Full Debrief of the Euro 2025 Tournament 🤝

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0:43Listen to the free audiobook now. 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 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.

1:15Pre-season programme 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 backing 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

1:58Hello everyone, welcome to the Restless Football Daily Brightness. This episode we are going to be doing a proper debrief of the Euros 2025, not just what happened on the pitch, but all the good stuff off the pitch, the stuff that makes us human and that is relatable and they're the bits that you remember. So yeah, let's get into it. But first, Rach, how are we? Anything to share? Good, yeah. Just cracking my way through pre-season. I think every year you get more and more tired in the afternoon when you get home. So the evenings are a bit of a struggle to stay awake. Yeah, just getting back into it.

2:32What about you? Nice. Yeah, same. Back in team training, which is so nice. Yeah, just had a real gradual build. It's been nice to have that time. But I'm so happy to be back in team training and working towards pre-season games now and getting ready for the season. It's just around the corner, isn't it, really? When you think about it. I know. It's good that the fixtures are out and stuff. I know. It's exciting. Who's your first one? Brighton, then you. We see you soon. But how's the family? How's everyone? How's Louis settling? Louis's good. He's getting bigger and bigger as the day goes on. And he is just living his best life, to be honest.

3:11I told you that he doesn't like to go for a war. Yeah. Well, he does now. So he goes out now and he's fine. He occasionally digs his feet into the ground and says, I don't want to go, but give him a little drag and he's on his way. But just need to get him to start doing a wee outside because he does it outside at home, but won't... Like, he'll literally go for an entire walk, not a wee or do anything, and then get home and then just go straight in the garden and go for a wee. And I'm like, why? That's the annoying part. How's Dexy with him when he meets new dogs? Is she protective of him? Yeah, she is, but she doesn't really love new dogs.

3:44Sometimes she doesn't even go near. She just barks, but he loves all dogs. He's sound with any dogs. but I took him into training for the first time last week. Did you? Oh my God, I bet he got so much attention. Yeah, I had to bring him on his own because I felt bad if Dexie saw all the attention he was getting and not her. I keep saying to everyone at Chelsea, I'm like, excuse me, but I've seen at Villa that Dexie's in the changing rooms and she has her own little bed under the locker. I was like, can we not get a refurb? Where's my locker for my dogs? Don't think they'd fit all yours in there.

4:14I know, I'd have to have a separate kennel, but I do actually use that as an example. And I'm like, well, Villa have the dogs in. So, but yeah, life's good. Everyone's good. Like you said, just cracking on with footy and getting ready for the next season. But yeah, you definitely start to feel it as you get older. Preseasons get tougher. Yeah, telling me. Do you know what it is? It's the afternoon. Did you get home and I'm like, I can't do anything. Don't speak to me. Don't look at me. When have you ever known me to nap? Honestly, I am a napper, aren't I? And I can't nap because as soon as I get home, the dogs need seeing to and they need playing with.

4:49and it's just like, I'm just like, anyway, let's dig into the reflection of the tournament. So have you spoke to any of the England girls since they've been back? I actually saw Hannah today on my way out. But other than that, I've kind of just tried to, you know, when you finish a tournament or even when you finish like something really, really big, like successful or not, you know, when you just need that bit of time. I've finished tournaments before and everyone's messaging me. I'm like, oh my God, please just give me some space. It's so overwhelming and I've honestly tried to just give players that space.

5:23That's like me, I've done the same. You don't want to be like... No, because you know as a player that it is really hard and it's really overwhelming. Also, what can you say? I've said my well done, congratulations, but I'm not going to be like, oh, so what did you do? If I see you, I'll catch up with you, but I'm not going to text and be like, break down the whole tournament for me. What was it like? Yeah, no, I've honestly just tried to respect that because being players, I think we understand it a little bit more and it's harmless messages. But I did see H, I seen her as I was coming out and she was really good and happy.

5:58But when players look tired as well and they just look drained and they just need a bit of space, I was like, you know what? Not going to ask about the tournament. I just said, you were amazing, really proud of you. Get your holiday and I'll see you in a couple of weeks. So, honestly, not too much conversation. just been sitting back looking at social media watching everyone celebrate and doing their own little thing and yeah it's been nice to see that side of it to be honest but no conversations so we've picked out some little moments that happened off the pitch um that we were going to talk about so the first one we're going to go into is chloe's shinny's obviously they had scotty on and the dogs and i feel like quite a few people have that but it's a nice little touch isn't it away from like it's like they're there with obviously they're in the stands but well the dogs aren't yeah like it's there's a piece of them on you and to have a husband on there and a dog's like you know how much all i mean to her so i don't know it's cute in it yeah a little sissy with the little shinies it is and they become like little superstitions and like lucky charms and you know it probably has no impact whatsoever but it's the same as like i mean you've probably got your little things I've definitely got my little things as well where I'll always have like I've got a bracelet that my mum got me and I've always got it in my bag every single time I go to a game it's with me like the whole time it's in my wash bag it travels everywhere but it is like you said it's just special when you you can't have those people like literally there with you on the pitch you've got like a little bit of your motivation your drive like your why and your reason like they're always there and it's really cute like it's nice seeing normal stuff like at a tournament and just that like human side I think sometimes the world of football is so robotic and are you superstitious do you know what I always used to say I'm not but I am I really I really am but I never used to say I was I am I'm a bit of a psycho stuff like that and I swear down like I I think like oh my god like the worst case scenario will happen if i don't do something if my hair is not how i want it to be i'm not going on the pitch i'll do it the girl the girl's laughing you're an absolute psycho for anyone watching this millie gets her hair looks in the mirror she literally it looks like a bloody bird's nest she makes it as messy she possibly can throws it up in this like wild bun and every time she does it to me it looks like it's exactly the same but obviously with you it's a feel you know it's not right so she puts up the amount of times we've been away on camp or tournaments and i just say i do this thing yeah it's millie not getting her hair exactly perfect how she wants it which which i do i do totally understand like your hair needs to be i always say if i if i do it first time i'm like woohoo first date's gonna be a good day girls i mean it has no relevance whatsoever but it has to just be like that like my socks i'll have a game day pair of socks that probably last me the whole season unless you've got a hole and I change them my undershorts last season I had a massive hole in the crotch like massive hole I said to Kitman Winnie I said don't you dare don't you dare touch those undershorts you leave them you keep putting them on my bile I love all the same ones the whole season I'm I know it's so weird and I feel like as I've I've always been that way but I think as I've got older it's got worse but there's loads of things that I have but one of them like I actually have in the warm-up If my last shot in the finishing hasn't gone in, I have to hit the net before I go in.

9:27But like cleanly hit the net, not across the floor. Like I have to like belt it at the net. Do you have the same order, me and Erin? But I get so annoyed when the keepers go and save it. I'm like, leave it. It's my one shot. Yeah, just leave it. We have a set order. I spent hours there waiting for them to get it in. I'm like, all right, it's not about you here. Also, this is literally my ADHD brain going elsewhere, but how bum are these? Wagon wheels. Remember them? I've not had a wagon wheel since I was about eight, really. Banging. Just spotted them then on the table. I thought I'd just show you.

9:58And that marshmallow in it. Oh, so good. So good. Anyway, back to it. I think we are very superstitious and people started pointing it out. Hannah said to me, God, you get ready in such a weird way. Such a strange way of getting ready. I was like, cheers, mate. No worries. But I do. And then I noticed it and I was like, holy shit, I'm a bit of a freak. Yeah, me too. I'm like top level freak. Talking of Hannah, she went on to Good Morning Britain, didn't she? Little star. Yeah, being a little busy bee. But no, I think she's honestly been amazing. And I think us knowing her, like going on there and, you know, talking about kind of a start to football and the struggles that she had to overcome.

10:41Yeah, I think she's actually helped so many people. And did you see she did a surprise visit? No. She got asked to do a video and instead of just doing the video, she offered to go in and meet a little girl that had the same eye condition as she had and then surprised her. Oh, that's cute. But I was like, that's just H to a T. Like that just sums her up. Yeah, she'd do anything for anyone, wouldn't she? Yeah. It's such a, I think it's such a cool story though. Like obviously not cool that she's had problems with her eyes and stuff. But I think it's like really like remarkable when people share these stories though, because some people won't know that about Hannah.

11:15like quite a lot of people wouldn't know that about Hannah and to be an elite not even an elite athlete a goalkeeper who's yeah you need your eyes your perception is so important at this level to go through what she's gone through to get to that level I think it's so it's incredible and like you said about that special visit I just think like it's so special for the kids as well to like grow up and say well you've done it so I can do it well that's the proof that's the proof that speaking like sharing your struggles and your stories like helps because there is someone else out there I guarantee you there's someone else out there going through the exact same struggle as you are.

11:49So by speaking out, she's now got to go and meet that little girl and be like, you can do it. It's not going to stop you playing. It won't stop you playing sport. And that is the importance of speaking out and also not being ashamed of your struggles. Everyone's got them. Anyone that says they ain't got a struggle is lying. I think what's been really prevalent recently in the last couple of years is people speaking out about things in the public eye, which I don't think we had really for a long time. No. It's quite easy to hide behind something, isn't it? And not like share your stories. It's quite, it's a really vulnerable.

12:24It was judged too much. And I think it's great when people do speak out because it helps, like you say, the next person. It's the same thing with Hannah, obviously. Yeah. Touching on struggling, Hannah losing her grandpa two days before the tournament started. And then Tooney's nan passing away on the morning of the final. Like those are things that nobody can prepare you for, right? You wake up on the morning of that final, you wake up going to the tournament and everyone thinks everything should just be rainbows and butterflies. You're going to play in the Euros. No one prepares you for losing somebody that you love.

12:57And again, I think it's good that they've even just shared that because not only have they had to deal with that, on a normal day, that's absolutely awful news, horrible news. But to go through a tournament and play at such a high level in the spotlight every day you've got to be at your best with those things that you're dealing with as well and like grief and like your family are grieving but they're all supporting you. It's such a hard thing to do and I think obviously you've been there through multiple, like myself and Beth and Toonie and Carly and Fran, like it's awful. I think it's just a reminder as well to the rest of the world that when you're judging someone, yeah, when you're trolling online and when you're saying, or she's shit, what a terrible performance, she should be off the pit.

13:43Oh, the lioness is da-da-da. Just remember, you don't actually know what they're going through that day. Like, you have no idea. Like, no idea at all. Like, football is non-existent when it comes to, like, life scenarios and life problems and losses in life. Like, who gives a shit about football when you've just lost someone that you love, like, and that's part of your family? Like, it's not relevant. So it's just, like, a gentle reminder, yet again, to people out there that we aren't robots. We do have lives. We do have problems in life. We have family dramas. We lose people the same way everyone else loses them that works a nine to five.

14:17Like, just remember when you are trolling someone or you are thinking about putting out that you think someone's performed shit. Like, just remember that they might actually be dealing with, as we always say, like normal stuff in life. And it's just like, we do exist as people. Like, we're not robots. We keep saying it over and over again. But that's for me the importance as well, which you shouldn't have to speak out just to remind people that we are like humans and we do have feelings and stuff and we grieve and all the rest of it. But that's why for me it's so important because, again, like these players have played, like you said, at the top level on like the world stage, a major tournament.

14:56Not only got to the final and played the whole final, the whole tournament, sorry, but then to go on and win. Like, that's why winning matters more than anything, because it matters for moments like that. Like, do you know what I mean? Yeah, I think as well, there's, like, there's something about being able to perform when you're under that level of, like, stress and upset. It means so much more. But it's so strange, I think, that it, like, it almost, like, follows a pattern. So, like, when, obviously, when I lost my dad, that year after was when I had that absolute standout season for Villa. Yeah.

15:33And like Tooney and Hannah, like right now, they've gone and won the Euros. It's like because it gives you that little edge where you're just like, I'm going to do it for you. You can't be here to watch me right now. So I'm going to do it for you. It gives you that extra bit of like, you know what I mean? It's hard to explain. I think it's hard to explain unless you've really been in it. But I love that everyone rallied around them and they're there for them, obviously, as they always would have been. That team's special. and they become your family away from family. I think for me, watching all the special moments, everyone appreciated them.

16:09All the players appreciated each other and highlighted special things. Or moving on to Lotta and her poems, everyone highlighted it and everyone was so grateful. Hang on a minute. Lotta is amazing at writing, isn't she? What the hell? I honestly could have welled up every time I read them. I'm like, you're so talented. Like, that girl can do everything. But, yeah, she is absolute diamond of a person, like, unbelievable teammate. But to just be chilling and then just write a poem, like, we're not talking a little scribble. She's so talented. Like, I actually have, honestly, there's not one single bad word I could ever say about Lotta.

16:51I think she's an absolute gem of a human. But, like, what a genius. Like, so talented. Those poems are actually elite. She should do a poetry book. I love it. But that's what makes it special, though, and that's what makes the tournament. It's things like this what make tournaments so memorable. They're the things that you look back on, and you take that with you. Lotta is a player who didn't feature at all in the tournament, but I guarantee she'd have been the best teammate. Guarantee it, because she just epitomises greatness. us but like that probably was like her little way of focusing and like you know like when we journal and stuff on camps and things like that like and that brought that probably brought everyone everyone on that team reading what she's wrote and like to take moments to like document stuff obviously she put on her instagram like videos it's like yeah it's just such a nice thing to look back on and like i'd massive shout out to lotter i think that's sick and she's so so talented she's always thinking about giving back.

17:51She's always thinking about making people smile. Always. Other people. Like, literally always, like, how can I make this team special? How can I impact? How can I make everyone feel supported? Like, she's always, always been like that and she always will be. She's got like the purest, like, souls I think I've ever met. So, shout out lots. We love you. We love you. Bloody love lots. Right, guys, we are going to dip out for a short break. We'll be back very soon. 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 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.

18:51I 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 with a swipe.

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20:15Welcome back to the rest of this football daily brightness. We are now going to start to talk about the tournament as a whole. Millie, what did you think about the overall tournament, like the general play? I think there was some surprise results. I think how far the likes of Switzerland made it, Italy. I think a lot of the underdog teams really performed. And I think that was one great for women's football and great to watch. But yeah, I think it was super competitive. I think we saw that from how many extra times we went to and penalty shootouts. When have we ever seen that in a tournament? It's like the unknown, really.

20:48Maybe one or two games, but not the amount that we saw this summer. So overall, I think it was really exciting to watch. There was a lot of games where you sat on the edge of your seat, especially our England games. Oh, my God, stick it in the back of the neck, kick it out. But yeah, I think overall, super competitive. And again, I think another major step in the right direction for women's football. Yeah, I think what I like the most genuinely is, apart from England winning the whole thing and me calling it from day one, I've really enjoyed seeing Switzerland get out of the group, being a host nation.

21:22And seeing teams that you don't typically see, like Italy, where they got to, you don't typically see them in a semi-final of Euros anymore. and seeing how much they've come on and they've improved. And yeah, I think one of the highlights for me was probably seeing Switzerland get out of the group and get their fans to experience that. I thought that was ace. Yeah. Because I think I didn't go, obviously, to Switzerland. But everything I saw, it looked like a really nice atmosphere. It looks like they put it on really well. And I mean, it's such a gorgeous place. I'm sure it was absolutely insane for everyone to be there.

21:55But I think they obviously did a good job of hosting. But how did you feel this year? like as a fan not playing yeah it's weird isn't it because we've never been fans i think yeah i think at first i was like a bit i was a bit sad because obviously since retiring it's the first tournament i've not been a part of for a while and i was like i want to just like live that with them like it was weird at first but as soon as obviously they played the first game i was just like right let's go i felt sad when we seen him getting on the bus because i remember what we'd be doing and I instantly thought back to Euros 2022 and I was like oh me and Rach would be doing this now and then when they won and I was like oh I know what me and Rach would be doing and that's they're the moments where I felt sad yeah at first I was like that but then I like it's awful being a fan like I was so nervous like I never got ever got nervous playing like honestly everyone says oh what was it like did you get nervous I'm like not really excited yeah but But now I'm watching and you've got no control over it whatsoever.

22:57I'm like, kick it, pass it. But that's when you're injured as well. It's because you can't influence. You can't influence. I think the only good thing is because we have played, it's maybe easier to be a fan because you can appreciate what the players are going through. What's something that will stick with you from this tournament? I think the Sweden game for me. Do you know what else I loved? I think we loved this, didn't we? Yeah, positive clicks. That made me proud because I think a lot of people could deem that as a negative, but I just, we know being in that moment that that is not negative at all.

23:31Like that is like bringing the group like that rather than like that. So that's probably something that I'd stick with. But honestly, just gas that we won. Yeah, just the positive clicks, because I think we know as players that that is the team's in such a good place. Everyone's so together. Everyone's like so driven and on board. But winning, obviously winning like back-to-back champs, it's got to be it's the best part of the tournament double bubble double bubble you know right Millie what are you grateful for this week this week I am very grateful for my compression tights that's so funny because we're both are both legs in bits you know we're getting older both of the things that we're grateful for are to do with recovery mate I'm in absolute bits I'm too old My gratitude literally is on my list here and I'm grateful for my sauna because the heat is just giving me my muscles some life that I need.

24:34That's so funny. Literally, you can tell it's pre-season and we're getting on a bit, that we're both grateful for things that aid recovery. Yeah, compression tires and collagen for my joints, got to keep them bad boys going a little bit longer. Brilliant. Excellent. Brilliant. On that note, Millie and Rach are bad and old. cheers right guys that's it for today's episode of daily brightness massive thank you to everyone who's been with us so far for those that have already subscribed if you haven't already done that make sure you please do and we will be back with some more stories more nonsense more waffling and more football chat and the WSL is just around the corner have a brilliant week everyone goodbye from me goodbye from me

25:28Should she say that about the kisses? Is that weird? She doesn't care. She presses send. This is the love story of real hinge couple Daniel and Roisin, written and read by me, Rufy Thorpe. Listen to the free audiobook now. Class is now in session. And the UPS Store is here to help you ace arriving on campus. Our certified packing experts can pack everything you need, from desktops to decor. Plus, when you pack and ship with us, you get our exclusive pack and ship guarantee. Your items arrive safe or your money back. Restrictions and limitations apply. To get a 20 % off packing coupon and for full details, visit the upsstore.com slash packing.

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