England Into Euros Final After More Late Drama

0:00Rach: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.

0:28Rach: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 going to be back in the lionesses 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're just jumping in now there's so much more to come keep subscribing and keep watching this episode is brought to you by sofi the all-in-one finance app the sooner you start investing the more potential you have to build your money even for beginners sofi makes it simple with an easy to use app to get you going sofi is offering up to one thousand dollars in stock when you open and fund a sofi self-directed brokerage account learn more at sofi.com slash spotify brokerage offer through sofi securities llc member finra slash sipc terms apply this episode is brought to you by sofi the all-in-one finance app to bank borrow and invest say goodbye to account fees and give your bank balance a glow-up with the sofi high yield savings account get over eight times the national average savings rate and an epic welcome bonus when you Sign up at SoFi.com slash Spotify.

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2:11Hello everyone and welcome to today's episode of Daily Brightness. We're celebrating the fact that England are through to the final of the Euros after another dramatic comeback victory against Italy. It's just me and Benji tonight. Millie can't make it, unfortunately. But Ben, talk to me. How's your heart? Do you know what? I have a formal complaint they want to make to Lionesses. Like, this is not good for any of us. No. The stress, the nerves, the anxiety. And what's mad is I still didn't feel that they were going to lose. even as the clock was creeping down knowing that you've got Michelle Adraman on the pitch and she's starting to get that air of inevitability about her do you know what I mean?

2:53starting to feel like something's going to drop her it's mad to say I'm the same as you I just feel like as soon as you start to see these subs coming on like you know these teams are getting a bit tired it's a bit cagey and then you just think like nah we're going to win like there's never a doubt in my mind like even with like two minutes to go in like stoppage time I'm like, no problem, don't worry about it. It's so weird. But this is the same feeling that I had when I played for England. Is it? Everyone will say, oh, we're so lucky, whatever, whatever. Yeah, there's an element of luck, but you create your own luck when you're that good.

3:23Do you know what I mean? Like, I'm not sitting here going, we were amazing, like, we've been amazing the last few games. No, but no one gives a shit when the points are on the board and you're in the European final. Three finals in three tournaments, the last three tournaments. Does that start to, like, seep into the group? because I think, look, I'm buzzing. I'm so excited for them and it's amazing. If you think about the knock-on effect of making another final, it's unbelievable. But do you reckon, like, in that group, they're just starting to sort of think, like, this is going to happen. Like, this is meant to be.

3:58There's a reason we're getting all of these things going the right way at the right time. Yeah, but I think it's in the DNA. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's part of the culture now. Like, when you become a lioness, like, it's already there. Like you've got players like Lucy, Leah, Kira, like Alex, like Big Beth, not Big Beth, but like big, like experienced players that have already got that culture that's been created. And then you've got this absolute enormous amount of talent in the youth coming through. Like it's just, you can see it, like you can see that they've got the togetherness. The England DNA is to find a way to win.

4:35Like I said it from the beginning that we were going to win. like I said it from literally day data that we were going to win this tournament and I still have no doubt in my mind that we're not going to win this like we're going to win this tournament for sure like I don't give a shit who we play next like it's England it does feel like whoever we play and whatever happens I think one of the things we're going to be looking back on is the subs the finishes in this tournament it just changes the dynamic of the game so much doesn't it that was literally my tweet that was my tweet when Chloe scored I was just like oh shit they're so good like they just but it's a theme, isn't it?

5:09Like, look back, rewind to our Euros, like 2022, Toonie, Les, they come on and just change the game and it's the same thing. Like, it's like history's just repeating itself. But I'm so happy that they're thriving as well because we spoke about it last time, didn't we? Like, it's so difficult to be in that role. You can use it to your advantage or you can use it as a negative and just blah, blah, blah, on the bench, don't give a fuck. or you can go, nah, I'm a sub right now, but when I come on, I'm making the difference and I'll be the hero. Alessia was behind Ellen the whole Euros and just played phenomenally, scored so many goals, impacted the game so much, Tooney the same.

5:50It's like, it really makes me happy and I think, obviously, Chloe's shining as well. But yeah, for a young kid like Michelle, honestly, I jump through the roof when she does well. I just want to see success for her. And the one that hit the bar... Oh my God, what a casual little finish. Keeper was in no man's land as well. I was like, see you later. That is one of my favourite types of finish. You know when the keeper watches it over their head and you just see it arc in. You think if that drops in, we're talking about this forever. I feel like Chloe Kelly has got this. Look, we obviously need to talk about Michelle Adramanga as well.

6:24The way that she seems to be able to come on and influence games with so little experience and yet she's shining on this stage, which is just unbelievable. And at the same time, I feel like Chloe Kelly they both do it in different ways Chloe Kelly comes on and you can almost see from the way that she's carrying herself she's like oh by the way I'm going to win this game for her it's a little swaggy swaggy isn't it like she's got like that aura and like that air of like it's not arrogance it's like it's pure confidence supreme confidence yeah it's like don't worry about it even the penalty right it's quite hard if you miss a penalty like that like I think it's difficult to like switch on to like get that rebound there's obviously other people around you but like instant reaction is fuck yeah yeah and like even just a celebration she's just like you know you know it's always gonna happen like those two i just think it's it's absolutely it's sick it's so good i love absolutely love stuff like that when you see them coming on is there still that part of you because i saw it across social media so much tonight just going i would have wanted to see them 20 minutes earlier but that's the thing right that is the thing people want it's really it's a fine balance isn't it right because who's to say if like i don't know serena changed the whole team and then started the players that are impacting and whatever what if it doesn't work like we've not tried that yet what we know is that that is working so what i could argue is maybe a little bit sooner but yeah yeah equally like it's working so like don't fix what isn't broken like that's that's my thoughts like you saw it in the last show i was tuning in less here 60 minutes bang every single time change the game every single time so yeah people will call out start them start them start them but there's so much like there's so much to be said for people that can come on and make a difference it's really difficult to do like as a player coming on that first like five ten minutes it's like you're bloody breathing in blood it's so hard like the emotions are high like you're trying to get up to speed the game's flowing like to be able to come on and change a game like that it's not an easy thing to do and there's only a certain amount of people that can do it so it's it's a difficult one for me like i'd love to see them play the whole game don't get me wrong but equally the other players are also wearing the other players into the ground and then it's it's a good opportunity for them to i don't know i'm not a manager like you said in serena we trust she's got it right so far so and also that what you said there is like so bang on the money with the tempo thing about getting up to speed the game because this game was so bitty like italy in the second half they they just

9:04in the second half they made it just horrible to the point where you sort of almost wanted to throw my tv out the window they every single minor touch down 30 seconds killed every goal kick 30 seconds killed every throw in 30 seconds gone you just like it is nauseating it's so frustrating to watch to the point where you kind of almost admire it you're almost like this is actually like fair play the way that they're killing this and it it was so fitting that england got back into the game by them having a lapse like it was their error they should have gone and like taken care of the ball both in extra time and in normal time they should have just taken care of the ball just a little bit better in this final couple of minutes just a little bit of naivety maybe and then it as as the camera cuts to Girelli on the sideline and she's almost celebrating that you could see that was possibly the moment that it was always going to be that image because if England then had a sniff if any Italian players are thinking oh we're there we're done with three minutes to go that was like huge error but equally that's like what Sweden did it's almost like they've gone early started early thinking alright okay we're fine now we're cruising like whatever Italy missing that chance obviously Hanna coming up massive again but that late on in the game you score that it's game over right we don't see it like England are out there but again it's like you just have that like Hanna's going to save it or like we're not going to concede again like I don't know I just think it's one of them where you get into those final, like, latter stages of the game and you're just like, England are going to win, no problem.

10:46But I do think, what is wrong with defenders, like, at the minute? Like, why are you pulling Beth Mead? Like, what was the need as the Italian defender to do that? Like, what are you doing? You're giving your team a 50-50 chance of going to a European Championship final in three minutes if you just stand up and defend your space. What are you doing? I mean, I'm buzzing about it. don't get me wrong let's go I'm here for the Benoit like outrageous from Mido it's so smart isn't it it's just so good because like she's pulling a little bit she just gets her to lean into her and then goes down in front of the referee but as a defender you've got to know that that's coming like you're playing against some of the most top players in the world right now and most experienced like what are you doing oh look I look like I'm angry about it but I'm just fucking buzzing do more of that it's just I just think it's so, that's the difference, isn't it?

11:43Those are like the little gains that you need, just a little bit of inexperience at that moment to just not, it was so smart from Beth Mead. And it was like the polar opposite of what we were talking about the other day with Germany, like getting a red card for a hair pull. Like this one was just so subtle. It was like Beth just getting into a position where she knew she could go down. And the moment the ref gives it, it's not going to get overturned because she was so close. It was just magic. And then literally every part of me thinks Chloe Kelly's going to smash that penalty into the top corner.

12:15Oh, I absolutely said. I said top bins and then, don't know. Don't know. It was a weird one, but who gives a shit? She scored three by the season. You just don't care now. Exactly. Job done onto the final. Right. Shall we take a quick break and then come back and discuss how we go into the final and the celebrations tonight? Let's do it.

12:33Rach:This episode is brought to you by Tinder. People think their dating is to just find the one mill, but I think there's so much more to it than that. We spoke about it before about, you know, you have a soulmate in life but you have a soul best friend and you're my soul best friend, as you know. I don't think it should be looked upon as just a dating app. You might want just a companion or, you know, you could have an unexpected friendship blossom. I think it's quite small-minded just to think of it as, oh, I have to find like a, it's a relationship I'm looking for. Like, no, it's, you could find a friendship and that could be someone that you rely on for the rest of your lives.

13:04I 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.

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14:07This episode is brought to you by Facebook. So you were scrolling on Marketplace, and there it was, the bike you'd been searching for. You sent a message, and it turned out the seller was super chatty, kind of funny, and an avid cyclist. The next thing you know, you're in a cycling crew. Well, a community cycling group. The thing about Facebook, you might find more than what you're looking for. From a browse to a bike ride, this summer, find more on Facebook.

14:42welcome back to the rest is football daily brightness let's have a quick natter about how things are going to go down over the next 48 hours rachel i'm so intrigued to know what what happens after you come off the pitch in a semi-final this one probably a little bit more dramatic i suppose i think first things first you're probably going to be like we've done it again um but i think yeah i think initially of course you're celebrating like in the change dreams I hope the girls are like buzzing because do you know what it doesn't matter how you win like for me you win you're in the final no one gives a shit about the score no one gives you damn how you play like you're in the final so there'll be initial celebrations I think obviously rest and recovery and then yeah focus on I'm sure they'll all be watching the game together obviously a big semi-final see who they've got in the final that's it's lovely not having that pressure right they can literally sit there and just go right just soak this one up see who it is all chill out over there.

15:38Do they do anything? So we're recording this on Tuesday night at Cillia Clark. Do they do anything? Yeah, cheers girls. If they could win the final in regulation, that'd be great. Yeah, serious. Do they do anything tomorrow? Do you train? Yeah, so the players that didn't play much will train. It's the same sort of schedule all the way through and then the players that have played over 60, so pretty much half of them will usually be like rest and recovery. And then, yeah, obviously just focus on watching the next game. But I think what's exciting about this year is if it's Spain, it's a repeat of the World Cup final.

16:17If it's Germany, it's a repeat of the Euro final. So it's like there's no coincidence that these teams are consistently making it through. That's what I love about it. But I don't know if they're going to have a preference of who they want to play against. I don't know. I think they're very much, we focus on ourselves. so whoever it is will just deal with it and yeah obviously the preparation will be right and the analysis team will be working hard behind the scenes and the staff to prepare them for whoever it is but um i'm not sure if they'd have a preference to be honest will it be easier now once you get to this point you've got four days to prepare obviously there'll be a lot of noise from the outside have they will they have got into a pattern now where nothing really will get through where they've kind of got their bubble they know their patterns they know their behaviors is, will they be quite calm shutting the noise out?

17:05Yeah, I think so. I mean, obviously they've got this far. It's been a consistent theme for England to be in finals for the last few years. So I think, like I say, you've got the experienced players that have been through that, that will be guiding the younger players and pulling them along and sort of taking them under their wings. But I don't think so. I think, you know, they've got this far and there's so much quality. I think they're just on to the next one. It's just another game. Do you know what I mean? and I think obviously there is a massive expectation but they'll be so well prepared and so well trained to just sort of just tunnel vision on.

17:39It's just us like we've just 90 minutes of, well, maybe 120 minutes of our preparation and what we're good at. I think that extra day is massive as well. I think it's huge. I think two lots of 120s basically and that's no easy thing to do. I don't know what actually what the weather's like there at the minute but I mean, it's been a long obviously a long summer a long season it won't be easy I mean the bodies are going to be they've put the bodies on the line and yeah I think hopefully LJ's okay coming off at half time so all the ice struck down her ankle so I think it's just like mad they're so robust as well like they went into this game with 23 fit players like after that last 120 everyone's like walking wounded but yeah I think another extra day will be crucial for them this is one of those ones now where you just I know we said it before the semi-final but even more so for the final because Leah came off as well.

18:30And I might be reading too much into it, but just the way she was running when she came off, I was like, she looks uncomfortable. She looks like she's maybe still hobbling a little bit as well. But you just know now there is no way any of those players are going to let Serena say, I don't think you're up to it. No. And I think that's like a testament to Leah as well. Do you know what I mean? Like we spoke about before, it's like playing. Like I'm sure she wasn't comfortable tonight with her ankle, after how badly she rolled it and we saw against Sweden. But just a pure leader to get through that, to get through the pain, to shut everything out and just go, right, semi-final, focus on winning this game, give absolutely everything and play through whatever pain I'm in.

19:12And that's, you know, it's a true leader. It's someone who wants to win. And yeah, massive respect for her. You know, hopefully she went off tonight just as a tactical thing rather than anything wrong. But again, precautionary, maybe save her legs for the final. and I'm absolutely buzzing me. I can't wait for the final. Oh, I know. It would be so special. I do just want to give a shout out to Esme as well. Dropped in at centre-back. We said there might be tactical tweaks. There might be changes. And barring the goal, which I think is one of those ones where they'll go away and analyse it afterwards and say, we probably could have stopped that five times over.

19:47There's so many points for the Italy goal where you felt like, oh, on another night you don't concede that. I think she handled that occasion and that situation unbelievably well. I mean, I think anybody stepping into a team where you've not featured much, the mental switch on that you've got to have throughout the whole tournament to be focused and be ready that if your time comes, I watched a press conference with her and I thought she spoke really well about, you know, I'm sure Leah's going to be ready, but all I can do is my best to be ready. and I thought that was really good and anyone that steps into a game starting a game in the semi-final of the Euros I mean that's such a big challenge in itself so absolutely massive credit to her for stepping in and delivering a really good performance and I'm sure she's going away absolutely buzzing with that tonight and helped the team to another victory and yeah shout out because that's not an easy thing to do especially not centre-back She's got to go win another Euros on Sunday now exactly bring back that gold easy work right that's it for today's episode of the rest of this football daily brightness we'll be back later in the week getting excited about the massive massive massive game on Sunday but for now it's goodbye from me have a great week everyone bye from me

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