The final preparations for Euro 2025 for the Lionesses – the key themes and insights
In this brief, we provide some highlights from Ella Toone’s press conference post the match vs France, before the Euro 2025 Final vs Spain, which allows us a glimpse into team psychology, tactics and overall mood pre-final.
I. Making History With The Mind Of A Fighter
Ella Toone talks about the importance of getting to a “third major tournament final” and how much it means to the team and the country. This binding success is generated by a relentless “fight” and an unbreakable attitude; to keep at it, even when the going gets hard.
Consecutive Finals and Pride: “Three finals on the bounce for England is something that, you know, is a real… I think we can all be proud of and I think the country can be proud of it.”
Embracing Drama and Resilience: The team has embraced the tournament’s “drama” and never stopped fighting “right until the very end, even when it’s gone to penalties, even when it’s gone 120 minutes.” “We have never thought we were done, and yep, we like to have had that little bit of drama,” Toone said. They are also resilient in their belief that they can “do the job” by employing “a good-old performance” and come away with the “win”.
The Fighting Spirit: The fighting spirit is a “proper English performance,” and it is in every player and the team. “We have that in all of us individually and as the team that we want to fight, make it, you know, with the weight at the back and not stop running. And it’s a collective grit which is so important to their comebacks and victories.
II. Tactical Focus: The Midfield Battleground
Midfield is seen as a key battleground, where the final could be won or lost, especially given the calibre of the Spanish opposition.
Midfield as the Key Zone: Toone admits, “I believe that in football games can be won and lost in the midfield.”
Respect for the opposition: She is full of admiration for Spain’s midfield trio – Patri, Pattas and Bulati – describing them as world-class players who yeah are very talented and they are tough to play against.”
Belief in England’s Midfield: For all that challenge, though, Toone is confident about England’s midfield, adding: “We know what we’re capable of and whoever plays in the midfield we know we’ll do a job and an important job as well.
III. Pressure and the Next Generation
They keep a “bubble” around them when it comes to external pressures, concentrating only on what motivates them and the bigger picture of their success.
No internalised pressure: Toone tells us that the team “don’t have that pressure on ourselves,” only “the only pressure that we have is that that you put on yourself individually.” They are “very competitive athletes who want to win and want to play well every game.”
National Pride and Inspiration: The tournament aimed, among other things, “to make the nation proud” and “to inspire the next generation.” Toone thinks they have already done that by making it to the final. Motivation for such a decision comes from the sense of “inspiring the next generation of young girls and boys just starting on their journey”.
TUNING OUT NOISE: The team is actively “blocking that out” (outside pressure) to “prepare properly for the game on Sunday.
IV. Squad Depth and Evolving Roles
Squad depth and success in integrating players into new roles are pointed to as key parts of the team’s success.
Super Subs Become Starters: “They do say opposites attract,” the yin and yang.. Toone and Alessia Russo were once called “super subs” and are now both starters. “We are all role players and since I’ve arrived, roles have changed and we have made sure we have given 100% in the role that’s been given to us,” says Toone.
New Impact Players: Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang are now regarded as “two new super subs having a real impact and a positive impact” off the bench.
Collective effort: The team is a “squad game” in which “you need everyone.” Toone hails starters and the BCLFC boss also has praise for both the starting line-ups and the replacements as she adds, “not only have we had good returns from the subs but the girls who have started the game have just given absolutely everything and combinations cannot have worked harder until they couldn’t run anymore.
Michelle Agyemang’s maturity and talent “Michelle Agyemang is so mature,” says Toone, “she is just this humble person, and she just plays with freedom and you know not a worry,, not a care. Agyemang has “come through in big moments when we’ve needed her” and has “a lot of skill.” Toone believes Agyemang can expect more recognition following the finals.
V. Serena Wiegman’s Inspirational Leadership
Time and time again, Toone also expresses her gratitude for Serena Wiegman’s unwavering success and motivational leadership.
Unbelievable machines: Toone can’t get her head around Wiegman’s “unbelievable record of five consecutive tournaments for Serina being in a final”.
Trust and Belief: The players believe Wiegman will “take them places”, that they are “in good hands” with a said a “a manager who can take teams right to the final. “They have a lot of belief in her.
Motivational Speeches: Wiegman’s “motivational speeches were her game”,, and this is an integral part of her leading the team; “getting us all in a huddle and to go out and fight for each other.” “For fair, she done a few good speeches this camp I’ll give it to her,” Toone admits.
VI. The Value of Squad Harmony and Backing
Aside from a tactical and leadership standpoint, the cohesion and team support are one of the biggest factors to overcome challenges on and off the field.
Supporting each other through personal troubles: Toone opens up about the emotional backing the squad has given her and Beth Mead following the loss of their fathers. “It’s the people that you have around you … that you can lean on and that get you through the days that are tough,” she says.
Serena’s Job as a Pastor: Wiegman also offers emotional help, such as on-court encouragement, “Serena’s also been amazing. She spoke to me before the tournament, not throughout the tournament. If I ever need anything, I know that I can go to her.
Proud feeling of pulling on England shirt: Donning the England shirt fills Toone with “pride”, a sensation that formed back in childhood and one she still holds dear. It’s a way of vowing to “make everyone proud” and to “for each other for the fans.”
Leah Williamson’s Captaincy: Captained by the “leader of the team”, Leah Williamson is described as someone who can “rally the team up and get everyone going and keep everyone together.” Toone lauds Williamson’s play, adding she “really sets the example. “You want your captain, you know, step up in game, and she certainly does that, and she brings us all with her as well,” she said.
VII. Pre-Match Rituals and Mindset
The team uses particular rituals and mental approaches to get ready for games, demonstrating their competitive spirits.
Pre-Game Song: Toone and Esme have a significant pregame song in “Heather Smiles,” with the lines of pride accompanying them onto the field.
Playing is preferable to watching: Toone confesses she felt “sick” while watching on from the bench during the quarter-final and would “much rather be on the pitch and to be able to have that impact” even if that means playing 120 minutes.
Keep It Simple: Not getting caught up in external considerations regarding a bank holiday, Toone says that the team’s only focus is “just winning the game and whatever happens after that then then great.
