Italy prevail in the chaos and trash talk between England and Sweden! | Euro 2025 #9

0:00Hi, I'm Max Rushton, the host of The Guardian Football Weekly, alongside me, Barry Glendening, my co-host. Hey, Barry. Hello. Now, although every American found us during the World Cup, for the two that didn't, what can they expect? Found us and fell in love with us, Max. They can expect three episodes each week of occasionally insightful analysis covering the Premier League, Champions League and beyond. Football Weekly is back. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

0:44Rachel: welcome to up front i'm chloe morgan and i'm richell o'sullivan we have our first semi-finalist a massive congratulations to italy who beat norway last night to make history and they did it in the most dramatic circumstances possible. Italy were definitely the better side for most of the game and yet Norway, despite Anna Hegelberg, will still have regrets. In part two, we then preview Sweden versus England. It's squeaky bum time. Come on, England. I want that£30 sweepstake. Let's get stuck into this Norway versus Italy game. Italy deserved winners through to the semifinals of the Euros for the first time since 1997.

1:24Rachel: It looked like it was going to extra time until up pops the hero, the woman of the hour, Captain Cristiana Girelli, headed in the winner at the back post. It was like jubilation, joy, like the energy, the passion from the Italian fans, the Italian players. Girelli was obviously a second goal. It was, I mean, the manager ran over to the celebrations. The subs bench, the physio, everyone in between ran over there to celebrate, obviously meaning so much to them. We kind of thought it was going to go to extra time. And then Giurelli just pulls it out of the bag. I mean, tell me what it was like to kind of watch that celebration and Italy understand that they were making history by getting into that semifinal.

2:08A combination of joy and frustration

2:10Chloe: because joy and that Italy had scored had scored both goals my end and both times ran the other side of the bloody goal. and I was like, oh, this one didn't hurt me. You could have come this way for that one. Like just one of them. So I've got some shots like, you know, that post behind the goal that holds up the net. Got some nice shots of her, like right between that, giving it a bit of this, you know, this pop in the air. But there was some wonderful celebration scenes afterwards. So I was able to capture some of that. But I was sat with the Italian fans behind me and they had the biggest flag I've ever seen waving during the game.

2:41Chloe: So they were well up for it. Very noisy. definitely kind of probably drove Italy towards the end because I do think Italy started to flag. I think we saw that against Spain as well. They perhaps don't have the fitness to carry that determination drive and emotional kind of investment in the game that we see from them. I think they actually just kind of tires them out a little bit as they get towards the end of the 90. But I think they just seemed really, really uproot from the get-go. Like even during the warmups, you know, they do this really cute warmup at the end where the starting 11 kind of do some drills down some cones.

3:20Chloe: I think a lot of teams do this where the players who aren't playing stand on the outside and, you know, give them a little clap and stuff. They're really up for it there and you get slaps on the back and high fives at every opportunity. and you know I just love watching their anthem because they really use that as a vehicle to kind of really gee them up get them passionate get them you know really really into it and borderline emotional and you could see it from the whole team so that was lovely to watch and it just kind of it's a real contrast that's not to say Norway aren't really emotional and that their anthem like I mean it's just a contrast in the way that the two approach their anthem it's a bit like the way Wales do it or you know there's always that kind of real emotion behind it and so you contrast that to England where everyone's quite you know stoic so you've got the Italians all arms around each other leaning back screeching their anthem into the sky and then having that big Patriotism resonating around the stadium

4:13Rachel: doing that big roar

4:15Chloe: right at the end whereas Norway are like really calm they all hold hands which is quite sweet and they all just kind of stand with their eyes closed it's quite a different anthem as well which is actually one of the highlights of this tournament has been Astrid, a Norwegian singer, singing the anthem at the opening game against Switzerland. It was incredible. I would recommend you go and Google it. It was like something from a fairy tale. I was just like, this is Norway's anthem? I never knew. And then now that I've heard it at every other game, I'm like, oh, yeah, that sounds like an anthem. But when Astrid did it, it was unbelievable.

4:46Chloe: Anyway, I digress. I do feel like that just really from the get go, Italy were just like, come on. And then that just faded by about like once Norway's got their goals, I was a bit like, oh, dear. They need a little bit of that va-va-voom or that kind of, you know, Italian-like spice sprinkled on to get them going. And I do think the fans had a massive part in them going and pushing for that final goal.

5:07Rachel: Well, let's definitely talk about the first half because it was a little bit cagey, I'd say, in that first half. I couldn't quite understand if anyone was going to kind of progress and make a chance. Then Italy kind of popped up and had the two better chances, I'd say, in the first opening 20 minutes. Totally, I think there was an Italy dominance there. Norway couldn't, I didn't feel like they could really string passes together. Didn't have a strong target. There was no cohesion. There seemed to be this kind of, I don't know, just mismatching what the players wanted to do and the kind of game plans they were all trying to execute.

5:38Rachel: Like no one seemed to be on the same page. Talking of that, I suppose, then you've got that Giorelli-Severini going for the same header. So I suppose Italy also not completely perfect in the way that they were trying to approach the game plan, getting in each other's way there. And then you've got this, and again, when Rachel did flag in the podcast previously, Signe Corp set, almost scoring from the halfway line. I think it was just before halftime that she attempted this absolutely long range effort. I think she was just inside the halfway line, sees the keeper off her line, tries to launch over.

6:09Rachel: And from the camera angle, it looked like it was going in. And I don't understand actually how it missed and how it kind of bounced out because the angle, I just couldn't understand it. I was watching that and I was like, oh my God, is this how Norah get ahead?

6:20Chloe: This is it. Because I think we were messing with each other going, Italy are better they've had more chances but somehow Norway are going to squeak through this like they kind of have the other games so I saw that I was like this is how they're going to go ahead and no even the goalkeeper was just like oh Jesus Christ we all kind of watched it the same way but yeah no it went wide

6:39Rachel: that was my biggest fear that it was going to be one of those really jammy wins for Norway and not really deserved I think then it was really nice I think to sort of like have the teams go into half time kind of reset and then all of a sudden Jarelli pops up 50th minute scoring just after everyone's come onto the field of play the ball comes in from the left hand side Guru Raiton definitely struggling in that kind of unfamiliar left back role and that was definitely something I mean that kind of it kind of become a bit of a running theme I think and the commentator I didn't manage to see this but the commentator was saying even when she was kind of coming out onto the pitch before the game started she didn't look particularly happy with knowing that she was going to be in this position I really feel for her

7:19Chloe: you know like I do it's not her natural position it's not her fault if she ends up having not a great game in said position she's gone out there to do the job she's been asked to do and you know probably an area that Italy targeted knowing that so I do feel for a player in that situation like even Jess Carter who arguably has played left back an awful lot more than Goura Wright and has when you know you're having a bad game like what can you do you just have to keep going you have to keep trying you have to keep getting in for the next one and getting in for the next tackle and yeah I do I do feel for her but it's I guess with the the previous left back being suspended for the game you know but then again you're just looking at that Norway team and it just kind of exemplifies that put the best 11 out on the pitch and we'll figure out what position to put them in once the best 11 are out there that's all that matters and I've seen a lot of people on social media saying it looked like they've never played together before and that seems to be a common theme and you know some are looking to put all the blame on the manager which look I think perhaps is a bit unfair to lay it all at Gemma Granger's door you know maybe this is was a step too far too soon.

8:22Chloe: But I also think it's not that she's not been the only, like it's not been a problem since being under her. Like Norway's struggling. This is a long standing problem. It's a long standing thing. And I do think some of it has to be the player's responsibility as well. Like there must be something about, there's some great takes on social media. There's some awful takes on social media, but there's some funny ones about, you know, how when they pull on the national shirt that it's some sort of kryptonite and they all forget how to play football. Like, you know, because you look at some of these players week in, week out and think,

8:54Rachel: Christ, these are some of the best players in the world in their position. Well, I think it was that, like some of the frustration, I think, at Guru Ryerson fans, and especially like seeing her and how well she's done at Chelsea and what she can achieve when she's kind of given that freedom to kind of press up and whip those balls in. But then seeing her sit back in left back, you can tell, like, obviously that she just, and that's the thing, I suppose, there wasn't that versatility there to kind of adapt to the role. And also you've got to give credit to Guru. I mean, she's quite slightly statured.

9:21Rachel: I mean, trying to go up against the likes of Giurelli, you're never going to win an aerial battle. That's just nothing. That's not in your locker. So, yeah, I definitely did feel for her. But, yeah, I would 100%. And I think we've agreed throughout the entire tournament, there doesn't seem to be that conhesion that anyone is really playing the same game. It must be quite frustrating.

9:39Chloe: I mean, I don't know if you've experienced something like that. It's quite a complex thing to experience, I imagine. But maybe you've had just games with a team where things just aren't clicking. I can't imagine how frustrating it is to, because everyone loves playing for their nation. Everyone's proud to represent their country. But to come in and represent your country and play in major tournaments and just look around each other and be like, why is this not working? Like even basic things like string and passes together. Like, you know, sometimes I've been watching them. I've happened to see every Norway game.

10:10Chloe: I've been at every Norway game. And you're just like, how can I pass that to her? She's right there. Do you know what I mean? And you're like some really basic stuff that you don't expect from players. and I don't know have you experienced that kind of thing where you're just like okay it's not clicking for us today because that feels like it's Norway every time they're in a major tournament

10:24Rachel: I was going to say you go through games of that you don't go through years of that yeah I mean things change structures change like game plans change and I just think I don't think Norway have ever kind of got into a steady rhythm of being consistently good I'm going to get quite a lot of shit for that I can feel it already but I just don't feel

10:41Chloe: well no point us to a time we have this narrative recently with the players that they have where they've had

10:45Rachel: a really good you know major tournament 100 but then talking of that you do have this kind of young emerging talent i mean like you said gawpsett seemed to be and i have to give her credit i think she was probably one of the only players i really saw have that kind of passion and energy to really dominate the game and just take control of what she could herself i mean she did the best she

11:04Chloe: could with what was happening bravery where she was like every time i get the ball i'm going to

11:08Rachel: cause problems and you can see that she did she did and there was frustration there i think that you could kind of look around and not really see the same kind of energy from teammates but

11:16Chloe: listen but like I think what the way we're coming to at this the angle we're coming at this from is not just sitting there going oh no we're shit like you know we're we see a lot of these players week in week out we admire these players they do such amazing things domestically for club and we want them to succeed on the biggest stage like this when we talk about gent like you know when you talk about teams and like the golden years whatever that might be and for some teams that feels like it's passed a little bit and things haven't been achieved we've talked about Scotland having a number of key players retire and thinking oh god what could have been and it feels like that with Norway and you just it's frustrating because you feel like quality wise this could and should be one of the top teams and we're so used to seeing these players perform so well and like I feel for them because it must be so frustrating to go into play for your national team be like bloody hell I just seem to forget how to pass the ball so So, yeah, it's not coming at it from a, let's slag off this team.

12:09Chloe: It's coming from a, like, why aren't we saying... Frustration. Yeah. There's so much potential there.

12:13Rachel: Let's go. Yeah, quite. It's like, goddammit. The pundits were saying that, I mean, you know, I love these kind of weird and unusual stats, but they were just saying, like, you know, the average age of the Norway squad is around 28, 28.5. Like, these are really experienced players. These are players who have been in major international tournaments multiple times before, have, you know, won loads of domestic trophies. I mean, Ada Hegerberg, her shelf must be, like, impacted by the season. Yeah, Caroline Grandhamsen, Gerweiss, all of them. But yeah, when it comes to international football, it all just falls apart.

12:42Rachel: But let's crack on because there was so much more drama that unfolded in this game. So after that Jarelli opener, you've got Sofia Cantore. Then she thought she'd scored a second straight away. That was chaos. That like summed up the game.

12:54Chloe: Do you know what I mean? I was trying to shoot that and I was like, I do not know where the ball is or who I'm meant to be shooting. It's in the goal. Oh, Christ. Well, I got her celebration. It's offside. God damn it. Like it was just mental. There was two players came together and just neither of them got the ball and just slid right into each other.

13:07Rachel: It was like, this is this game in a nutshell. It was absolute carnage, but it also goes to show like the intensity of Italy. Like they know, I think in the first five minutes after conceding the goal, that's when the team is most vulnerable and most likely to concede again. So Italy then recognising that and going full pelt, it kind of just feels like they had their game plan together. They knew what they wanted to execute. They knew they had a moment to shine there and they kind of just went for it. Chaotic, yes, but at least there was that passion and drive to go again.

13:32Chloe: It just made me think another area that obviously Norway struggled offensively. And I just think having a non-natural left back and left back, having Maren Mielda as your starting central defender, who didn't even think she was going to make this tournament because she's been dealing with injuries since March. And then Bergsvang got injured. So, you know, you've got their defence was already the kind of weakest side of their team. And now they've got two in there who arguably wouldn't have started in a preferred starting 11, if you like. I think that's not to say anything bad against Maren Mielda, but it just reminded me because I think it was her.

14:02Chloe: that sliding tackle. And I just think there was a panic there from that defence because they're probably not used to playing together. So add that on top of like Italy have just scored. There's about six of them in the box all swinging for the ball. And there was a real like, just like bodies on the line kind of vibes.

14:17Rachel: It was absolute madness. But then the madness escalated even further. So after an hour, Lanari dragged down Ade Hegerberg. So a dangerous looking ball into the box. I mean, I didn't initially see it at all. And then the ref, I mean it was Stephanie Frappard and I absolutely love her to pieces like everything she does is perfect she obviously had a really good vantage point so it was just on the penalty spot and Linari was like having she had her hands almost kind of like in a bear hug around yeah at a Hegelberg brought her down and then like there was a protest from Linari and it was just like it was I think once the replays had come back it was just so obvious what had happened I think even she was like god I'm going to protest but I don't really believe it you know that Marge Simpson gif

15:00Chloe: where she's at the coffee at the kitchen table being like, hand over the eyes, I'm like, don't look at me like,

15:04Rachel: it's not me, don't look at me. It was just so unnecessary. It was just an unnecessary thing to do. It was reviewed on VAR, but even though Hegerberg was offside, it couldn't be overturned for that because if the foul is committed before the actual offside offence, then the play is still live.

15:20Chloe: Sorry, it's not a new rule. It's a rule I didn't know. And what I think is mad is if she scored, she would have been ruled offside. But because she was fouled and got a penalty and scored, she was considered not interfering with play which blows my mind a little bit. I did not know that because we were all texting each other being like, but she was offside. Everyone on Twitter, she was offside. And then this guy, I think his name's Dale, on Twitter explained it and we were all like, huh, who knew? There's still stuff where we're like, never knew that. Fascinating. Not UEFA making up

15:46Rachel: some more ridiculous rules to make things even more complex. No, I do think that was the rule. I don't think they made it up. Well, stop with this nonsense because it's getting too confusing. Anyway, like you said, Rach, it didn't matter because Ada Hegerberg missed from the spot. It was the second penalty she's missed in this tournament after she also failed to hit the target against Switzerland. I mean, the penalty itself was soft. The run-up was almost a walk. I hate those stuff. There was no back lift. But it didn't even feel like a stutter. It felt just like a very slow walk, which meant that she didn't generate the power behind it.

16:21Rachel: And also her body language and the way she approached the ball was so obvious that she was going to go to the goalkeeper's left-hand side. Goalkeeper, of course, went the right way. And even if it was within the post, I think she still would have saved it because she'd covered it in any event. But this was just catastrophic. This was just kind of an emulation of everything that had been happening on the pitch thus far for Norway. It not clicking.

16:42Chloe: And the second miss, which is unlike, you know, hindsight's a wonderful thing. And, you know, there's camps that say if you miss a penalty, you go up and you take the next penalty, you know. But what's difficult is it's not like you don't have top penalty takers in your squad. Maren Mielda and Guru Raiden are both excellent penalty takers. I think back to Maren Mielda scoring that penalty in the quarterfinals against Lyon in injury time of extra time, scoring a penalty at the death and then going up and scoring the first penalty when it went to penalties. And I just think when you've got someone like that with ice in their veins that can do that, personally, I probably would have given it to Maren.

17:20Chloe: But then you're like, well, if Ad is the penalty taker and, you know, that we want her to not like lose her confidence. I don't know. I just found that really interesting. But I guess it's the kind of thing you only really assess if you miss it. True.

17:34Rachel: But then giving credit to Ad Hesberg. She was like, sorry. Sorry for that mistake, guys. Don't worry about it. I've got it all covered. Six minutes later, she then equalises thanks to some very hesitant goalkeeping from Laura Giuliani. um yeah as a goalkeeper i've got to say i think you either stay put or you start rushing out to that but you don't you don't hesitate come back yeah and it obviously created that chance there for for ad hegerbo just to have that tiny toe tap um straight into that and then i think we were just messing each other then and saying oh well this is it isn't it now norway just going to get a cheeky little last minute winner and lo and behold that didn't happen happens the other way round um with that last minute 89th minute um winner um from Girelli which was just absolutely outstanding great delivery into the box like really powerful header um afterwards she said it's something magical I felt something special since we came to Switzerland reaching the semi final and being amongst the first four teams in Europe is a demonstration of how much the team believes since the beginning just to flag here she is the same age as us Rach like this was just such a beautiful moment for her to share there were tears from all the Italian players like lying down on the pits I couldn't believe what happened and it was definitely the right result in my eyes I don't think there's any kind of um controversy about that they they they deserve this one yeah

18:57Chloe: and it's one of those lovely stories that we love from major tournaments you have those little moments of magic um you know I remember plenty of them during the world cup in 2023 and yeah I think having her not just having like Italy go through in the fashion that they did but having Giorelli be the woman of the hour you know she scored that goal um in the previous round to keep the minute and then to score two key goals um yeah I think she couldn't believe that that she'd done it you know that kind of way there was a lot of that she did a bit of celebration and then there was still just kind of like head and hands like oh my god kind of vibes and you know she's coming to the latter stages of her career I'm so glad it's a bit a bit of Wales you know getting to a major tournament while Fishlock and Ingle for example are still around it's it's a bit like that getting them far in a tournament when Giarelli's still there and not just still there but playing a key role in it like she was a top scorer in Syria this year which is crazy at 35 like to be at that level again is unbelievable so yeah she's definitely feeling inspired in this tournament and I think she inspires her team as well she's very much got that ability to kind of take the game by the scruff of the neck and you can see how much the other players of the team love her and how much they recognize her impact like afterwards the celebrations were unreal with the Italy fans and they did that lovely thing where they all sat down to have a picture they took they took a photographer's camera so we were all behind trying to take some photos gets very physical in those moments let me tell you and she took one of the photographer's cameras Jarelli and went all the way to the front as if she was going to take the photo and then she handed it to someone because obviously everyone's like you need to be bloody in this you score both goals so that was pretty cool I'd love to see the other side of that where you had the Italy team and the Italian fans behind them it was a very very special moment and I'm delighted for them I think they that momentum has carried on throughout the tournament and you're seeing them play better and better each time and granted the first half wasn't amazing but I do think there was a little bit of nerves there and a little bit of emotion and it's for them it's balancing that passion and emotion with level heads when needed and I think her popping up in almost injury time to get a winning goal is shows the experience she has to be able to do that 100 and I think um I mean Italy you

21:08Rachel: know they're not the best team in the competition but my god I think they have one of the best like hearts and drives and like determination that I've seen like there's a belief in this Italian squad that they can go on and win these games so I think yeah going into the next round obviously they're going to be facing either England or Sweden depending on what happens tonight but yeah I think either way like they're going to give whatever team they face an absolute run for their money because and so will their fans to be fair um and before we go for a break a special congratulations to magic popo absolutely love that name who is top of the upfront euros fantasy league they had jurelli as captain so they picked up 26 points last night alone what a absolute great

21:49Chloe: foresight i think i'm probably on 26 points for the whole entire tournament because i set up my team about a week before and then just forgot love that from you right well to be fair you've

21:57Rachel: been quite busy you've been even watching and things so yeah um coming up after this england get ready for the swedes

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23:11Rachel: All right, tonight, a tough, tough test faces England, Sweden, in a rematch of their Euro 2022 semifinal. Ella Toon said that England's next opponents should be scared after their victory over Wales, but Sweden captain Aslani disagrees. We don't have the word fear in our dictionary. I mean, Rach, we spoke about this previously, just before the pod started. You absolutely love shit talk, shithousery. I fucking hate it, Chloe. I hate it. Bit of camaraderie, you know, like boxer to boxer, face to face.

23:45Chloe: Well, firstly, there might not be a direct translation, but there absolutely is a word in Swedish that is used for that kind of dread, anxiety you know, the most direct translation is, you know, for fear so it might not be an absolute direct translation but there absolutely is one in there that they could be feeling I just hate it I just, you know, I quite liked when before the England game England were just like yeah, it's cool, we're just going to focus on ourselves and, you know, let Wales do all the talking about England and then England came out and won so I prefer that because when you do trash talk you end up sometimes having an egg on your face.

24:20Chloe: And I just, if I was an athlete, I'd be terrible at it. I just, I would never like, I'd just never be able to bring myself to do it because I'd be like, I'm going to look like an idiot if I lose. So I'll keep it to myself.

24:31Rachel: It's a risky strategy, I think. And it's, I don't think... England don't often do it. So yeah, it was a little bit uncharacteristic. Where did she say this?

24:39Chloe: Do we know where Ella Toon said this? Because I feel like it must have been on a podcast or on a kind of...

24:43Rachel: I'm not too sure.

24:44Chloe: Maybe producer Finn can tell us. Yeah, because...

24:47Rachel: Yeah, are you just spreading fake news, Finn? Because I do feel like it's been talked a lot

24:51Chloe: in Swedish press about England and how they want revenge and how they've got a, you know, as Lanny says, they have like a really good game plan. The perfect game plan, which I find fascinating because like, I know people like to think Vigman's predictable, but, you know, the perfect game plan is, I don't know, does it exist when, before the game's even started? Maybe it does. But yeah, I just, I hate, I just feel like it was being talked about more in the Swedish press. And I was like, let them get on with it. And then now we have the other two in quote, which is just going to rile them up even more.

25:22Rachel: I think it's that there's never really a time, and especially against someone like Sweden who could cause upset and could cause damage. Like they're a good team. Who looked good this tournament. Yeah, this is not like a first time Euros entrant or, you know, someone sort of very low ranked. This is a really decent team who could absolutely, you know, come up on the day today, tonight and cause, you know, egg on the face type situation. 100%. Oh, she said it on ITV after the Wales game, Chloe. Oh, gosh. Well, there you go. Maybe it was in the height of the emotion from the Wales game then. Maybe that's, I'm going to add some context to there.

25:58Rachel: Like, you're obviously celebrating getting into the quarterfinals. Like, it was a big test. Maybe there's just some, maybe a misquote from Ella Toon. It's not a misquote. She's very well behaved. Yeah, thanks. I'm trying to add some, like, context and gravity to it. Sweden drew twice with England in qualification for this tournament. 1-1 last April in Sheffield and then 0-0 in Gothenburg, thanks to some Hannah Hampton heroics. Rachel, what do you remember about those games? They were quite dull. What can England learn from them, apart from making them a little bit less boring?

26:32Chloe: I think it's really hard because I think there's not a lot between the two teams. I think both sides have weaknesses and I think both sides have shown weaknesses in the tournament so far. Equally, both sides have some serious weapons. You know, I think Sweden, I don't want to say rely, but like favour that right-hand side with Johanna Wright and Canerid. I think she's a weapon for them. And when you think about where maybe England's weaker area is, it could be on that left side, left back side, given Alex Greenwood has kind of been thrust in there for the last two games. And that's perhaps not...

27:08Chloe: And holding her own though, to be fair. Sure, but like it's not something that's been a consistent setup. So arguably an area that Sweden could exploit. I think you've got Blaxtenius on form. We know how dangerous she can be. And everyone, I mean, maybe not everyone, but we've all been a big fan of hers through the domestic season. I'm not really quite right now for this game. But yeah, I just think there's frailties in both teams and both teams have some pretty good weapons. And I just think it is going to be a really interesting tactical setup. and I think Sweden will be full of confidence in terms of the way that they've qualified out of the group the manner of the defeats that they've sorry the defeats that they've put on other teams I should say the wins that they've had particularly that Germany game is going to give them huge confidence they'll absolutely know the threat of England and I think they probably know that they know the English team probably better than any team so they'll be really confident in their game plan same can be said I think for Wigman I think they know Sweden quite well they'll know the areas to exploit and they'll know where Sweden are dangerous.

28:11And, you know, it's just, you know,

28:13Chloe: the midfield battle is going to be really interesting. I think that right battle with Johanna Wright and Canarid and Alex Greenwood, equally the other way around, I think Sweden's left-back position has looked quite weak. I thought in the early stages of the Germany game, they were absolutely tearing through that side of the pitch and you're going to have Lauren James over there. You know, so equally, there are areas that could be really interesting to watch and could be key to either team getting the goals.

28:38Rachel: Yeah, I think, I mean, like you said there, Rach, especially with the right-hand side. I mean, Johanna Rissinkanarid, 65 % of their chances have come down the right-hand side. And that, as you flagged, Rach, is like one of the areas that I think people have been most concerned about. Granted, the last two games for England, I think that has been a little bit more consistent. And there has been that kind of effective cover with Alex Greenwood being pulled across. I think them two kind of doubling up. And also, I think England have played a little bit more compact. And I think they've noticed also that teams are trying to attack that way.

29:09Rachel: Teams are very switched on to the fact that, yes, there was trouble in the first game against France. So when teams have decided that is going to be the weakest route, I think England have adapted their game plan to that. So I'm not too concerned about that at the moment.

29:22Chloe: I would say they haven't come up against a threat like JRK, though. That's the only thing. Yeah, fair. So it makes it very interesting.

29:29Rachel: I think going forwards, I think I have much less concern. I think given how many goals we've scored, I know Wales is not the hardest of opposition to have faced, but I think England seem to have found their firing form and found their opportunities. So, I mean, Lauren James has been on absolute, I don't know, she's just an absolute joy to watch. Like, I feel like she's really kind of come into herself this competition, is enjoying football, is enjoying the kind of fluidity that she's being given. Ella Toon, again, I think she's had a couple of great games. Do we think that, I mean, Serena's now started the same starting level for the past two games.

30:01Rachel: Do we think there are going to be any changes or do we think same again? Because it kind of feels like maybe a Euros 2022, not literally, but now it kind of seems like we've gone back to, you know, trusting that golden XI, I suppose.

30:14Chloe: I think, I don't imagine she'd change it because we've seen the difference in the original starting XI and set up in the first game versus what the second starting of XI, if you like, with the tweaks that she made and the impact that they have. I know like at the Euros you started the same 11 and the same subs but I actually think that the games have been facing this I think that starting 11 is the best for the game that they're facing you know I don't think you're looking at it going why would you start them they're obviously going to struggle you know I do think that is probably the best option I think again Ella Toon providing that more robust cover in midfield I think is going to be needed and equally having LJ on the right to be creative and to pull that defence apart which she's going to need to do you know she can go wide she can invert she can turn defenders inside out and I think she's going to be absolutely key to England getting goals tonight should they get goals tonight so yeah I think it makes sense that starting XI I don't kind of necessarily see that there's a player on the bench that absolutely would be key necessarily and I also think the depth on England's bench is so high and those players can come on and really do the business against some maybe tired looking defenders So I think it makes sense for them to start the same XI.

31:28Rachel: I think that's the thing that I've absolutely loved to see is that there's been so much rotation with the subs. I think there's only four or five players, I think, in the squad. If that, two of them are goalkeepers, right? Exactly that. And I think even when you've looked at the trust that Serena's had in the youngsters, Jess Park, Aggie Beaver-Jones, Michelle Adjeman coming on, and they've all been so impactful. I mean, Aggie Beaver-Jones getting that Euros goal was a bloody moment. And an assist. And an assist. Michelle Adjeman almost getting a goal on her with one of the first touches I think she had on the ball.

31:59Rachel: It was a great save. So yeah, I think there was that kind of fire and tenacity I think from the subs that come on. You know, Chloe Kelly again, Beth Mead all making a huge impact when they've got their minutes in as well. There's been a lot of talk about England's clicking celebrations since Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead did it last weekend. Apparently it's because they have a little group called the finishers, the subs, what they like to call the positive clique. So if one of them scores, they all click. So hopefully we'll see this again tonight.

32:29Chloe: It was quite nice to see how excited the subs were for each other. And I touched on that the day after the pod about that vibe and that warmth and that kind of happiness that we were seeing from the squad and how important that was. So it's nice that that's now become a talking point, I suppose.

32:46Rachel: It does seem that there's a real good sort of positive cohesion building within the squad. I mean, there was some really lovely footage of Chiara Keating and Hannah Hampton doing their warm up together and kind of having this little like dance moment in the. And obviously you appreciate like how young both of them are. Chiara Keating, I think, has just celebrated her 12th birthday. And like you have to kind of appreciate that. Like this is a massive moment for these youngsters and they are allowed to enjoy themselves. But like there was this like really beautiful like moment of like these two being friends and kind of just like enjoying the atmosphere and like being at the tournament.

33:16Chloe: Pre-tournament, I asked the Lionesses at the media day what their best attribute was as a Lioness. That's a lovely question. Kiara Keating was just like, I bring the vibes. I was like, all right, forget about all the great stuff you do on the pitch. That's what we want. She was just like, oh yeah, I bring the vibes, I bring the energy.

33:36Rachel: And that's a really lovely thing to be able to say that you do. And to have that kind of, I don't know, respect for Hannah. And obviously they have lost a big member of the goalkeeping squad. like Mary Earps isn't in the set up this year like she isn't the stands though she's in the stands which is very interesting um which I won't comment on um but it does feel like there's I don't know there's that like yeah they've had to fill a big gap I think it's obviously like when you're at the tournaments and like you there are only like three of you in the goalkeeper set up like you you do have that really close bond because you're working so closely together and you're the only like couple of people who understand like the pressures and demands of the role within such a highly pressurized environment but yeah it was just a really nice moment that i picked out talking of other really lovely moments in her press conference england's captain leah williamson addressed the real big issues and said that the beatles are definitely better than abba so this is the the kind of thing that i'm talking about in terms of

34:29Chloe: this really like high level um analysis and analysis of like what's going on in the england

34:34Rachel: camp they asked serena vietman about love island it's like oh my god well it has kind of infiltrated I suppose since Brother Russo decided to go on it, it kind of has been a bit of a talking point this summer too.

34:45Chloe: It's funny, isn't it? Because the media gets slated if they ask boring questions or the same questions. And then when they ask something a bit rogue, they get slated again. So you can't win, can you? Sometimes in these press conferences, you don't see what goes on before and after and the kind of relationships that exist with media and the teams and the press officers and stuff. And there are those moments of levity. and, you know, we do have chats pre and post pressers and stuff like that. So, you know, they might seem like really rogue questions, but actually it is sometimes just almost like borderline banter, do you know that kind of way?

35:20Chloe: And it just can kind of lift the mood sometimes and sometimes it might need that. And, you know, those being interviewed then, it's a bit of a laugh. They relax a bit more and are perhaps a little bit more responsive for future questioning and stuff like that. So it might not be as rogue as it appears.

35:35Rachel: Definitely. I think it just feeds into the British sense of humour. It's that kind of sarcasm or a little bit of taking the mick out of ourselves.

35:42Chloe: The media is seeing Serena and whoever every kind of two, three days. Do you know what I mean? And you're like, oh, back to the same question again. How prepped are you for this? So every so often those little questions are kind of thrown in a little bit just to lighten the mood, I think.

35:57Rachel: Well, can our listeners let us know whether they think the Beatles are better than ABBA? I mean, Rach, thoughts?

36:03Chloe: yeah I guess we'd probably have to say that although I am absolutely partial to an ABBA banger so

36:10Rachel: it's just it's just more shithousery to be honest we'll be back tomorrow to react to England's crunch quarterfinal it sounds like the Adams family follow us on socials at upfront underscore pod and give us your prediction for tonight's game remember make sure you hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode throughout the Euros thank you so much rage and i will see you bright and early tomorrow morning i don't know what the vibe is going to be i don't know what kind of mood we're going to be in it's just like it's no good luck

36:59up front is a stack production and part of the ACAST Creator Network.

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