The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Euro 2025: Semi-Final Previews & Predictions

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

Why do the Lionesses need to embrace “being a bit of a bitch” to make sure they don’t have a slow start again? Why are crosses into the box one of the biggest threats England will face against the Italians? Can Ann-Katrin Berger produce another superhuman performance to help Germany cause an upset against Spain? Millie, Rach and Ben Haines also discuss the bizarre penalty record at this year’s tournament and debate what might be the reason we’re seeing so many missed spot kicks. 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 program 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 were just jumping in now there's so much more to come keep subscribing and keep watching. Welcome to the Restoos Football Daily Brightness. As you can see, we're in good spirits. It's myself, Rachel and Ben. Hello.

Little inside joke there of me and Rach, but we thought, you know, give you a sneak peek, guys. How are we? I have a question. Do you think the time of day that we record directly correlates to how much you two laugh at the beginning of every episode? I've lost it. I've lost the point.

I don't know. I wasn't expecting you to do that. Right, funny thing is though, Benjy I will answer that question. Where is that from? I don't know. I can't remember, we used to do it all the time. You used to go, hello. I'm lost.

I'm lost. I'm crying. But I actually can't remember. Wasn't it a lift? Oh my God, it was. It was when we had Floor 4. Me, you, Ellen and Meedo. And we were at the lift and that boy was like, hello.

Wait, where is this? Where is this? It was in Wembley. Yeah, on camp we used to have a group called Floor 4 and it used to be me, Ellen, Meadow and Rach. Yeah, Floor 4, we used to obviously back when we used to do like TikToks and stuff like that and everyone was together, that was like our little group.

And there was a woman at Wembley and we got to listen and she went, hello. We all went, hello. And then it just, me and Rach as we do. I lost it, lost it when she said that.. Will went, hello. Then it just, me and Rach, as we do. I lost it, lost it when she said I just burst out laughing. So I was like, is that like, are you really happy or is that just how you say hello? Yeah, I didn't know she was like singing,

but you know what, we're like, we then like hop on it and it stuck with us ever since. And we just keep going, hello. And I've not done it for ages. And I would just read in the script and it says hellos. Does your mom really have like a dog walking voice? Like I remember we went for a walk with my mum once and she met someone like just passing in she went hello!

Who were you? What the fuck is that? I was like what has just come out of your mouth? Like normally you'd be like hiya you alright? Hiya and she's like, Hello. I always think it's like phone voice as well. Yeah.

You know when you hear your mum on the phone. Erin Cuthbert is the worst for that. She is the worst for that. It's like a Scottish accent just goes, and I'm like, she's proper Scottish. And she'll always take her calls and I'll always nudge the girls

and I'll be like, business call over here. I'm like, alright, you're right. What you want? You wonder I don't get the deals. Anyway, that was a long intro. How are we both? Just back in pre-season, surviving and thriving. Running along. Adam's Dad- I love your picture, Rach, of the squad back together with Ellie Robert. of the squad back together with Ellie Robach. So nice to have her, bit of Yorkshire in the squad.

Bit more Yorkshire, should I say, but no, she came in today for the first time, so it was nice to be reunited with her. It's always good to add a nice face and nice person into the group, isn't it? Yeah, she's an absolute diamond. How is she getting on? I'm really intrigued.

How's she doing? Yeah, she was first day back in today, so she was just doing medical screening and stuff, wasn't in training today. But she seems happy. Yeah, seems buzzing. I mean, she gets to be with me every day. She should be over the bloody moon.

And she'll be happy to be back with her family as well, because she's a proper family girl, ain't she? She had a good year travelling though. She loves to explore, doesn't she? So she'll have really, really enjoyed her time. Listen, Ellie Roebuck is basically Spanish now. Like, she's still speaking Spanish to Paula, our Spanish player. I was like... Really?

Alright then. Do you know what, I can't imagine that with such a Northern accent because when I try and do it to Myra, she's like Milly, you're the hardest person to understand ever. She went today, I was like talking about the food at Bathroom and stuff and she was like yeah, but like at breakfast they have like Hamon sandwiches. I went, Hamon? Hamon? Hamon? I was like ham sarnie.

Ham sandwich love what you going on about? But no yeah it's good pre-season's been going well. Mills how's your pre-season going? Guys I'm back on the pitch tomorrow. Getting! Positive clicks, positive clicks this is our new thing on the pod. Yeah I've been smashing altergy, I've smashed all my strength tests, I've been working really hard G. I've smashed all my strength tests. I've been working really hard to be fair. And yeah, tomorrow I've got my last alter G and then I do my first pitch session, which will be like super light.

But yeah, as of tomorrow, the boots are back on. Goodbye, Paul. Goodbye, alter G. Smashing the gym. Are you nervous? No, I'm buzzing. I'm ready now. That's nice.

That's like a good bit of nice news to start the podcast with. I like that. Yeah. So, I can't wait and it's just like perfect timing. Ben, you're home now. Yeah. Yeah, where are you actually? What's that little place you're in? What's that little room? I'm in this weird spot, right? Because you know all the things we spoke about before,

like having your own bed and having your own pillows and stuff. I'm buzzing to be back home for a few days and actually have some home stuff that makes you feel really good. At the same time, you can't help but feel a little bit like, oh, I wonder what's going on. I wonder what's going on over there. We've got no one in the background this time, like stuff in the faces with food in the stadium. I don't know if people saw that last time, but there was literally, when I was in the stadium in St Gallant, there was a guy inhaling Doritos. Whilst staring at the podcast like, what's going on over there? We were like, you alright, mate?

I don't know if you've seen that guy on TikTok that like doesn't chew when he eats his food, but it was like that. It literally was this guy piling Doritos into his merch. Also you don't enjoy your food if you eat it that fast. No, it is nice to be back, but I get what you say. You're always then thinking, oh, what's everyone doing? I wonder what it's.

Yeah, what's going on over there? Well, you set up looks good though. Yeah, it's wicked out. I've got a very, very tiny garden before you two ribbed me. I've got a tiny, tiny garden. That little room that you're in doesn't look too little because I can barely see the pictures on the walls. Yeah, I've got a tiny tiny room. But that little room that you're in doesn't look too little because I can barely see the pictures on the walls.

Yeah, I've got enough space to have a picture on the wall of me. But I've got a nice little recording space which is wicked. And it is genuinely nice to be back. Like I was assured that there was a heatwave here by you two clowns. I've got home, it's raining. I'm so glad it's raining because I'm sick to death of this heat. You're done with it now. To be honest, I'm quite glad it's raining because I'm sick to death of this heat. You're done with it now. To be honest, I'm quite glad it's raining because... It's nice. It is nice, but I also do miss the sun.

Do you two know what you're... Like, do you have to go away on tour soon or something? Have you both got tours that you'll be going on? Yeah, August. August, same. If that's warm weather, is that a nightmare? Do you find yourself just passing by? No, it's nice because you're going on a plane.

Yeah. It's one of them things where when it's hot in England it's just too hot it's like everyone's irritated we don't have aircon in England you just sweat it and you can't sleep whereas when you're aboard you're like oh my god bake bake bake me, cook me yeah you know what I mean? Everywhere's got AC inside like it's easy peasy so it's just different in England isn't it you, I like the rain. Can I ask, after all of the madness of the quarterfinals, have you quite enjoyed there being a little bit of downtime

after the quarter so you can just go like, can breathe a bit? I was just delighted it was over at the end. It's so stressful, that game. Well, yeah, we could have lost though, that's the thing. And I think that's been the, I mean, you look at the Germany-France game, like you look at Basher's interview and she's like, they had nothing, like literally

nothing and they didn't deserve it. But at the end of the day, don't matter. They're in the same as you're not. Did you like that mills? Did you like her interview? Yeah, listen, it's, she's showing sometimes I think players are too scared to be like honest in interviews. I think sometimes we were trying to please the people that were speaking to, oh, you can't say this and you can't say that. And she's just

saying it how it is. And if you look at it, France should have won. They should have. And to be fair, if it's not for Berger in goal, they are winning that game. They are. But it's one of those, doesn't matter how you perform, tournament football, knockout stages, it's whoever gets it over the line. Don't matter about your performance. Right, moving on to the semis, what are we thinking about England v Italy?

I'm excited, but I don't want us to start the way we start. I don't want us to be passive. I don't want us to think, oh, Italy will be fine. Like, no, Italy were very good in their last game and they've got a lot of attacking threat. So defensively, I think we need to be a lot better and we need to make sure we're solid from minute one. So yeah, I'm excited though.

I think we've definitely got it in the bag, but I think we need to start, we need to start how we're ending games for sure. Little less pace, aren't they, in Italy than Sweden? I mean, that was brutal how direct Sweden were. I mean, you both talked about it before, just saying how they would target one side and try and drag players out and play on the counter attack.

I think it almost took everyone by surprise by how direct they were. It was like one, two passes, and suddenly they were in a goal. I don't think it should have though, because if you look at the person L, it really shouldn't have. Yo-Yo, very, very direct,

will always, always running behind. Blaxton Ears always runs in behind. That is literally her whole game. Rolco runs in behind, and even if she gets the ball to feet, runs in behind. So I don't think it should have took us by surprise, but one thing I think Italy are very good at is their crossing, their movement in the box.

And I don't think, I think if you look at us in the games, we have to stop crosses. It's not like, let's encourage it there, we can just defend it, because I don't think we've been maybe that dominant at defending crosses. So I think stop the cross, because that looks like, that's like a style of their play Italy get it wide very good movement very experienced

down the center of the pitch that and set pieces right yeah it's how this good against Norway so I definitely think we need to shut that out but yeah definitely less pace less to kind of be concerned about running and behind can be a lot more aggressive a lot more compact and yeah listen I think we should dominate like we should yeah I, I think we've absolutely got this one in the bag. I'm not concerned at all. But I do think again, it's one of those ones where you can't be complacent and think, oh, it's Italy. Like it's not a top five side. But equally, they've only lost one game. Yeah, they've had a very good tournament. This might be their first major semifinal for God

knows how many years, but equally, you don't to a European Championship semi-final by chance. Do you know what I mean? Like that takes a lot and I think they've got a lot of passion. I feel like Italians are very like a bit like America. They're like really patriotic. Do you know what I mean? I think, I just think on a semi-final, like it's you've got to play the game that's in front of you and yes, Italy will pose us up some different types of threats, but I'm really not concerned. I just think it comes down to intensity. I do agree with you though.

I think we need to start a little bit brighter. Yeah, the teams that don't show enough intensity, you either go in a goal behind or you're losing. The other teams that show it and that's that passion that Italy have, they can do it for 90 minutes. That's the other thing. So we can't afford to start slow. Like, and I really want us just to take the game in the first half.

I think as well, like obviously they've had an extra day off and didn't play 120 minutes in penalties. And like, I don't care what anyone says, Mills, like you know how important that extra day of rest is. Massive. Like obviously England will be so prepared. They'll be doing all the recovery strategies known to man and they'll be so prepared. Makes a difference though. But an extra day and 30 minutes less of football.

Emotionally, just as much as physically. So I think that could be something that they'll probably want to come out the blocks a little bit quicker because they have a tad fresher. Were you surprised that everyone trained England-wise? Because I mean it looked like they were sort of almost walking wounded at the end. Yeah, I waswise, because I mean, it looked like they were sort of almost the walking wounded at the end. Yeah, I was very surprised. I thought we would have, I mean, it's also player decision. Like I know for a fact, you tell Lucy to have a day off, she's like, no, thanks. Like, and it's, I think the positive though is everyone remains together

and the team is together and it's a good sign that everyone's on the pitch. It means everyone's available. But I was a little bit surprised. I thought maybe having had one less day, we might've given people a little bit of an extra rest, but then again, they might've only done part of the session as well. We know being in that environment that you do get managed.

So yeah, I have no concerns with that, but I just thought, I was concerned. I thought we might've had a few injuries and a few players unavailable. So I'm happy that everyone is. Yeah, it's really good news because Leah's ankle looked bad, looked in a bad way. Yeah, her ankle, LJ's ankle, Alex's shoulder, Mido was down, Lucy... Like...

Hannah's nose. Yeah, I think... Hannah's nose. But I think that is like the strength of the team as well. Like, physically they're prepared in the right way. You know, like Millie said, they probably have been managed, you as well. Like physically they're prepared in the right way. You know, like Millie said, they probably have been managed, you know, making sure that they're fit. But I think it's such a positive sign that they're all available.

Like that's huge for us, huge. When you get to this point, do you, this probably sounds like a silly question because everyone wants to play, but do you find a level that you can go to even if you are in a little bit of discomfort? Are you like, you cannot physically drag me off that pitch I'm playing? You have to. I think like, Milly, we could both say in our careers, how many games we've gone

through, like hanging on bare bones, but you just got to get through it. And obviously, if there's a major problem, like no one's expecting you to play, but I do think you're right, Ben, I think there's like a, you know, semi-ffinal you're not missing that unless your legs falling off so I do think there's an element of as long as you fit enough to be able to get through get through. And I think it's the individual like some players are no other higher pain threshold and they'll be able to some players just absolutely can't but for me that's where I probably don't understand I don't understand that

because I would literally have one leg and I still would not come off that pitch. And you don't need any more motivation than playing in a semifinal of Euros. You're the holding champions. You're literally two games away from being back-to-back champions. There's nothing getting you off that pitch.

There should be nothing getting you off that pitch unless it's manager's decision. But mentality There should be nothing getting you off that pitch, unless it's, you know, manager's decision. But mentality-wise, you have to have that, like, I'll do anything. What do they have to do differently at the start of the game? If you consider how we started the other day, how do you change it up so that that doesn't happen again?

I mean, look, Italy will be slightly different, right? But you've already mentioned the threat they have from Giorelli from set pieces or crosses, her movements amazing, defensively we're going to have to be at it again. What do you do differently in the first 15 minutes? It's just your attitude and the way that we come out. It might be the first tackle. When you're in a team sport, if someone nails someone, you rile each other up, like you've got to be the first team, you've got to be the team that's setting the tone. Be the team that's the most passionate, be the team that's winning the duels, win

your first and second, like put someone on the arse in the first 30 seconds. Like you're not going to get booked in the first 30 seconds, but let Italy know that we're here and we're not going to have the same start. Cause if you're looking at England, they'll be thinking, get out in the first 15. They're shaky, they're not aggressive, too passive. Maybe think we've already won before we've actually won. Like that's what it gives off when you don't start with intensity.

So it's gotta be tackles from the front, like Alessia's work rate. That's gotta be everyone's work rate. And we just got to be a little bit, be a bit of a bitch, like be hard to beat. Like show that true grit. Like Lucy was a perfect example in the last game, that's proper England, like that is English grit

and every player has to show that in the semi-final, like you can't just have one or two, has to be everyone, like Rach said, Italy are so passionate, like they're gonna match that, they're gonna want this, like more than ever. Right, so feeling fairly confident then, how do you think it's gonna play out, Rach?

I'm gonna go, oh, I don't know, I'm just gonna go three or four. Three, nil, England. Ah, I love that confidence. See, I thought it was gonna be that against Sweden. I really thought we were gonna fly out of the blocks. I'm weirdly more nervous for this now than I was for that, which is bizarre.

I said three, one, England against Sweden. What about you, Mills? Do you know what, I'd love to keep a clean sheet, but I'm gonna say two, one. Two, one, England. I think this one might be a bit more of a battle. I'll go two, one as well. Oh, it could be two, two, extra time.

I don't know, something's just telling me that as well. No more extra time. I'm saying we're breezing it and clean sheet this time. And I'd also really, really hope everyone is fit and available because training is one thing, playing in the semi-final is another thing. So I really hope everyone is 100% available and able to like play the game.

Definitely. Right, we'll take a quick break there. And then when we come back, we'll be previewing the other semi-final. Dun, dun, we'll take a quick break there. And then when we come back, we'll be previewing the other semi-final. Dun, dun, dun. 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 companion or 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 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. Hello! Welcome back to the second half. We are now moving on to Germany, Spain. Guys, what we saying?

I firstly want to say two of the most bizarre red cards in the last two games for Germany that I've ever seen. Why are you pulling a hair though? What are you thinking? What are you thinking? And also, when you've been set off and you're walking off that pitch saying that's not a red card, what planet are you on love? You've pulled her bloody hair. Literally, I just think it's so dumb.

I've never understood that, right? I've never understood, like, why your first reaction was to be too yank. And do you, babe, do you know there's VAR? Everyone's watching, it's on the screens, it's getting looked at, you're not escaping it, you've literally yanked her hair. Her box hair just went, the head just went whee!

Literally, ugh! Girls got whiplash! They were miles away from the ball as well, I just don't understand it. There's no reason to do it whatsoever, it don't make sense. It's just so dumb and you know what, I do think France were the better team and I know we say it doesn't matter but I do think France, Spain would have been like the ultimate semi-final. It would have been a great semi-final, but also like France are just so weird. It's like they can't get past this stage.

Yeah, but if you don't have any goal, they're battering them. Yeah, that's true. England used to be that struggle. We were on that uphill battle, weren't we? For ages. Like semi-finals for ages, but oh my God, like we can't get away with not talking about Anne, because

what the actual hell? She is unbelievable, you know. Like that defied everything. No one makes that save, there's no female, she is the ultimate female keeper, like nobody makes the save. That's what I'm saying, she's like superhuman, like if she's not in goal, France are battering her. Germany didn't have anything. Forget how good she was all game because she was absolutely incredible like even in the

penalties everything like she they need they bloody need to all be shining her shoes the next day after that game let me tell you. But that I've watched that save and I'm no expert in goalkeeping but I've watched that save back so many times and I'm just like the sheer athleticism it takes. It looks in slow motion though. To do what she's done, like, and it was off her own player, so it was like a fast natural reaction. The way she's got there, like the,

when she sets off and jumps, I'm just like. Mate. In the moment I was like, how have you just done that? How? She'll be the player that keeps them in the semi-final though. That's what I'm saying. Unbelievable. She, when you've got her in goal, that's where I'm like, I think, oh, but do you know what?

If Germany can defend and if Anna has another game like that, I'm like, can Spain defeat that? I don't know. Well, equally, I've got to give credit to Germany because to go down after 13 minutes to 10 men, bearing in mind they've already gone through all the struggles they've gone through this tournament, previous red card, losing quits, losing players left and right.

To get through a quarterfinal against arguably what we thought was one of the best teams in the competition and play another 107 minutes with 10 players, to be fair, and made the 11th player, so it's fine. But that's not easy. Do you remember when we did it, when we played Nigeria for like 60 minutes down to 10? And I was on my arse. The hardest game of football I've ever played in my life.

That was ridiculous that game. They've managed to do that for 107 more minutes, like fair play. Yeah, you do have to, like you said, credit where credit's due, like to have that mentality and that grit but... We've said that, always said that though about Germany, haven't we? They find a way, they've just always found a way. So it could be very interesting though. Do you have a plan, like if that happens,

have you practiced the idea of going like 60 minutes, say without a player? Not that early on, you don't ever expect that. Maybe like second half, like you'd say, okay, bank call, drop in, keep the ball, like don't just clear it if you need to, but if not, that we build our way up. But you don't do it after 30 minutes

because you don't expect your player just to yank someone's bleeding hair and get sent off. Yunger! Stuff like that infuriates me because I'm just like, think, you're not thinking. Without meaning to sort of be, I don't mean mean, but you just, you leave your teammates in such alert. You've literally fucked everyone.

Like that's what you've done. And you've been gone then. 13th minute. It just made me laugh when she came off and she was like, not a red card. That's not, I was like. On what planet, on what planet yet, are you going, whoop, and not getting away with it and saying,

no red card. But also, why are you pulling a hair in the first place? We don't do that in football. It's not even like, that's not how you, what you're doing. I just don't know, like that's, I don't know why your natural instinct is to just do that. But again, we were like, don't know why your natural instinct was to just dive

on the line and save it with your hands. But that's what I'm saying, surely you've had this conversation like, right, no more silly red cards now. Like, let's think about it. Also, you can't blame mental fatigue because it's the 13th minute. I know.

It's not like last minute and you're just not thinking and you're not good. No, like why are you grabbing her hair? You were also, she was also in a touching distance just to use her shoulder or put your body in. I just think that's two silly red cards. Like, surely you've had a conversation and been like, guys, come on, like, this is silly.

What are we doing? Well, and also now, given that, I mean, we spoke about it last week, but given that Spain are like the best at draining teams, considering that they've gone through that draining experience already, Spain will just be looking to drag them around all over the place, won't they?

Oh, they're gonna be lapping that up. They'll be playing little tiki-taka. They'll be like, yeah, patience, patience. And also, yes, and incredible. But Spain are one of the best teams at finishing. They can put it in the corner, the top corner so easily, just effortlessly. Can I just say as well, I had such a panic with that Spain-Switzerland game because I went so big the other day.

I was like, Spain are walking all over them, taking the piss. Yeah, we did too. And a fashioner on the other. Exager. Well, I said Switzerland going at half time, nil-nil. They were brilliant.

Like they did everything that you need to do, right, in one of those games. Also, weren't there a player sent off in that game? Yeah, Noelle. Yeah, but didn't she also complain? I'm like, you're the last player and you've chopped her down, not touching the ball. I'll be honest, I didn't see that part of the game. She came off going, it's not red card, and I was like, you've not touched the ball, you're the last player, she's through on goal. I think it might be a red. But there,

again, there's another two penalties missed. I don't know what's happening with these penalties, but like some of them are just, I'm just like, what's going on? What is going on here? Rach, get your boots on girl, come on. They are terrible, terrible penalties. And yeah, and scored, so like fair play. What a pen that was in the shootout. Yeah, that was sick. But they have, it's been, the pens have been dreadful. Up until that shootout, the France-Germany shootout, I think it was the worst conversion rate for penalties in a major tournament for something like sort of seven or eight major tournaments. So it was-

So bad. People have been missing, like the, the Hürgerberg ones were, were wild. Yeah, but I'm sorry, she should never be on penalties. You've got Guru writing and you've got Mara Mielder, the two of the coldest penalty takers in women's football. I'm sorry, get off the penalties. You got to put your ego aside and let the penalty takers take them. Well, because Guru, last year,

how many pens did she take for you guys? And she- Guru is one of the best on the penalties. Mara Mielda is one of the best at taking penalties. You've got two of the best in the world on your team. I wonder what that message is from the sidelines. Is it decided before with her to think or? Like obviously I know, like, say for example,

at England, you'll know who going into the game, you know who's on penalties, right? But I wonder if there's any conversation around, like, hang on a minute, why is Guru not on them or why is Marin not on them? Because imagine if like us being in England, right? And I was the one that was taking the penalties and I was crap at them, right?

Not crap, that's wrong, not crap, but like, the conversion rate wasn't as good as somebody, you, let's say. And you're not a natural penalty taker. Yeah, so like, I'd like to think that someone be like, oh, Millie's better than Rach at that. But also, I'd feel so uncomfortable. If I were a natural penalty taker,

my conversion rate, like you said, weren't the best, and there was other players that are like, the best, I'd be like, hold on a sec, I don't feel comfortable, like you should be on this. I love taking penalties, Mae. Did you? You're very good at taking penalties. Did you actually like it? Love it.

What is it that you like about it? I don't know, because I am actually a really bad over-thinker, aren't I, Millie? In normal day-to-day life, I'm a worrier. I overthink everything. But when it comes to penalties, I'm just like, well, I don't know, I just don't have that. I don't know. I don't know what it is. I just think people really... You just see it as like a shot though and like your finishing is... You won't ever say this, but you were one of the best finishers in the women's game. Like in talking natural instinct and

knowing where you're going to put the ball and it just happening, you are still one of the best natural finishers. I'm bested up, silly. I'm being serious. But I do think it's like, all right, it's literally you against your mind. Yeah. Like it's not you against the goalkeeper,

it's you against your mental mind. Like if you've got a shoulder telling you you're gonna miss, you're gonna miss. Like I genuinely, I'm not saying I'm amazing yet, but when people are stepping up to their penalties in this duro, honestly, 90%, 95% of them, I've got right about whether they're gonna miss a score. And whether they look nervous or not,

and 90% of them have looked like they're so nervous. Yeah, because there's so many little things that like, you know when the ref's like, oh, you gotta move the ball, like that absolutely kills people. If you can't have the ball down in the place that you want it, and she's telling you to move it or there's delay. And some people mentally,

especially ones that don't want to take them, it's horrible for them. Don't you think they've gone really early as well? Like when she blows the whistle, like they're like, woo, kick it. Literally whistle goes and they've taken it. And I'm like missed immediately. Like miss, gonna miss.

You are a perfectionist though. So when Rach was practising, It's literally whistle goes and they've taken it. And I'm like missed immediately. You're like miss, gonna miss. Morrell. You are a perfectionist though, so when Rach was practising, she would say as well, she'd be like, right Mil, I'm going there. So she said it and then you got to execute it. So it basically, penalty is, it's a pass. Like it's a pass or it's a shot. So you're just perfecting that pass or that shot.

I do think there needs to be practise consistently as well. Like I take penalties, save for filler, match the amount as two, I'm taking penalties before every game and I like it because my keepers pretty much know what I'm going to do so if I can score past them I might well sound but I know then going into the game I know like oh I've hit it there I'm gonna hit it there. So I don't know I just I think I do think that they don't know there's something up this time around there's something in the water with the penalties,

but let's hope it doesn't go to penalties anymore. Predictions, what you saying? I'm saying Spain. Got to be Spain, isn't it? And what we're saying, I'm saying, I'm going three nil. Yeah, I think Germany can be burnt out. I can't imagine. I can't see Germany scoring me.

I think two nil. No. Clean sheet for Spain, yeah. And it depends, I don't think Spain are like one of those teams like France where they're gonna be so wasteful. I think if they get those chances, they'll take them. 16 goals in four games, it is a joke.

But you know also, I think Spain have the best, like Jesus Christ, they're starting 11, but then you look when they're bringing on their subs and I'm like holy shit yeah you don't want to see those players coming on at all. In the final do you want England to play Spain so that you get that repeat of the World Cup final? Well either way right you've got a repeat of the Euros, a repeat of the World Cup and I think do you know what I think to be the best you've got to beat the best. Spain are currently world champions, let's just make sure they're not European champions.

Oh England, come on! Come on, let's get it out of the way, bosh them out of the way and get on to final. Oh come on, get into them! Right, moving on, that is it for today's episode guys, so we are going to finish with our Gratitudes. Are we doing one or would you like to do more? Let's do one because there's three of us. Can you guys go first because I need 30 seconds to think. Well why have you not been prepared? I don't know, I got so excited about the football that I forgot to get excited about gratitudes. Alright I'll go first.

I'm grateful for being back with my team training. Oh, that's nice. For another year, you know what I mean? Like, grateful for every season I get to play. So, today was the first proper official day of preseason and I was really happy to be back with most of the team. Not everyone's back in yet and also grateful to get that Pearson Fitness Test out of the way. What one did you do? Mass. Eww. What did you get? 350.

Guess what Sarah got. She tells me she can't run. Bullshit. I'm never believing you again. Probably 337. 333. She's a fucking idiot. That's actually ridiculous, isn't it?

She is insane. I turned round on my eighth, right? I swear that's the men's scores. That's actually ridiculous, isn't it? She is insane. I turned round on my eighth, right? So, bearing in mind... I swear that's the men's scores. That's what the men get. I know. Bearing in mind, I've turned round on my eighth to go up to do my night to come back to my 10th

and finish, right? Yeah. So, I've turned on my eighth. She's coming back on her 10th. I was like, what the hell? She's ridiculous. She's absolutely ridiculous. She just runs.

She's like forrest gump. She doesn't stop running. But yeah, I'm grateful that's happening. Have you done your one yet? Huh? Have you done your one? She just started bloody running, Ben. Are you listening?

Well, like, as in your team has choked together. No, our girls, obviously, it's just the injured girls in at the minute, and then the girls don't come back till the end of July. And then obviously, depending on where they come out of the tournament, they get a little break and then they come in. So it kind of like a staggered when it's tournament everyone's a little bit staggered coming back in because everyone gets a rest before pre-season but we

we've all got testing same as ours but as we're all doing it like as and when they come back yeah so um but yeah um yeah we'll all have it once everyone's like ready to do it then you'll do it when... What do you do? See, Rach can be so smug now because you've got it hanging over you and she's done it. It's like gone. What test do you do? We did mass last time, but I don't know if it's a little bit different this one. And we might be doing a longer one.

Oh, that 2K one? Not sure. Oh, that's horrible. Right, anyway, what are you grateful for? Yeah, I... home cooked meals. I've been living on co-op sandwiches. Who's cooking? Not you.

Mrs. is cooking today, I'm buzzing. Beef, burger, yam for dinner. Get in. Like, I've been at, I have been at work today and I've just been eating such- Has she not worked today? She worked from home. That's the loophole that I'm gonna get away with.

But she still worked. Who's cooking dinner in your household? Me. Bollocks. It is, I am the best chef. I thought we had dinner. I am, I feel this early. I always have early tea.

Go to bed early, Millie, you know me. Oh God, I'd be starving by bedtime. I'll have a little snack. I don't eat a right lot, you know this. Right I'd be starving by bedtime I have a little snack I don't eat a right lot you know this right guys that is it for this episode thank you all for subscribing if you haven't what are you doing click the down button see you soon peace and blessings