Lucy Bronze has said that Arsenal’s recent Women’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona is a major boost for the England national team ahead of the upcoming European Championship. With five Lionesses involved in the final, Bronze believes the victory will bring invaluable experience and confidence to the squad.
Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win in the final featured England stars Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Lotte Wubben-Moy. Bronze, a seasoned Champions League winner herself, emphasized the significance of such victories in shaping players who are mentally prepared for high-pressure situations on the international stage.
“It exposes you to that feeling of playing in big finals, and to what it takes to win,” she explained. “The more players that we have who are used to that winning feeling and the experience of going up against the best players in the world, the better it is for England.”
Bronze reflected on her own journey, pointing out that her move to Lyon years ago was driven by the desire to test herself at the highest level. That experience, she said, was about not only personal growth but also bringing that success and mindset back to the England squad. She believes Arsenal’s recent European glory only reinforces the team’s depth and winning mentality.
The build-up to England’s clash with Spain in the Nations League was also marked by praise from Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Mariona Caldentey. She acknowledged England’s quality and experience, referencing their dominant performance against Portugal and their previous Euros success. “When you win, you feel stronger and have more confidence. That’s always dangerous,” Caldentey said.
While England have gained momentum, they’ve also had to manage the absence of key players. One notable omission in this camp is centre-back Millie Bright, who is taking a break to focus on her mental health and to recover physically after a long season with Chelsea.
Bronze opened up about Bright’s decision, calling it a brave move. “She’s missed. We’ve all spoken to Millie during the week and offered our support. It’s been a long season for everyone. Millie’s tough and usually keeps things in, so for her to step back and speak out is really courageous. From a friend’s perspective, I just want her to be OK and have all the time she needs.”
Spain, who will be without injured Manchester City defender Leila Ouahabi, go into the decisive Group A3 fixture after a commanding 5-1 win against Belgium. England trail them by just a point, and only the top team progresses to the semi-finals in October. With this being the final fixture before the England squad is trimmed to 23 players for the Euros, competition for places is at its peak.
Sarina Wiegman confirmed she is close to finalizing her squad but stressed that player welfare remains a priority. While eager to beat Spain, the England manager said she will not take any risks with injured players, keeping the longer-term goal of the Euros in mind. “If a player has a little injury and is a risk for the Euros, then I wouldn’t play her,” she said.
The upcoming clash is a rematch of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, won by Spain, though England emerged victorious when the two teams last met at Wembley in February. With pride, points, and preparation for the Euros all on the line, both sides will be pushing for a statement win.
