How Can The Lionesses Bounce Back After Defeat To France In Euros Opener?

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2:51Hello 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. 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 of the stadium right on the full time whistle and run back to the hotel because as always at these tournaments, I know this is something that you two will never have probably come across.

3:29But always when you go to women's football tournaments, some reason in the stadiums, the Wi-Fi 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 Alessio's goal getting ruled 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 Les was offside not Beth so I was like straight away I was like oh Les was offside 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 1-0 up after 15-20 minutes like you're on top like you get the swing you get all the momentum, gets ruled off.

4:19And then 15, 20 minutes later, it's end to end a little bit, like pressure's mounting on your defensive side. And then a team like France is, you know, they only 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, Mills. Yeah, for sure. I think we started really, really well, created some really great opportunities. Obviously, unlucky with the goal, 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.

4:48You 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, you know, 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 was showed and the desire to put a player on the floor, like win your battle, like take ball and player.

5:24I 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 Tooney, 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 Tooney 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? Yeah. that breaks up the game yeah it needed a bit of like someone to just put a stamp on the game and just go I'm going through ball whatever it takes yeah obviously Tuna 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.

6:13I think that comes from within. For me, I would never expect that to come from the sideline. For me, as a player, that would come from a player. And like Rach said, when Tooney and Grace came on and they 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 the English way. And I think that's where I really would have liked us to add that from the start. because 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, you know, and listen, it's the first game, it's a new tournament, it's a new team.

6:53I think the main thing as well is not to panic. Yes, we've lost 2-1 and, you know, you look at the intensity in that period where we didn't have control and, you know, we're lacking in the jewels and, you know, 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. We easily could have come away with three points. There's no time in tournaments to dwell, as Rachel will know. You have to quickly and honestly review a game and be quite brutal with each other just so that you can immediately make change and be better for the next one.

7:26I 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. Ridiculous. Because it really does change a game. 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 that was complete momentum shift after that. It was like, ship should have scored, we didn't score. Okay, now backs against the wall for a little period of time. But like I said, they're a counter-attacking team. They're so good in the final third. They're rapid.

7:54They're so pacy. They're so skillful. Give their front line an inch, they're taking a mile. Do you know what I mean? They're very difficult to play against. 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 Ariane in there, which that's her first, first like time playing in the Euros and, you know, first start for France in a tournament. And I just wanted to see like 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.

8:33There's no time to faff around. Like 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, 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 wingers on the ball, players in the box and 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, Mil. I think the first game of the tournament, there's so much high stakes on the first game and I think we could have nicked it at the end.

9:06like I said I literally sat here and I was like 100 % I was like this will be 2-2 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 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 yeah 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 player on the pitch for the first 15 minutes every time she got on 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 we're actually 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 D 'Almeda the way that she snaps into challenges and then launches counter-attacks 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 Millie when we're doing pissing around the wall we're like stepping in

10:24she picks up the seconds and just like drives in the space and I was literally thought of you at time I was like she's stepping in and it released Cascarino every single time yeah like she was doing the dirty work that 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 good bit of movement from Kototo as well wasn't it yeah as a centre-back 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 yeah so you when someone's on the blind side it must be really difficult to know whether to go or whether to stay at that point.

11:01Yeah it's tricky because I think we were really pulled apart as a back line in that moment you know we'd been beat at full back and then ball side centre back Alex has to come 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 France's backs were 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 in the women's game and that is that is it there's you cannot step off like 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 you 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 you said LJ picking the ball or 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.

12:20But 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 and those crunching tackles. Take a yellow card. That gives you team confidence. It gives each other that urge to be like, come on, girls, we're going to get a goal. 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 going to come back and talk about the second half.

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15:00Okay, 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? 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 halftime. Like watching on the scene that second goal go in, 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.

15:37But it felt like that second goal just came at a point where everyone was like, whoa, what's just happened? How are we suddenly 2-0 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 Adjaman, 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 will know way better than me. Do you guys naturally think around 60 is when she'll look to change things?

16:10You know what? I think for the first time, like, obviously I've been a part of it, but, like, tonight was the first time I really experienced what everybody was saying about it, because it's the first time I've been a fan in the tournament. And so I'm sat there surrounded by a bunch of fans, and they're all like, oh, well, she'll only 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 are thinking, right, at 60, she's going to make her subs? or do we think at 60 she's going to make her subs? Do we all think, okay, we just need to get to 60?

16:36I 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, 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 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.

17:08If 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 earlier. 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 a 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 duels.

17:39We 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 bite, a little bit of aggression, just to break their momentum, because I think they looked very comfortable in possession. Obviously, we've 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. So, which is what you want from a sub, isn't it? You've watched the whole game and it's like, this is what you need to do when you come on.

18:10Like I said, Tooney and Grey's getting stuck in. I love that. Absolutely love that. Before the game, I said, I literally said this, and I was with Fran tonight, and I said, I'd really like to see Michelle Adjaman 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 one of those games, like we might actually see her.

18:40And I said, I was like, oh, maybe last 15. And I think potentially, no, I'm not saying she allowed us to score that goal, but like she was up there, like challenging for that header, her and Leicester that fell down to Kira, by the way, banger from Kira. Love that. Unbelievable. And you know what it means for Kira to score. She, I'm so happy for her. She always scores her and I'm good that she doesn't get to celebrate because she's still, it'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.

19:09I'll never forget our in-house friendly that we played at Stoke and we lost 8-1. We lost 8-1 me and Kira and Kira scored the one goal after 8-0 down and we were like, get in! But no, I think like she just, is like a bit of a handful, just like a nuisance. She's new on the scene as well. Like 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. Yeah, I agree. 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 2-0, but anything can happen in tournaments.

19:44And 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 huge amounts of positives to take one we got a goal back two we created so many chances in the last 10 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 no time to dwell it's about reacting and getting ready for the next game against the Netherlands Did you like the two up top?

20:18What did you think of that? I think it needs to be at that point in the game. You're chasing a goal, just bang the numbers up. We used to obviously do it with Millie. And I think, I don't know, as a centre-forward, that nothing annoys me more than when they just put a step back up front. It's like, why? But then we never crossed the ball. And I then ended up playing hold-up play. I was like, I don't want a hold-up play. Scent back to train to head the ball up, not down, bearing in mind. Like, their training sessions are heading the ball up and away. We train to head down. So, like, it does wind me up a little bit.

20:47I do get it, but I think throwing two absolute world-class centre forwards on at one time, I think 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 initial 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 are simple fixes winning your battles yeah be in 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 Take ball and play a girl.

21:45Knock them out. No, don't knock them out. Don't want any red cards, thank you. But do you know what I mean? These are basic things that are like simple fixes. Win your battles, put them on the ground like Grace and Tooney did when they came on. Then it's a completely different game. Then you start getting your confidence, you 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.

22:12what'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 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 it's all about recovery and review so you do your recovery in the morning and then they'll discuss the game and see areas of improvement it could be a really chill conversation which I don't think it needs to be that deep I think there's no pressure you know for a fact the headlines tomorrow in the media are going to be like England lost the Bears game it's like relax like relax it's one game it's game one it's game one simple fixes simple fixes you know there will be things that they want to 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 gonna 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 back in it and you know 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 like calm and level-headed and you can be pissed off with yourself I think tonight is the the moment for everyone to have their individual emotions because I think it's good to get them out like the minute you start collecting and you just like 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 used to have a little rant and I'd be like oh that tackle was shit or I shouldn't have passed it there and you get it all out your system and then you move on you're like right ready to go back on track yeah the next day you gotta 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 on that one like what what an amazing like privilege to have in terms of that level 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 we're the holders we're the current champions and the girls will be wanting to show that in the next game and like Rachel everyone will be disappointed of course you will we want to win but 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 and progress so the girls will be fine and that's it for our first Euro 2025 post-match episode we're going to keep bringing you our reaction to England games and more so make sure you're subscribed to the show.

25:29You'll be the first to know when new episodes have dropped. Thanks again, Ben, you legend. Lovely, Ben. Thanks, guys. The lovely Ben. Love you, guys. See you later. Bye.

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