players they had and the team they had because we were like, that's definitely gonna happen with lunch hour now. But that game was just wild.

Like the players they had and the team they had, we were all like in for it. We're in for a tough night here. Like it's gonna be- Everyone needs to be on it. Yeah, like respect them, they're good. And then I literally just remember being like- The goals flying in.

One, two, three. And I was like, I looked at, I think you and Leah at one point, and I was like, what is going on? Like, I'm like, do we keep celebrating? Because of like- The first one you celebrated and then, because it was in like such a short space of time,

and then when it got to like two, three, four, five, I was looking around and going, is this, are we really? It felt like a movie. Like I didn't feel like I was living in, in what I thought was in like an alternate universe. Really good goals. That's what I think was on top of it. We played such good football, but we went in at our time and remember literally an alternate universe. Really good goals. That's what I think was on top of it. We played such good football,

but we went in at half time. I remember literally looking at you and Leah and Lucy. It was obviously in the back line, wasn't it? I think I actually got in and went like. I was like, we're six and up against Norway at half time. What is happening? And all I could think about in my head was, everyone can shut up now,

because you've had a go at us for winning one-nil. We're six and up at half time, unless we lose seven-six. That game was like gold though. It was like golden, like everything you touched up top was just in the back of there. Oh yeah. Everything was perfect. Yeah, it was so good.

I'm sure we've been in there half like... Nonstop, we didn't really have to defend. No. Which was so rare against a team like Norway, isn't it? Because they're usually like solid. Yeah. But I think like once they've gone like 2-3-4-0 down there, heads dropped a bit, didn't it?

And it's like, how do you get out of this rock? I've been on the other end of those. I've been on the receiving end of some of those. So I think that was a madness of a game, wasn't it? Yeah. And then all of a sudden the interviews seemed to be a lot nicer. Oh, England are here to compete. And yeah. Found your form and did-a-da-da. But that was a fun game, really fun. And obviously being at the AmEx, so we really loved that, didn't we?

Remember that hotel before the Norway, before the Brighton, when we played at Brighton? What was that? It was when I was always flicking with you. On the, on like the Marina bit. Oh yeah. When it crammed everyone into that table, them tables. Yeah, that was a nice hotel lot though, wasn't it?

That was a lovely area too. Yeah. Lovely area. Meadow got to play the match for that. Yeah, Meadow got to play the match and Bagsman hat trick. Yeah, she had an unbelievable tournament though, to be fair, but that game in particular, I was like, give them the ball.

You know when you're playing games and all your attackers are like on front, give them the ball, just get it to them, get it to the players that are shining, keep them on there. But yeah, I just remember going back into that mix zone after and I was like, get me back in there. Let me answer the questions now.

No, that was a wild game. I genuinely felt like I was in a movie. Crazy, one of the best, I think that'll go down as one of the best games in a tournament. Yeah. Because you don't expect that like, oh, they are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, What you thought it was gonna be like a tight game,

it's gonna be really difficult. And it just kept, literally everything they touched up front went in. It was amazing. So Rach, that is the first two games covered. We'll be heading off for a short break, get a cup of tea and biscuits, and then we'll be back to do our third and final game.

If you haven't already, make sure you subscribe and keep watching us. See you soon. 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 and you're my soul best friend, as you know. I don't think it should be looked upon as just a dating app. You might want just a companion or, you know, you could have an unexpected friendship blossom. I think it's quite small-minded just to think of it as, oh, I have to find like a, it's a relationship I'm looking for.

Like, no, you could find a friendship and that could be someone that you rely on for the rest of your life. I think we've heard a lot of success stories from Tinder, from people in relationships and stuff. But like you said, it's not just about that. It's about, you might not get on with them romantically, but they might become your best friend

or someone that you can go to the pub with 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. Welcome back to the Rest is Football Daily Brightness. We will go on to the final group match against Northern Ireland. And this one was at Southampton. I remember this one, Mills, because no one really knew what was going to happen

because we'd already won the group, topped the group, so we were like, we're already through at the best best seed possible. And there was so much, I think that was the time where maybe chatter crept in a little bit within our group. We were like, is she gonna go with the same team? Is she gonna change it? Like, we used to be out. Well, that's what the outside straightaway asked like,

oh, you've already qualified. But I just think the mentality in a tournament is you keep momentum. So it was like, yeah, maybe that crept in and players were like listening to that a little bit, but obviously we made, while Serena weren't actually at that game, wasn't she?

So that was a little bit of a, you know, like the challenge at the first game, that was a challenge, you know, halfway through and kind of dealing with that, which to be fair, everyone just got on with it. Like that's the thing with, when we were at that Euro, is nothing got in our way.

Nothing affected us, nothing detailed us. And I think obviously like as players on the bench in that moment, probably would have thought, oh, she'll change her team or whatever. And the fact that she didn't and they just got on with it was like genuinely why I think we won the tournament. Like moments like that, cause it's like, I know for a fact

that they'll be sat there going, I should be playing in this game. Of course, that's what most normal people would think. But the fact that that never bothered anyone and never crept into the point where it's like. And if they did feel it, they didn't say it. Exactly. So I think that's when we look back at our time there,

I think that's one thing where we were like, respect, cause it is not an easy position to be in. No, definitely not. I think at that point it was like everyone was kind of on board with like, we just need to keep winning. We need to keep winning. We need to keep progressing. We just kept saying we're one step closer. And everyone was having such a good time

off the pitch and stuff as well. So, but yeah, that was never going to be an easy game again. It was it. I mean, it's, you know, on paper it was probably the easiest of the three going into it. Unless you did a really good goal. She did that first touch. Was it that game? I can't remember Les the three going into it. It wasn't that way, unless you did a really good goal. So you did that first touch. Was it that game?

I can't remember, Les scored that many good goals, I don't know. There was one, I'm pretty sure it was this game where someone passed her and she did like this like little twirly touch and then finished it. Oh yeah, I think it was that game. Also, France got a banger that game. Yeah, oh.

We had such good like, like the players that started the game like, just like gave absolutely everything. Then we had like super subs. Yeah, had super subs that took us to another level. Absolutely unbelievable. It was crazy. But that was Southampton. I do like St Mary's as well.

It's always a nice stadium to play, isn't it? Cool place, cool place. But yeah, good game. And I think we'd really started to come into our form now. And we were, yeah, everyone was just gelled, like you said, off the pitch. But on the pitch things were like really clicking, like especially after that Norway game, and then to do it again.

And that's actually quite a hard position to be in, I don't think people understand this, when you've already qualified, and you've already like secured your space, being able to then go out and dominate again, because you've already really like done your job, you've qualified. So to be able to go and perform like that again,

I think we really like said, no, we're here to win without actually being able to say anything. Yeah, and do you know what I think there was such a good mentality that we had was like, don't concede. And we got through the group games with not conceding a goal. Like that was huge.

Taking pride in that, for sure. Especially us being in the back line, I remember how important that was for us. So I think it was important to get in that game and like, we're not conceding. Yeah. We're not conceding, that's going to the next round being like, we're forced to react with. That's going to the next round being like,

which was fantastic. Yeah, like our goal scorers were just absolutely thriving and we were like, don't concede, don't concede, don't concede. So I think we had that mentality all over the pitch, didn't we? Yeah. Which was great.

And it was a nice way to round off the end of the group stages, I think, wasn't it? Yeah, then it really started to ramp up. Yeah. You get out to knock out stages and then it's, it's all to play for. Yeah, it's literally anybody's end, isn't it? Yeah then it really started to ramp up, you get out to knock out stages and then it's all to play for. It's literally anybody's end isn't it? That's it for the rest of this football daily brightness we really hope you're enjoying reliving the Euros 2022 because we certainly are. Next time we'll be reminiscing about the quarterfinals but until then it's goodbye from me. Goodbye

from me.