The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - How Can The Lionesses Bounce Back After Defeat To France In Euros Opener?

Episode Date: July 6, 2025

Reigning European champions England lost their opening game of the tournament to France after Alessia Russo’s early goal was ruled offside, but where did it all go wrong? Should manager Sarinsa Wiegman have made changes sooner? Would Lauren James have been more effective as a sub? Can newcomer Michelle Agyemang help the Lionesses bounce back? Rachel and Millie discuss their reactions to the performance with Ben Haines, and give an insight into how the Lionesses will aim to reflect and improve ahead of Wednesday’s match against the Netherlands.  Wherever it takes you. It Starts with a Swipe®. Download Tinder today. 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 everyone, welcome to the Rest is Football Daily Brightness. Myself, Rach and the lovely Ben have jumped on for a special episode after the final whistle of the England's first game of the Euros against France. Guys, did you watch? Where did you watch from?

Rach, you go first. So I was actually at a watch party. I was doing an event with Visa. Quite hard to watch actually on a big screen like when there's loads of people, but yeah, I was in London in Hoxton Docks. I was in the stadium tonight and I've whizzed out the stadium right on the full time whistle and run back to the hotel. Cause as always at these tournaments,

I know this isn't something that you two will never have probably come across, but always when you go to women's football tournaments, for some reason in the stadium, so wifi is absolutely dreadful. And so I haven't had a screen in front of me at all. So I'm really interested to hear what you guys made of all kind of like the big incidents having seen it on TV in comparison. Yeah, I think for me, do you know what, like, England were on top at the start,

obviously, Alessi's goal getting rolled offside was weird, you know, because obviously where I was watching again, I can't like, I obviously didn't get all like the breakdown, but it looked like less was offside, not Beth. So I was like straight away, I was like, oh, less was watching again, I can't like, I obviously didn't get all like the breakdown, but it looked like less was offside, not Beth. So I was like straight away, I was like, oh, less was offside and maybe interfered with play. Never for one minute did I think Beth was offside, but I think that's like, that's where football is so difficult because that goal goes in,

it's a different game, isn't it? You know, you go wander up after 15, 20 minutes, like you're on top, like you get the swing, you get all the momentum, gets ruled off. And then 15-20 minutes later it's end to end a little bit like pressures mounting on your defensive side and then a team like France is you know they don't even need a couple of chances and they're going to punish. It did feel like a sharp start didn't it? It felt as though England had the momentum in that first

20 minutes Mils. Yeah for sure I think we started really really well, created some really great opportunities obviously unlucky with the goal getting getting disallowed, like Rach said, that counts and it's a completely different game. Your mindset's very different in terms of you're in control. You don't need to rush. I think both teams were a little bit cagey to start with. It's the opening game of their campaign and the first game's so important. You want to come out with those three points. But I think after that 10-minute spell, yeah, I think France started to find their rhythm. Listen, we know they're a top, top team.

Our group is hard. And yeah, I think when you let them get in their rhythm, I would have liked to have seen a little bit more bite about us. Like, I think the last 10 minutes, the intensity that we showed and the desire to put a player on the floor, like, win your battle, like, think the last 10 minutes, the intensity that was showed and the desire to put a player on the floor, like win your battle, like take ball and player. I think if we'd have had that throughout that middle period, I don't think we'd have conceded. I actually really enjoyed that

about Grace and Toonie both just like flying into tackles when they came on. It was almost like maybe they got that message, but like I don't mind Toonie a yellow card there, like absolutely go like just do what you need to do like someone needed to Sit someone down. Do you know what I mean? Like yeah that breaks up the game Yeah, it needed a bit of like someone to just put their stamp on the game and just go I'm going for a ball But whatever it takes yeah, obviously tuning you got the yellow one But then like Grace came in did another one and I'm like, yeah like give it some of that Is it hard to get that message on?

like let's just say midway through the first half when it felt like France was starting to get control of the possession, the territory, the momentum. Is it hard to get that message across that someone needs to go and sort of stamp a bit of authority onto just an opponent at some point? I think that comes from within. For me, I would never expect that to come from the sideline for me as a player like that would come from a player and like Rach said when Tooney and Grace came on and they you know lifted a player and broke up France's momentum When I see my teammate do that I go do that and it's like a domino effect then when one player does it you all Do it but that is that is the English way and I think that's where I really would have liked us to

You know add that from from the stocks. I genuinely don't think we would have conceded. However, I think a lot of it as well is if we're a little bit tidier and listen, it's the first game, it's a new tournament, it's a new team. I think the main thing as well is not to panic. Yes, we've lost 2-1 and you look at the intensity in that period where we didn't have control and we're lacking in the duels and we're not dominating that side of things. The positive is that we did start well and we got a goal back and the last 10 minutes we should have had a couple more goals so we easily could have come away with three points. There's no time in

tournaments to dwell as Rachel knows. You have to quickly and honestly review a game and be you know, quite brutal with each other, just so that you can immediately make change and be better for the next one. I actually think the worst thing that happened to us tonight was that goal being offside. Also, it was literally a hairline, which is vile. I hate that. I hate that. Because it really does change again. But I almost feel like that was probably to our detriment that that happened because it was like we were on

top had a chance and then yeah, that was probably to our detriment that that happened, because it was like, we were on top, had a chance, and then that was complete momentum shift after that. It was like, ship should have scored, we didn't score. Okay, now back to the wall for a little bit, little period of time. But like I said, like they're a counter-attacking team. They're so good in the final third, they're rapid. They're so paced, they're so skillful.

Like give their frontline an inch, they're taking a mile. Do you know what I mean? They're very difficult to play against, and you know that first hand mill, but like give their frontline an inch, they're taking a mile, do you know what I mean? They're very difficult to play against and you know that first hand mill, but I think their midfield actually, I didn't expect them to play as well as they did tonight, I'll be honest. Well, you've got a new, you've got Oriane in there,

which that's her first, Yeah. First like time playing in the Euros and you know, first start for France in a tournament. And I just wanted to see proper England, but I think, listen, we had chances, we had the subs that came on made a difference. I think you definitely have to take the positives,

but you have to reflect honestly, so that by the next game, it's a quick turnaround. There's no time to faff around. You've got to get it right for the next game now. And like I was just saying, France are a very, very good team. I think bar the first 10 minutes, France are a very, very good team. I think bar the first 10 minutes, they had a very, very good performance.

And I think they exploited us in areas where it gave them more momentum. Down the sides, they wanted their wings on the ball, players in the box, and you know, they're getting tapping. So definitely things to reflect on, but it's the first game of the tournament. As we all know, you grow into that. I agree with you, Mill. I think the first game of the tournament, like there's so much high stakes's the first game of the tournament. As we all know, you grow into that. I agree with you, Mill.

I think the first game of the tournament, like there's so much high stakes on the first game and I think we could have nicked it at the end. Like I said, I literally sat here and I was like, this will be two to this. Like we will finish this off. Like it will, we'll get points of this. Like the way we developed and like went on to finish that second half. I was like, yeah, I know England, like this is, you know, five more minutes of play. We would have drawn that game, no doubt about it.

Let me just bounce back Rach, just a tiny bit. Because what you said was so spot on about the VAR check for Alessia's goal. It was almost like it threw a bucket of cold water over France and like woke them up. Because we had total dominance and you could see LJ was drifting into these pockets of space where you're just like Wow, she's head and shoulders the best pair on the pitch for the first 15 minutes every time she got in the ball She was so dangerous and then suddenly France felt like they got away with one and they were like right we're in a game here I read you got to turn it on and you mentioned just how good they were down down the wings

I don't know whether it came across with you guys, but Dior Maida, the way that she snaps into challenges and then launches counterattacks. Especially when she had Cascarina. I was so impressed by her because of the fact that I don't think I've ever really seen a play like that for France. She just stepped in like she was literally like

a born natural center midfielder. We always laugh merely when we're doing piss around the wall, we're like stepping in. She picks up the seconds and just like drives in the space and I was literally thought of you at the time. I was like, she's stepping in. Stepping in. And it released Cascarino every single time. Yeah.

Like she was doing the dirty work, Cascarino could then just go and like do her stuff. Do you know what I mean? And I think that's something that I don't think I've ever really seen from them before. And a good bit of movement from Kototo as well, wasn't it? Yeah. As I said about watching that Mills, you must have felt a little bit of Simpy there because she sort of, I think she's dragged Leah in, hasn't she? Then hit the brakes and then gone

again. And so when someone's on the blind side, it must be really difficult to know whether to go or whether to stay at that point. Yeah, it's tricky because I think we were really pulled apart as a back line in that moment. We'd been beat at full back and then ball side centre back Alex has to come over which then creates massive gaps but I think ultimately when you're a bit disjointed like that you've just got to take the player and take the change a bit but listen, everything happens so quickly. I also think just off Rachel's point in terms of how do we get that quicker when you've got someone like you Francis Baxter against the wall a little bit just before our goal got

disallowed you have to keep that intensity and I think that is the lesson learned that this euros that is the level and we've said it's going to be the most competitive tournament so far in the game level and we've said it's going to be the most competitive tournament so far in the game, in the women's game and that is it. You cannot step off because teams like France, Netherlands, Wales, they're going to take them opportunities and they start to get a little bit of momentum and then we can't break it down and then we're on the back foot and they get a goal and then they get another goal and then it's incredibly hard to come back from. But I think it's just, for me, it's just keep that pressure on. Like we were so good, like at the start of the game that we were creating

opportunities, we were solid defensively, we were in their half. Like I said, LJ picking the ball up, we've got the wingers coming in. But I just think you've got to keep that pressure on. Even if a decision goes against you, you can't take your foot off the gas. The level is too high to just be a little bit passive. But I think we have to look at the last 10 minutes where we could have won the game. France did unbelievable to make some of those goal line clearances,

but you have to look at that situation where bring that energy and that intensity in those crunching tackles. Like, take a yellow card. That gives you team confidence. It gives each other that urge to be like, come on, girls, we we're gonna get a goal. Like it gives you that little burst, that little bit of burst of energy.

But yeah, I think you have to reflect on that and just bring that sooner. On that note, take a break and we're gonna come back and talk about the second half. Otherwise we'll sit here all night. This episode is brought to you by Tinder. People think that dating is to just find the one male, but I think there's so much more to it than that.

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Okay, welcome back guys. Jumping into the second half. Millie, obviously you've been a part of the team for a while. Ben, you've been spectating for a while. Serena typically makes subs around 60 minutes. Do we think that that's going to continue? Do you think she needs to do them earlier? Do we think, what do we think?

Can I give you from a point of view in the stadium, just it felt like tonight it was crying out for a momentum shift at half time. Like watching on the scene that second goal going, it just felt like everyone was a bit shell shocked. And I don't know whether that's something that you feel as players or whether that's maybe something that we from the outside project onto a team, but it felt like that second goal just came at a point where everyone was like, whoa, what's just happened? Like, how are we suddenly two-nil down? We were fine. And so I thought maybe at half time

that she might look to just freshen things up a little bit. Because I thought that Michelle Ajumang, when she came on, was just an absolute nuisance. She was so good physically that it dragged France into a game that they didn't want to be playing. So the fact that Serena waited just a little bit longer. I mean, you guys would know way better than me. Do you guys naturally think around 60 is when she'll look to change things?

You know what? I think for the first time, obviously I've been a part of it, but like tonight was the first time I really experienced what everybody was saying about it. It's the first time I've been a fan. And so I'm sat there surrounded by a bunch of fans and they're like, Oh, what should I do it at 60? And it's like everybody's saying that. So it's like everybody's predicting it. So do we think that opposition thinking right at 60, she's going to make a subs or do we think at 60, she's going to make a subs? Do we all

think okay, we just need to get 60? Like, I don't know if there is a mental thing because I think when I was in the Euros, I didn't bat an eyelid about when she was making subs, it was just like whatever needs to happen. That's so interesting. But literally everyone that was surrounding me was banging on about it. And I was just like, Jesus Christ,

like you've put it in my head now. And then literally 60, three subs. I think typically it is 60 minutes though. I think if we look at like all the games, typically it is 60, but I'm a big believer look at like all the games, typically it is 60. But I'm a big believer that if a game needs to change, it needs to change. I'm also a big believer that I'm not saying this, but I've experienced it before at Chelsea where we've made changes in the first half.

If there's something on the line and you need to win and you need a change and something is just not working, I've experienced it before where Emma's made a change in the first half. Why wait if you absolutely know it's not working and your backs are against the wall a little bit? We've made changes early. We've made them as soon as the second whistle's gone. Again, if it's not working, then make a change. So I'm a big believer in that. I'm not saying the first half change was needed at all, but I agree. I think half time we needed that. I think, like you said, after that first 10 minutes, we weren't dominating jewels,

we weren't getting a hold of the ball and kind of being as effective. So I do think we were needing a little bit of something, that little bit of buy, a little bit of aggression, just to break their momentum, because I think they looked very comfortable in possession. Obviously we focused a lot on things that we need to do, but I think there were large positives in that game.

First and foremost, like we've talked about, the changes I think came on and did things that we weren't seeing. Which is what you want from a sub, isn't it? You've watched the whole game and it's like, that's what you need to do and you come on. Like I said, Toonie and Grey's getting stuck in. I love that, absolutely love that.

Before the game, I said, I literally said this when I was with Fran tonight, and I said, I'd said this, I was with Fran tonight and I said, I'd really like to see Michelle Adjimang tonight. I just want to see her. Do you know what, like an absolute nuisance that like as a defender, you don't want someone like her coming on with a bit of time. Like that is the last thing you want, power, strength, pace, like running at you, like good in the air, like good finisher.

Like I just thought, I was like, maybe tonight, like it's one of those games that we might actually see her. And I said, I was like, oh, maybe last 15. And I think potentially, no, I'm not saying that she, she allowed us to score that goal, but like, she was up there, like challenging for that header, her and Lesley that fell down to Kiera, by the way, banger from Kiera, love that. Unbelievable. And you know what it means for Kiera to score?

She, she, I'm so happy for her. She always scores and I'm gut that she doesn't get to celebrate because she's still 2-1 and I was like, just celebrate. I was like, please just do a little jump or something. She just ran straight back, didn't she? World class goal. I'll never forget how in-house friendly that we played at Stoke and we lost 8-1. We lost 8-1, me and Keira, and Keira scored the one goal after 8-0 down and we were like, Get it in!

But no, I think she just is like a bit of a handful, just like a nuisance. She's new on the scene as well, it's something, it's just a bit of a different dynamic that we're not really used to. She's also a player that we don't already have. I think that's the beauty, that she brings something completely different. And as a defender, that would be my worst nightmare coming on. You're tired, you know, yes, it's, it's two nil, but anything can happen in tournaments. And as soon as we, we've got the quality as a team to put that pressure on and get three goals back in a short space of time. We have. And that's why if we'd have just had that little bit more intensity a little bit

earlier on, we'd have gone on and won the game like we would have. And like Rach said, there's, there's huge amounts of positives to take One we got a goal back two we created so many chances in the last ten minutes of a game where you know It shows we've still got that energy and you know the subs coming on making a difference And now like I said, there's there's no time to dwell It's it's about reacting and getting ready for the next game against the Netherlands. Did you like the two up top? What did you think of that? I think it needs that at the end of the game, you're chasing a goal, just banging the numbers up.

Yeah. Like you used to obviously do it with Millie and I think like, I don't know, as a centre forward, that nothing annoys me more than when they just back up front. It's like, why? But then we never crossed the ball and I was, I then ended up playing hold up play. I was like, I don't want to hold up play. Then to match the train to head the ball up, not down, bearing in mind. Like day training sessions are heading the ball up your way. We trained to head down. So like it does wind

me up a little bit. I do get it. But I think throwing two like absolute world-class centre forwards on at one time, I think it's, it's, it's an absolute no-brainer to me, but maybe a slight bit earlier for me. I couldn't believe how much it unsettled them. Yeah, rather than straight away, the minute you came on, we scored. Yeah, I'd say sooner. I'd agree. You know what, though? I think going into tonight, they're going to go back, unwind, sleep on it, reflect. And yeah, it's not the end of the world. It's the first game in the

tournament. They've come back on Wednesday, they beat Netherlands. It's a completely different tournament already. So I don't think it's something to be too wound up about. It's not something to be too worried about. We need to get behind the girls. We need to support them. We need to back them. Like they need that from us more than ever. And I think there's no need to stress or worry right now. And the only things we're talking about a simple fixers winning battles. Being English, lifting someone, put them on the floor,

let them know that they're in a fight and that they're in a game. These are like, ball and play a girl, knock them out. No, don't knock them out, don't want any red cards, thank you. But do you know what I mean? Like these are basic things what are like simple fixes. Win your battles, put them on the ground like Grayson Tooney did when they came on.

Then it's a completely different game. Then you start getting your confidence, start spraying it around. You saw the difference when we start winning battles. We then are much more confident on the ball. There's way less turnover. These are like such simple fixes and the girls can do it in a heartbeat.

Tell everyone really quickly, because I'm fascinated by this. What's the process after a game like that now? Is everyone left to just kind of do whatever they want tonight? Just go to bed and try and sort of chill for a bit? Or would people be talking between each other on the way back to the hotel? Or what happens in terms of analysis next? Think a little bit of a mix. You go into your little like groups, I suppose, like if it was me and Millie, we would sit

next to each other like we always do and have a little conversation about like what we thought we did and what we could do. But then it's not too in depth. You can't wind down on it tonight. You go back to the hotel, have some dinner, get yourself off to bed, and then the next day is all about recovery and review. Recovery review, so you do your recovery in the morning, and then I'll discuss the game and see, you know,

areas of improvement. It could be a really chill conversation, which I don't think it needs to be that deep. I think- No. No pressure, like, you know, for a fact, the headlines tomorrow in the media are gonna be like, England, lost the first game, meh, meh, meh.

It's like, relax, like, relax, it's one game. It's game one. Game one. It's game one. Simple fixes, simple fixes. You know, there will be things that they wanna improve on, of course, like they hold themselves to such a high standard,

like the European champions, you know what I mean? So they're not going to sit there and go, oh, it's fine, we'll just move on. No, there'll be an absolute reflection, but then tomorrow it's put to bed and it's game face on Netherlands. Like, don't reflect on France after that. France is done, Netherlands, let's go. I think it's making sure that no one dwells on it either. I think we've been in that situation before where you can see people starting to overthink

sad faces and then that's where you just have to get around each other and be like, girls, it's fine, don't stress, simple fixes, we'll bounce back against the Netherlands and we'll get the win and then we're completely back in it, you know what I mean, on your way and everyone's jolly, so you can't go too far one way or too far the other. I think you have to stay very calm and level-headed. You can be pissed off with yourself. I think tonight is the moment for everyone to have their individual emotions because I think it's good to get them out.

The minute you start collecting and you just put on a brave face, you take it into tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day. So that's where me and Rach would use to have a little rant and I'd be like, oh, that tackle was shit or I shouldn't have passed it there. You get it all out of your system and then you move on and you're like, right, ready to go back on track.

Yeah. The next day you got to wake up with that game face and just bring what you need to bring to the meeting and then let it go. Yeah. And then focus on Netherlands. That'll be massive. And also I suppose to put a slightly positive spin on that, that's the games you want to be involved in, isn't it? Like you've got to turn up on that one. Like what an amazing privilege to have in terms of that level of pressure and excitement on a big game at a major tournament. Hey, listen, we have a hard group and this was never going to be easy. Like playing France in your first game was never going to be easy.

It weren't going to be a walk in a park. Neither is Wednesday, but like you said, this is, you know, we're the holders, we're the current champions and you know, it's, the girls will be wanting to show that in the next game and like Rach said, everyone will be disappointed. Of course you will, we want to win, but it's now you're given an amazing opportunity to play a top team again on Wednesday and showcase who we are and that we're here to stay in progress so the girls will be fine. And that's it for our first Euro 2025 post-match episode we're gonna keep bringing you our reaction to England games and more so make sure you're

subscribed to the show you'll be the first to know when new episodes have dropped. Thanks again Ben your legend giving us all these things. Lovely Ben. See you in the next one. Love you guys. See you later.