The Lionesses’ Journey To Becoming Back-To-Back European Champions 🏆

0:00Before 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.

0:28pre-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 where you can bank borrow and invest it's time to achieve your financial ambitions earn more on your savings with the sofi bank high yield savings account ditch your higher interest credit card debt with a sofi personal loan or start investing on an easy to use platform with sofi invest wherever you are on your financial journey sofi has got you covered learn more at sofi.com slash spotify 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 with eligible direct deposit.

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2:11Hello, everyone, and welcome to today's episode of Daily Brightness. Euro 2025 has come to an and we're still getting over England's dramatic victory in the final to defend their crown. We hope you've all enjoyed our coverage of the tournament. It's certainly been a bit different for us both, not been out on the pitch ourselves, but it's been great being able to share this moment with you. A big thank you to Ben Haynes too for joining us from Switzerland and giving us his excellent insight. It's been great having you, Benji, and I'm sure we'll be seeing you again soon. From enjoying the rollercoaster of emotions through England's performances to stories of bizarre antics in Thai massage parlours, there's been a lot going on so without any further ado let's get to it

2:54I 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 again 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 yeah 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 bit little period of time. 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.

3:26If 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. By the way, banger from Kira. Love that. Unbelievable. And you know what it means for Kira to score. She always scores her and I'm glad that she doesn't get to celebrate because it's still 2-1 and I was like just celebrate I was like please just do a little jump or something like she just ran straight back didn't she world class goal what needed to change and Serena said we don't talk about consequences we don't talk about the idea of what might happen if we don't get it right we talk about the actions that we're going to take to make sure that we do get it right especially in tournament football you have to be realistic like everyone has to know what's at stake and it's going out of the competition like you have to win do you know what I mean yes is another game after that but if you want to put yourself in the best position and not rely on other results you have to win on Wednesday

4:23I'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 so 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. All right, Coach Daly. I thought you hated management and coach. It was like, let's give you a tactical analysis.

4:57And I was like, isn't it a fucking circus? Everyone just shut the fuck up a minute and talk about Hannah Hansen fast. I'm not even surprised though. I literally see that every day in training. Also, also, guys, just stop there. I need to just talk about Alessia because her defensive play was insane I really wanted to score the rate she had two massive opportunities I was gutted for her she's two offside goals now as well guys, shut up, both of you I don't know where this chick's been tonight but this sassiness No I think England must have won No 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 I'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 If you were to look at them Who would you rather face Out of Germany or Sweden I 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.

6:13Germany and Sweden, they're both really strong sides at one you don't want to face in the tournament. They're both equally 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.

6:34Hello and welcome to today's episode of Daily Brightness with Millie Bright, Ben Haynes, Rachel Daly and whoever the hell is in the background of Ben's screen. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm in the stadium. I'm in St. Gallen where we've just watched England beat Wales 6-1. Oh, bit of pause. Maybe we're all right. Oh no, we're kicking off. It's a bit of party time afterwards. So apologies for the noise. Give England credit. Whoever you play against, to score 10 goals at a major tournament in two games is outrageous. It's massive. I just think, though, they've put themselves in such a great spot going into the knockouts because that just gives you so much confidence.

7:15From the sofas, it looks like everyone's together, everyone's happy. Subs are coming on, they're fit and fiery and they're ready to go. And if it's 10 minutes, it's 10 minutes and you give your best for 10 minutes. And it looks like there's a really good kind of team togetherness, which is really, really nice to see. And like I said, I think they're getting their momentum at the perfect time. just on Wales I want to kind of like let people in a little bit on this basically for all of the friends and family you know we were speaking before about everyone bringing their support network with them to the tournament yeah yeah and there's maybe kind of I don't know 200 of the Welsh friends and family down in front of me wow and it's really interesting because they don't look upset they don't look like a team that's been beaten yeah and when the players came over you could see they were just so buzzed that they'd scored that goal at the end and that they'd had these two moments in the competition with Jess Fishlock scoring as well fans were unbelievable they did the march to the stadium again and I think there was maybe three or four thousand of them here tonight they were absolutely incredible and I just wonder whether maybe even though they were so unlucky with the way that the draw fell I just wonder whether maybe just having that experience just gives you that taste that you go like oh man I want I want to be back in that I want to be back playing in that environment again it's a proper taste of what is to come for them you know it does kick you on they're going to want to make all the tournaments now they're going to want to keep pushing they're going to want to progress and yeah I think you can see their fans that I think Welsh people are very Welsh aren't they and very very patriotic and I love that I love to see that I think it's a great atmosphere for them to play in and great for their friends and family and great for the nation.

8:57But now it's getting exciting because it's knockout. Van Stein now. I found it strange in Switzerland because I'd say the average person on the street is probably not as engaged as, say, how people were in England. Or to be fair, it looked like in Australia. I mean, I wasn't in Australia, but it looked like they really, really sort of grew into it and bought into it. I don't know if that's how it felt. It was advertised everywhere, to be fair. I remember that. Like, for being in a country that's massive, like, I mean, do you remember, Rach, that we always used to see, like, little posters? Yeah, we couldn't go anywhere, really, could we?

9:35Remember we had that day off and we were, like, walking around, did a bit of shopping and stuff. And we went for that massage.

9:44We've got to tell the story. When I say we were basically in this couple's massage, butt naked, Thai massage, and we we thought you know what we'll go for a really nice like deep massage get ready for the knockouts like get our bodies ready when i tell you we looked across each other at one pose and like this lady had us like this we literally i was like my back is literally no because obviously i think we hadn't done any research on what a thai massage actually was so we just thought we were going in for a nice massage next thing right i was laying there burning man we had no clothes on like nothing she was like take it all off so we were like okay and i could see she could see me i was laying there and i was thinking right let's just like let's just make the most of this this could be a really pleasant experience and at one point i remember laying then i thought hang on a minute there's four things on me on my back right now she's got two hands what is she on her hands and knees i looked around at millie and i said is she on her knees we thought we had two people she'd hoist herself up onto the bed and was crawling up my back on all fours and i was like i'm not sure this is normal but i'm just gonna roll with it because it feels quite nice i'm not sure what sort of ending we were getting but we were a bit nervous to be honest who's the enabler out of you two who's the one that like when you know it's probably not the best idea and nobody says no it'll be fine both of us that's the problem we don't have a logical brain cell between us so we're just like let's do it we're like sod the the consequences just do it we'll deal with them later like we always do shit like that always that see that means that there's no one actually kind of it's like a safety there's no safety net this this could be a disaster here it's just like yeah why not yeah yeah it's always brilliant love it i think if you did stop me from doing that video i'd be like well i'm going anywhere well then we just get stubborn and i'm like well now you've told me not to do it i'm gonna do it so we just both go let's do it sweden have my second favorite chelsea player in the team go on tell us about her canna ridd is that how you say last name she is so good like honestly for the last two years she's been in my team of the year i actually think i voted her for player of the year i think she's so good that little chop she does the chop mate you know it's coming i'm like why are you so foolish to fall for it you know it's coming she's always gonna do it no but it's like but you've always said that about me about my cruif like you know it's coming but you just she chops and then chops and then chops and the defenders just fall down like honestly thank god thank god i didn't play against her in my left back era right guys we are gonna head for a quick break we will be back very soon this episode is brought to you by tinder people think they're dating is to just find the one mill but I think there's so much more to it than that.

12:37We 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. I I think we've heard a lot of success stories from Tinder, from people in relationships and stuff.

13:06But 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 download tinder today somewhere out there is a chevy truck and the person who drives it well that's a chevy person you probably know one your buddy your sister ones who always show up they're the first to rise the last to leave they always have that little extra something and maybe you've got it too Chevrolet.

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14:37What a game. I'm knackered. I feel like I've played the game. It was exhausting to watch. Honestly, I was at the edge of my seat. My heart was like racing during them pens. But yeah, it was a bit of a shaky start, wasn't it? Yeah, I think a bit nonchalant, if I'm honest, to start with and I was going to touch on that because obviously people do interviews and you see like you know Sweden should be scared and if anything I think that riled them up and they were definitely not a team to underestimate in those opening minutes and then on the flip side I think Sweden thought they'd won it before they had made changes too early on so that played into our hands but again subs have been absolutely outstanding for me like unreal I think we should give them a little click they're clickers I love stuff like that Lucy was absolutely fucking unbelievable tonight, by the way.

15:27She was class. And she's basically got one leg by the end of it. Like that is... Not as dropping a leg up. That's a true like England player though. No, I literally thought that. That's what you need. You need players like that. You have to. When she scored, I just like... It was one of them I was just like, I knew she was going to score. Yeah. She scored against Sweden last time, didn't she, in the Euros? She was unbelievable tonight. But when she scored a penalty, I just thought... I literally wanted to say, like, greatest of all time. Like, the best to have ever done it. Like, she, like, embodies everything it is to be an England player.

15:59Like, bodies on the line. Like, doing a diving header on the halfway line with two minutes to go. Like, not bothered. Strapping her own logo, not bothered. She deserves all the success, but she leads by example. And for any youngster out there, especially the England ones, like, take notes from Lucy Bronze, because it doesn't matter what position you are, like, the mentality, the desire. Like, without that, you'll never be successful. my god I've never watched a penalty shootout like that I can't believe it when it was like sudden death I was like this is it this is it holy shit there's another miss there's another save I couldn't even work it out because I was like wait because the commentator was like oh if Sweden score this they win and I was like wait didn't Sweden go first I was like that like blacked out of like what's happened I was so confused but I would say there weren't the best round of penalties but you know what who gives a shit we got through it and that's all that matters hey listen no one will look back and reflect on that game you're through to the semis and that is that the personnel did you think that they would be the ones that would take the first five no I didn't think LJ would have took one see I did I can't remember correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think she likes taking penalties I don't know no but I don't think she does but I just thought like she was playing well like you know she's feeling it and I just thought she took that knock as well and I was just about to say I don't think either team had the best of quality pens I think there was three that were like decent Lucy's, Alessia's, Chloe's and Chloe's of course.

17:25Hello!

17:29I have a question. Do you think the time of day that we record directly correlates to how much you two laugh at the beginning of every episode? I've lost it, I've lost the vibe. I wasn't expecting you to do that. on camp we used to have a group called floor four and it used to be me ellen meadow and rage yeah four floor we used to like obviously back when we used to like tiktoks and stuff like that and everyone was together that was like our little um little group and there was a woman at wembelina we got to lift and she went hello we all went hello and then it just me and rage as we do i lost it lost it when she said i just burst out laughing so i was like is that like are you really happy or is that just how you say hello yeah i didn't know she was like singing but you know what way like we then like hop on it and we it's stuck with us ever since and we just keep going hello and i've not done it for ages and i'm just reading the script and it says hellos does your mom really have like a dog walking voice like i remember we went for a walk with my mom once and she met someone like just passing and she went hello i was like what the fuck is that i was like who what do you what has just come out of your mouth like no i mean you'd be like oh yeah you're all right i am ben you're home now yeah yeah where are you actually what's that little place you're in what's that little room i nipped back home for a few days and i've i'm i'm in this weird spot right because you know all the things we spoke about before like having your own bed and having your own pillows and stuff i'm buzzing to be back home for a few days and actually have some home stuff that makes you feel really good at the same time you can't help but feel a little bit like oh i wonder what's going on like i wonder what's going on over there we've got no one in the background this time like stuff in the faces with food in in the stadium i don't know if people saw that last time but there was literally when i was in the stadium inst gallant there was a guy inhaling doritos whilst staring at the podcast I was like, what's going on over there?

19:34He was like, you're all right, mate. I don't know if you've seen that guy on TikTok that doesn't chew when he eats his food, but it was like that. It literally was this guy who was piling Doritos into his merch. I firstly want to say two of the most bizarre red cards in the last two games for Germany that I've ever seen. Why are you pulling a hair, though? What are you thinking? And also, when you've been sent off and you're walking off that pitch saying, that's not a red card, what planet are you on, love? You've pulled her bloody hair Literally I've never understood that right I've never understood Like why your first reaction Would be to yank And do you Babe Do you know there's VAR Everyone's watching It's on the screens It's getting looked at You're not escaping it You've literally yanked her hair And my head just went Literally Girls got whiplash You're miles away From the ball as well I just don't understand it There's no reason To do it whatsoever It doesn't make sense I love taking penalties me did you?

20:32you're very good at taking penalties did you actually like it? love it what is it that you like about it? I don't know because I am actually a really bad overthinker aren't I Millie like in normal day to day life like I'm a worrier like I think overthink everything but when it comes to penalties I'm just like well I don't know I just don't have that I don't know I don't know what it is you just see it as like a shot though and like your finishing is you won't ever say this but you were one of the best finishers in the women's game like in talking natural instinct and knowing where you're going to put the ball and it just happening, you are still one of the best natural finishers in the game.

21:05You're best, obviously.

21:10Do you know what? I have a formal complaint that I 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. 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 gonna win this game for her it's a little swaggy swaggy in it like she's got like that aura and like that air of like it's not arrogance it's like confidence pure 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 yeah 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 to happen what is wrong with defenders like at the minute like why are you pulling Beth Mead like what was the need as you're telling 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 penalty like outrageous from me though 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 just i look like i'm angry about it but i'm just fucking buzzing do more of that

22:50England are European champions once again back to back I was a bit nervous going into this tournament because I was thinking oh it's my first one away from it like how am I going to feel and I was like I got a bit sad at the start but as soon as it kicked off I was just like I felt like I was in the squad I'm like yes we're in we're in I've got the bag packed I'm on my way I'm watching all the training videos I'm watching all the like walking out to the bus I'm like here I am doing the same thing but I feel like that is like a true saying like once a lioness always a lioness isn't it like you always always feel like you're going to be a part of it just for anyone that doesn't understand this right I don't know if I've said this before in a podcast but I have never ever ever seen a better crosser of a ball and never played with a better crosser of a ball like her deliveries are insane pinpoint you should score every time when Chloe puts it in a box every time me and Chloe were at training and stuff I was always like honestly I'd love to be on the end of your crosses like when we're on together but whip them in.

23:43And obviously, that ball she played Alessia, I was like, yes, goal straight away. Great header though, you know, not as easy as it looked. No, at all. Not as easy as it looked. Back peddling, we actually have a running thing, like Les. Les scores so many goals when she's on the floor. Have you noticed that? Yeah. She's always on the floor. And I was like, go to ground, go to ground, go to ground, you're going to score. I'm praying with every piece of my bones, muscles, whatever, that Lucy's okay because that broke my heart. Like, seeing her go down. Like, I always think... Lucy don't go down. No, Lucy's like a bionic woman.

24:21Like, for those of you who don't know... When I see her holding that knee, it gives me... I get scared anyway. I was... Honestly, I was so sad. I thought, please don't be hurt. Please don't be hurt. And then when she went back on, like, knowing Lucy... You know Lucy, she'll run through a million brick walls and she was always going to go back on. Of course she was. I was like, don't even put the sub board up. She's not coming off unless she has to. And I saw Niamh get up and Niamh was probably thinking I should probably sit back down she's going back up but I was just like yeah I was just and then obviously in those moments there's been so many injuries and players going back on the pitch and you don't know if you're making it worse but Lucy would do anything for that medal and she deserves it the most out of any player Honestly I have never been a fan to the point where I feel like I'm going to pass out like honestly I was like I'm so nervous I'm so hot I need to go for a nervous week I need a nervous poo I'm going to be sick somebody calm me down and I ended up filming me, Sarah and Lucy on the penalties because I was just like, this is a moment in history that I've never lived before.

25:26I was more nervous watching that than I was ever stepping up for a penalty for England. I've got no words for the kindest human one you could ever meet, the best teammate would accept her role, whether it's five minutes on the pitch, no minutes on the pitch, training player, starter, she'll be the best teammate you could ever, ever ask for. Two, probably one of the most underrated, and I think people have finally seen how world-class she is. And I think that move to Arsenal has sparked Chloe Kelly and just shown as well. And I said, fair play, all what she's gone through, about to quit football, mistreated in an environment to the point where she felt like quitting football and couldn't play.

26:06doesn't it just show like how valuable it is to be in an environment where you're respected where you're valued and you're valued and you're appreciated yeah exactly now look at her one of the best players in the world like she literally saved England saved England saved Arsenal as well do you know what's mine I sat there and I thought you won it in 2022 you've won it in 2025 like I'm like you're literally give her what the hell she wants all you commercial people yeah give her what she wants give it to Chloe Kelly give the girl what she wants but can we just shout CK if you get like a yaw of private jackies hate me and rage please can we please come because we do love you and you love us first game of the tournament England against France right and it was an event for Visa and they were like you need to get your nails painted I was like no I'm not getting my nails painted the game's about to come on they were like no no like you've got to have something I said right I'll have an England flag put on my little finger can you see it it's nearly off yeah right and I've kept it on from the first game and I was like everyone's like take it off I'm like, no, no, no, because England are going to win this tournament.

27:08No, no, no, no. No. Me. That's all for today. We hope you enjoyed that look back at another brilliant tournament. Thank you for all listening and watching and being part of the Daily Brightness family. We really do appreciate all the support and love having you with us. Now that the Euros is over, we will be going back to our usual Daily Brightness schedule and we've got some exciting things coming and some special guests along the way. Goodbye from me. goodbye from me

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