Brilliant England Thrash The Netherlands

0:00Before we get into today's episode of Daily Brightness, 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 Rachel 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.

1:03So 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.

1:28got it too. Chevrolet, together let's drive. Visit chevy.com slash trucks to explore the lineup.

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2:18Hi, everyone. Welcome to The Rest is Football Daily Brightness. We have all jumped on, myself, Ben and Rachel, after the two games this evening. As you can see, we're all in good spirits. Also, apologies if Rachel does drop out. She is currently on her way back from a watch party. So she actually is in a taxi. So we'll excuse her on this one occasion. I want to hear Rachel. Do you sound like you're underwater or not? We've got your back. Listen. Can you hear me? Yeah. Yeah. We can hear you. Okay. Excellent news. I'm in a car. like what commitment is this like I'm literally in a car I'm away back from London but anyway guys let's just talk about England because they were fucking sick tonight it was so much better wasn't it oh I don't think I would have been able to sleep if we'd have lost I'd have been so depressed but listen that is proper England that's what we wanted that's proper England I said this at half time so I did like a I say a tactical review I have no idea about tactics but it was okay I did a little review alright coach Daly I thought you hated management and go it was like let's give you a tactical analysis and I was like England are fucking sick like basically but did you have a tactics board?

3:31I was like so do this do this no I actually think that we went back to the old way didn't we like everyone was everyone was firing on all cylinders like everyone was so good I don't think any player lost a duel guys just everyone just shut the fuck up a minute and talk about Hannah Hampton fast I'm not even surprised I literally see that every day in training I'm not even surprised That pass I was in a watch party And I sat the room quiet That made the goal I actually really wanted Les to score it Because I thought oh my god she's going to get an assist Because how she picked it out Out of nothing And just like picked that through Oh my god That is her level That's her ability We're going to score here we're going to score like that was that pass the way it went out I was like that's going to be a goal to be fair the first 10 minutes were like a little bit shaky from both teams because Viv had an opportunity really early on and she took a big if she'd have took a better touch 1-0 and it's just mad like that is football it can sway one way and immediately what I loved though is that they had that big chance and I was thinking oh fuck like she should have scored then we went down the other end and Les should have had two so we had that like bounce back and I loved how just like like you said Rachel we were just a bit more old school England, a bit more direct.

4:50Put it in behind them. Their defence didn't want to deal with it. And then we're just aggressive, everyone winning battles. Exactly what we said before going into this. It was like there was zero panic. And you could see it from the minute one. It was like there was no panic. Even if we've had that opportunity. Just urgency though. No one cared. No one cared there was a chance. No one gave a shit. It was like, let's go on. And dominate this game. And I think from, there's pure Jim. Oh, hello, pure Jim. There was literally no sense of panic. And I was like, we said this, didn't we? They weren't having panic.

5:25There'll be no sense of like... But they had urgency though, which is what I liked. Yeah, it was a sense of urgency, but in a way that it was channeled, very channeled. Not rushing. It doesn't matter what happens. Yeah, even if we missed a couple of chances, it was almost like we knew there was another one. Literally from minute five, I said, I was like, we're going to win this game. No shit ever. You could just tell. It was so on top. It was just, it was so nice to watch. Yeah. I just loved the tackles. Like, I loved, like, the aggressiveness and not just from, like, defenders, but from less at the front to, like, all the way to the back.

5:58Like, I think everyone won their individual battles. Like, and of course, Netherlands had chances. Like, they're a top team. You're going to concede opportunities. But the fact that we had no panic, we were just ruthless. It was just like, we are going to win this game. And that was, like, the aura of, like, this, like, Lionesses team. I absolutely loved it. I thought it was class and to be honest it could have been more could have been more even I mean other than Viv's chance quite early on that was probably just the little wake-up call they needed just to be like stay focused but Mills you said like you see it all the time with Hannah in training it take us into that a little bit and tell us what she's like in training because today it felt like her range of passing was, it's always good, but the way she was striking the ball, 60 yards without the ball even deviating, just staying at the same height, it's ridiculous.

6:52With Haech, she's worked so, so hard. And with her, her ability has never been the question. It's the consistency. And to be at the top, like, Rachel backed me on this, you can't just be doing that on a one-off. You need to be doing it consistently. And I think she's getting to that place now where her performances are staying at that level and it's not like one or two passes that are good. It's like majority of her passes are good. And you know what? She's not afraid to take risks. You're seeing it in the game. No end of time. She's put Hempo in behind. One pass. She does it at Chelsea week in, week out.

7:23But she's now doing it for England on the international stage at a tournament where in a game when everything's riding on it. That pass is honestly, it's a joke, but I'm not surprised because I see her zing it like that every single day. But her range of passing is ridiculous. I think an outfield player plays that pass. And, like, yeah, people don't like it. But, like, no one really bats an eyelid. But, like, I was in a room where everyone was like, what a pass. Oh, my God. And I was like, I think I just was like, it's Hannah. Like, I played with Hannah at club, obviously, before Millie did. And I remember her going over to Chelsea and I'm like, listen, like, you're going to get some, like, you're going to see something that you don't really see very often.

8:01Because she oozes confidence in a way that is, like, I don't, She just has it. Do you know what I mean? So I think we played in the Villa. It was one of those things where it was like, right, listen, I'll never forget this, Millie, right? We played against Chelsea at Walsall. So it was a shit pitch at the time. I remember it was in a really bad state. And the whole game plan was like, Rach, play offside. Just play offside. Hannah's going to get it to you. And every single time, to be fair to you, Millie, you weren't playing. But I don't think your back line genuinely knew what that offside rule was because they set their line up to the halfway line and she would just absolutely pelt it.

8:38Yeah, I was injured at that time. She would pelt it over the halfway line and I was just in. Like, probably says more about me than her because it never went into court. I think, like, it was like a genuine, like, it was like a trait of, like, she can kick this ball so far. Like, it's not even far, but it's on a dime. And I think, like Millie says, like consistently doing that is a really hard thing to do. But I remember messaging Hannah before this tournament. I was like, listen, like, do your stuff. Like, you've got a really good opportunity here. Like, go and do your stuff. And it gives me pride to think that, like, I see her growing into this because, like, I think it's been a long time coming, but I think she's gained that sort of trust.

9:19Like, she steps into the shoes of literally the best goalkeeper in the world, which was Mary. Like, she stepped into the shoes of a really hard place to fill. And they both equally bring the most talent. Like, we were so blessed at England to have two of the most talented and goalkeepers and in very different ways as well yeah I think today that she really showed her confidence yeah what you see with Hannah though Mills I'm sure you see in training like she can play right back she can play center map she can play center forward like she's she actually can play in a number of positions so like to see her distribute that like it was a joy because it's like okay you're actually like doing what you know you can do I'm going to be really sneaky and get some more insight from you, Mills, on another person that I know you won't be surprised to see just taking the absolute piss out of everyone on the pitch with LJ scoring the goals that she did tonight.

10:10The first one was just another one of those goals that probably only she scores. Oh, 100%. Do you know what? I love it. I know they played her in the 10 in the first game, but LJ out wide is a different craving. It was better tonight like that, wasn't it? Better out wide because... yeah but she's a player that can go 1v1 she's a very different winger to all the other wingers but when she rolls inside she's got a great connection with Lucy as it is because they play together at club but she's, and Rach back me up on this when you have a winger that overloads the inside pocket it is the most annoying thing in the world because the fullback doesn't know whether to step does the centre back take over do you track it's so annoying, do the midfielders take her and with LJ you can give her the ball it doesn't matter if you've got three players around she's probably going to come out with the ball you don't know if she's going to pass is she shooting, is she dribbling I think that's what's annoying about that connection though because she drifts inside, she drifts outside she steps up, she goes beyond Alessio she drops lower than Tooney she's got it all but Lucy will always occupy that channel so no matter where she goes if she goes wide, Lucy will go inside if she goes inside, Lucy will go wide they just have that natural ability to connect you just know where each other are I think you see it even on a throw-in.

11:27Like, it's such an invaluable connection. And you've got to feel for me, though, because I don't think she did a lot. Like, it wasn't like she did anything wrong. No, I think it's just to offer something different, to be honest. You know what? If you look back at our previous episode, I said maybe one or two changes based on tactics. So you obviously see Alex at left back and you've seen LJ on the wing. And I think that's exactly what it was. And I think Tooney coming in the 10 helped. Yeah, exactly. Tooney offered a different dimension in the 10. She was breaking up. Well, you've got to rat around in there.

11:56You've got to rat around in midfield. Also, also, also, guys, just stop there. I need to just talk about Alessia because her defensive play was insane. Yeah. I really wanted to score the rate she had. Two massive opportunities. Don't worry. I was gutted for her. Don't worry. She's two offside goals now as well. Guys, guys, shut up. Both of you. Okay. Sure, Alessia. I don't know where this chick's been tonight, but this sassiness. No. I think England must have won. No, listen, listen, listen, listen. She will take this tournament by fucking storm, let me tell you. But what people don't see, and I hate this, as a striker, I will fucking wag my finger.

12:42I'm telling you. I'll wag my finger until I'm in the face. Because what people don't see as a striker, that defensive role is so hard. It's so hard. and she was pressing left and right. Like, I know she's created chances. I know she was outside a couple of times. But give the girl some credit. Like, Jesus Christ, that is such a hard role to do. Like, she got three assists tonight. To be fair, without her doing that, we don't win that game. We don't score the goals we've scored. Nobody's talking about the fact that she got three assists. She's so deceptively quick as well, isn't she? She is. So it's like, oh, Alessia Russo's not scored.

13:19No, fuck that. Like, Alessia Russo will score and she will take this tournament by literally everyone will look back at this and be like whatever she got three assists she broke up play she started the whole entire press for most of them goals so i i as a striker like i know i'm getting annoyed but it really bugs me because you don't see the work that goes into that like all the press like millie you know the defensive work starts from the front so if she doesn't 100 she was pressing van damselaar like she had like like shit in her eyes but she says she sets the tone for the team that's what we were saying last time it's like a domino effect if someone wins it if someone gets stuck in and slides in even if you don't win the ball you're like fucking hell I'm gonna do that I'm gonna win it now like it's she sets the tone so Hannah's got that worldy pass right but Alessia's created the next part for LDA to score right yeah Georgia doesn't score that goal without Alessia defending it's all Alessia's work defensively or on the on the ball that makes those first three goals she creates opportunity like nobody sees that and it really really winds me up because it's like there's so much more to your game than just scoring goals like and that's why Alessia is so good and that's why she is the best one of the best number nines in the world like back back to goal she's the best number nine in the world isn't she yeah in terms of fizzing a ball into someone and watching the way that she'll just spin people or just hold them off and like almost buy you five or ten seconds for everyone to get their breath back and move maybe 20 30 yards up the pitch, there's not really anyone better.

14:47But we have this running joke at Villa because Lucy Stan is really good friends with Alessia and obviously I mean I love Les, I will back Les till I'm blue in the face but Les scores so many goals while she's on the floor so if you watch back at Alessia's goals in the last two years have a look at how many goals she scores on the floor but it's because of her absolute grit and desire to get there so for me the way she throws her body about like it's not it's not unrelatable for me like she i can see it week in week out she's literally diving in left and right to try and create something if she doesn't score it's how can i how can i create something for somebody else how can i win this game so everyone i'm going oh unless he's not scored bullshit like unless he's created three goals for england on that will you know that so she's she's had two chances where she scored she's been like marginally offside or mido was like marginally offside as a striker does it give you confidence even if you get a goal disallowed that you took a chance when it came?

15:45Are you still thinking, like, when the next one comes to me, I'll score anyway? Do you know what? I think because, okay, so she's got a completely disallowed offside, whatever. But she's in the position. And there's times when it wasn't offside. You know, there's a couple with a head that she's missed, right? But she's literally getting sandwiched by two gigantic gut centre-backs and she's still winning the header. Like, give the girl some credit. Like, this is what I hate. Like, we shy away from the fact that this person's actually playing insane, but she's just been unfortunate. like equally she shouldn't even be making those headers like she's got two massive centre-backs like challenging every these balls and winning every header like come on I don't know I don't know Right before Rach has a mental breakdown we are going to go for a quick break and we will be back in a second and we'll discuss the France versus Wales game see you soon Clearly I'm team Alessia Russo 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.

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18:43welcome back everybody moving on to the next game Benji take us away well I'm do you know I'm a little bit gutted for Wales because they've ended up running out 4-1 losers against France France made a lot of changes it's a very different side to the side that took the field against England obviously feeling like they could rotate a little bit but after France go ahead Jess Fishlock scores their first goal at a major tournament. She'd become the oldest ever goal scorer at the Euros at the age of 38, which was incredibly special. They get back level in the game. And I know most people will have seen this and will be feeling exactly the same as me, but it genuinely felt different to the Netherlands game.

19:29It felt like they'd learnt from that. And if they could just get through to halftime, then maybe there was a chance that they could kind of grow into the game and keep France out. um the other day viv midemar does this ridiculous double chop and then smashes the ball into the top corner it was nonsense it's like one of those things that only viv does right um the problem was today is that wales the other day i was really keen to point out that it wasn't their fault that they conceded in the 47th minute that there was nothing they could do viv was just on one of those days today it was a little bit different it was just a reminder of what tournament football is all about a tiny mistake a little bit of ill discipline they gave away a soft penalty and ended up then losing any momentum that they'd built yeah conceded right on the stroke of halftime and then conceded pretty quickly after halftime into the second half and though though Wales are not out it's going to take a crazy swing against England which just by any sense of normal reality is just not going to happen but on the positive side seeing Jess Fishlock have that moment and celebrate with the Wales fans and give them something to to shout about and give them something to hold on to I think that's so important at major tournaments that when you go away as a fan you leave and you think I've got that you know I'm leaving here with something kind of thing yeah and then on top of that she went off with with a few minutes to go and then I know you'll buzzed about this Mills but Sophie Ingle came on and that is just so special considering how hard you you've seen her work as well yeah it's always nice like I don't like seeing any of my teammates I don't like seeing anyone injured like period but knowing the work that Soph's put in and you know she's absolutely smashed it out the park her rehab to be fair because you know how complicated these recoveries can be when it's your ACL and stuff like that but you know she's got her head down she's really worked hard and not only to be selected for the Euros to then be able to you know make her dream come true and go on the pitch I think it's a testament of her character a mentality and the player that she is you know having the ability to to push on for that I think you know she should absolutely be proud of herself and she's always so proud to represent Wales and every time she pulls on that shirt I know it's really important for her so yeah on a personal level really really happy for her but what do we think of does that show how strong the depth of the France squad is being able to rotate like you said that many players and mean do you know I mean it's not you're not out the group till you're out the group so to be able to show that confidence does that show that they're in a really really strong place yeah I think we learned quite a lot about France tonight I think France are definitely going to be in that elite group I think we've all got to still look at spain spain seem to be operating on a bit of a different planet to everyone else i think they're leading they're leading the tournament aren't they in terms of performances yeah i think one for me one for me is like group games are just you've got to get out of them yeah i don't like you saw what you said the other day ben like we're not really seeing the tournament in full swing because i don't i think a lot of people are playing it like let's just get out of the group and then you're going to see a different side.

22:55Like the way we saw England tonight, right, what annoyed me about everything is that it's like, oh, England, you know, they lost the first game. Like, okay, we can all point the finger at what we think went wrong in the England game. But at the end of the day, they were playing a world-class French side that will probably go on and like really succeed in this tournament. But what we saw tonight was like a completely different wave of like, okay, we're not messing about here. Like we are, we're here to beat. And I think take that level of maturity that level of ability and that level of we know how to find a way to win through to the next stage how do you match it like there's there's mentality once you get out of the group stage it's completely mentality so all all just like ability like it doesn't matter if you score 11 goals in the group game like it doesn't matter because what happens outside of that group is what really matters like you've got through well done ticked the box but it's now game by game.

23:51I think the dangerous side to that is that it gives them a hell of a lot of confidence and momentum. And the teams that aren't up there, they're exerting a lot more energy. Like Spain have been in control of both of their games so far and they're not exerting as much energy as what others are. Like you look how much energy we have to use today to get this over the line. Everything has to be attack, attack, attack. Like we've got to go, we've got to work hard, you've got to win all your battles, you've got to sprint that a little bit faster. That's the only downside. I agree with that completely.

24:21I'm fully on your side in that sense. But equally, does that give you a sense of composure? We're flying in the group stage, so we're going to win everything else. But I do think you gain momentum in a tournament. If you start strong, you don't really then dip. The ball keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger. You roll on, roll on. They're in full control. I just think they might be in control. I do agree with that. But I do think there's a sense of once you get out. You know what it's like as a player. If you're shooting and scoring. I just think once you get out of that group, it's anybody's game.

24:51Anybody can win on any given day. Oh, for sure. Like I said, it's a one-off game. I 100 % agree with you. I genuinely believe Spain are probably the front-runners in this tournament right now. But we're saying that because they've scored 11 goals. But I think because of their performances, they've not looked rocky. No, I know. But equally... They're the only team that haven't looked rocky. they've not had the same group as what other teams have had do you know what I mean? it's really hard to like go like I agree coming to this tournament, don't get me wrong I was like Spain are flying they're probably the team that you want to beat right but I think when you look at if you get out of this whoever gets out of our group it's like shit that's a group you want to get out of once you get out of there it's like okay what's next and yes they're in a really good position their momentum is flying they're leading But on any given day, it's anybody's game.

25:49And I just think 100 % I agree with you. They are the team to beat, in my opinion, in your opinion, probably in Ben's opinion. Probably all in the same belt in the fact that they're... It is anyone's game. I think that is the tournament. I just think that right now they've set the standards of the tournament. And I think everyone else needs to now step up to that. Let me just chuck one thing into the mix there as well. The only thing that complicates that for everyone, France obviously playing really well. Spain playing really well. they will meet in the semi-finals if they carry on so the way that the draw falls basically winners of group d essentially their path is to play the winners of group b if they both progress through to the semi-finals so it's actually sort of weirdly counterintuitive because france have played really well they've gone out and got two wins have scored some decent goals on the way but as you're both rightly saying, Spain probably the team to beat, well, France are going to have to go out and show that they can do it in the semi-finals.

26:47We'll get a really good measure then if they're at the level of that. Obviously, Spain have scored so many goals, but they are very vulnerable defensively. And France are so good on the counter-attack. So it's like, I actually really think that would probably be my favourite game to watch is France against Spain. Because I think they both counteract each other. How do you think, because it's basically Germany or Sweden to potentially go through in their group top how do you think who do you think you'd almost prefer I know it's looking too far ahead but if you were to look at them who would you rather face out of Germany or Sweden?

27:25I don't know I'm a bit stuck I think generally Germany in a tournament you don't want to face because I think they can always find a way Germany and Sweden they're both really strong sides at one you don't want to face in the tournament like they're both equally like teams that you don't want to go further down the line and face them. I think both teams know how to win. That's the dangerous part. But I think every team showed their vulnerabilities so far, but every team has also come back from something. So it's like everyone's in the same boat, really. It's hard. I don't know. Like you said, Rach, they're both gritty teams.

27:56They know how to win. They know how to dig out results. Maybe Germany take the lead on that just because of their attacking threats and when they really want to turn it on. I don't know. You've got to be at your best defensively. Got to get through Wales first. Exactly. Get that done. Enjoy the weekend. Anyway, weren't you on the pitch? Oh, mate, I had a disaster today. So I played in like a media game. Basically, we had like the Dutch journalists against the English sort of media group. And, you know, like I'm one of these awful people that I think in my mind that I can just go out and enjoy playing football.

28:33I clearly can't. Like the moment I put my boots on. Ben what is the result? We lost 8-6 and I scored an own goal and Basics was responsible for three goals that we conceded as well so without my performance we might have won Ok I think we're going to exit Ben from the chat

28:55Do you know what though? One thing that did Literally One thing that did make me feel a little bit better so I've had this absolute stinker on the pitch and then I'm walking back through the fan zone on the way back and they've got on one of the big screens Rachel getting nutmegged by against Spain and like it cuts to my turn of Bob Matisse's face going like this and then yeah I've seen that I thought that's a bit unfair and then I walked about two yards further down and I had a picture of you Mills like after having conceded a goal on the floor holding your face like that and I thought do you know what it happens to the best of us if If it can happen to you two, then it's all right.

29:37Exactly. I'm good. Okay. Okay. And that's the end of Ben's journey on the podcast. Thank you. It's fun when it lasted. I don't know what day I would just end it, but because I like your verb, I'm going to hang up gently. But okay. Talk about that. Bye.

29:55Go on, swivel on it. Yeah, just hit me right here. You lose every single game against every single media team.

30:04right guys that is it for today's episode of the rest is football daily brightness tomorrow we'll be releasing the next episode in our euro 2022 rewind series it's all about the group stage from three years ago as we relive those brilliant games and give you an insight into what life was like in camp during that period goodbye from me and have a great week everyone bye bye