مدير عام كرة القدم
- England on the brink of conquering Europe
- Face Spain in the final of Euro 2025
- Toone remains determined to defend her crown
With England’s last two knockout fixtures going to extra time, and one even decided by penalties, pubs across the UK have been granted special late licenses to accommodate fans staying out past midnight. For Toone, this nationwide buzz has only added to the motivation of defending their crown they earned in 2022 by beating Germany at Wembley.
The wave of excitement building at home mirrors the passion within the Lionesses’ camp as Toone said: “I’m not looking too far ahead. That [a bank holiday] would be great for everyone back at home. It’s been nice that the pubs have been open until 1, I’ve heard. Our focus is just winning the game, and whatever happens after that would be great.”
Toone, 24, is no stranger to performing under pressure. Since breaking into the national team, she has built a reputation for delivering when it matters most. She found the net in the 2022 Euro final against Germany at Wembley and again scored in the 2023 كأس العالم semi-final. Despite her record of coming through in crunch moments, the Manchester متحد playmaker remains grounded.
“I just feel like I prepare properly for every game, and I’ve had chances in finals to put the ball in the back of the net and that’s what I’ve done,” she added. “But I try not to think about that or put any pressure on it, I just go out there and I do what I can for the team and give my absolute everything, and if a chance falls to me then hopefully I can put it in the back of the net.”
This year’s Euro campaign marks Toone’s third consecutive major tournament with the Lionesses, and impressively, she has reached the final in each one. Her determination was evident during England’s last two dramatic knockout matches. The Lionesses staged comebacks in both games, defeating Sweden in a tense penalty shootout and outlasting Italy in extra time.
The Lionesses go into Sunday’s final with unfinished business against their opponents, as Spain edged England by a single goal in last summer’s World Cup final in Sydney. With the weight of a nation on their shoulders, Toone and her teammates are gearing up for one last push in what has already been a memorable tournament. Fans at home will be hoping that the midfielder’s knack for delivering on the biggest stages continues, and that a celebration for the ages awaits.
