Millie Bright makes Lionesses 'legacy' claim after England reach Euros final
Euro 2022 winner Millie Bright believes another victory for the Lionesses would even further change perceptions of women's sport in England. Bright has been watching from a distance after ruling herself out of contention for Sarina Wiegman's squad shortly before the tournament.
In Bright's absence, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood and Esme Morgan have all been given minutes at centre-back alongside captain Leah Williamson. There have been rocky moments, with Sarina Wiegman's team only leading for a couple of minutes in the knockout stages, but they came through matches against Sweden and Italy to leave themselves on the verge of history.
'To win two Euros back-to-back would add to the legacy and give the next generation in the squad confidence, but I think it would also change the country's perception on women's sport yet again," Bright said. "It could promote women's sport again, even more so than it did before.
'It would open up new doors, new opportunities, and again provide the opportunity for us to demand more in the women's game and like I said, not only in women's football but in women's sport generally.'
England have already laid down a marker by reaching a third straight major tournament final after winning Euro 2022 and coming up short in the 2023 World Cup. And they knew before the second semi-final kicked off that they would face a rematch - either against 2022 opponents Germany or 2023 rivals Spain.
Bright's England and Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze revealed the centre-back was one of those to message her after England kicked off the tournament with a defeat to France. The Lionesses have rebounded in style since then, though things haven't been straightforward.
'I'd love us to stop going to extra time!" Bright added. "It gives me too much stress and anxiety, but I'm so proud of the girls.
'There was a lot of chat about having an inexperienced group and having more youngsters than senior players, but the kids have really come through. I think we've been the best team at the tournament in terms of everyone playing their role and the subs coming in and making a difference."
Bright was speaking at thhe launch of TikTok's #summerskills campaign, which is designed to teach teens new skills during their summer holidays. She has been on hand for the football aspect of the campaign, but youngsters are also getting support with science, literature and music.
'That's the beauty of the summer skills, it's not just about sport," she said."It's what you can take away from that into your life and what the kids can develop in whatever their passion is and what their dreams are.'
Millie was talking at the launch of the new TikTok campaign #SummerSkills, a new in-app programme designed to support parents and empower teens to learn new skills with famous faces during the summer break.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
25 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Zoe Aldcroft: World Cup success for England can herald change in women's rugby
England captain Zoe Aldcroft believes a successful run at the World Cup can herald a 'change in women's rugby' similar to the team's memorable defeat of France at the Allianz Stadium in 2023. A 38-33 win to land a fifth-straight Six Nations title capped the Red Roses' first standalone fixture played at the home of English rugby, watched by a crowd of over 58,000, a record for a women's match. It marked a significant stride forward from the attendances of between 10,000 and 15,000 the team had typically drawn at previous editions when playing at smaller club-rugby grounds, and the skipper believes that another watershed moment awaits. Ready to represent. Your #RedRoses for #RWC2025! 🌹 @O2 | #WearTheRose — Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) July 24, 2025 John Mitchell's side open their home tournament on August 22 against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light as they look to win back the trophy they last lifted in 2017 and to put to bed memories of the agonising 34-31 defeat to New Zealand four years ago that kept them from retaining the title. Aldcroft, who was appointed captain in January and is amongst the 32 players named in Mitchell's World Cup squad on Thursday, also thinks the example of England's women footballers in being crowned European champions on home soil three years ago proves the scale of the transformation possible if the team can become world champions at the Allianz Stadium on September 27. The tournament promises to offer a stark contrast to when the 28-year-old made her international debut in 2020. 'It was out in America and it was boiling hot,' said Aldcroft. 'There were no stands so people were just stood on the side of the pitch, I think there must have been about 30 people, if that. 'One of the most special games (for England) was the France game a couple of years ago. That was a moment when it felt like a real change in women's rugby. 'I think what the Lionesses are doing has been incredible, that you can see the country getting behind them. That's something that we want to achieve and build the momentum. 'Hopefully going into this tournament we'll be able to create that momentum and we'll get a packed out stadium here at Twickenham. That would be unbelievable. The same feelings would apply again about a change in women's rugby that is to come.' There were few surprises in Mitchell's squad with centre Emily Scarratt set to play a record fifth World Cup whilst scrum-half Natasha Hunt, who was a surprise omission when the team finished as runners-up four years ago, is also in. Current World Rugby player of the year Ellie Kildunne has also been named and she too anticipated a potentially pivotal moment in the growth of the women's game. 'I feel like it's been feeling big for the past three years,' said Kildunne. 'Since the last World Cup it's almost been everything that people have been talking about. 'It's not that I'm bored or people talking about it, I just actually want to play to show people everting that's been spoken of. 'We don't know what to expect, we're only focussing on ourselves and how we're playing, but the journey we're going to be on in the next few months, to see the rise and the crowds coming in, how much social media starts talking about women's rugby for the first time. That's something to be really excited about. 'It's not necessarily something that we're really focused on, but we're prepared for what's to come without knowing what that is.'
North Wales Chronicle
25 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Zoe Aldcroft: World Cup success for England can herald change in women's rugby
A 38-33 win to land a fifth-straight Six Nations title capped the Red Roses' first standalone fixture played at the home of English rugby, watched by a crowd of over 58,000, a record for a women's match. It marked a significant stride forward from the attendances of between 10,000 and 15,000 the team had typically drawn at previous editions when playing at smaller club-rugby grounds, and the skipper believes that another watershed moment awaits. Ready to represent. Your #RedRoses for #RWC2025! 🌹@O2 | #WearTheRose — Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) July 24, 2025 John Mitchell's side open their home tournament on August 22 against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light as they look to win back the trophy they last lifted in 2017 and to put to bed memories of the agonising 34-31 defeat to New Zealand four years ago that kept them from retaining the title. Aldcroft, who was appointed captain in January and is amongst the 32 players named in Mitchell's World Cup squad on Thursday, also thinks the example of England's women footballers in being crowned European champions on home soil three years ago proves the scale of the transformation possible if the team can become world champions at the Allianz Stadium on September 27. The tournament promises to offer a stark contrast to when the 28-year-old made her international debut in 2020. 'It was out in America and it was boiling hot,' said Aldcroft. 'There were no stands so people were just stood on the side of the pitch, I think there must have been about 30 people, if that. 'One of the most special games (for England) was the France game a couple of years ago. That was a moment when it felt like a real change in women's rugby. 'I think what the Lionesses are doing has been incredible, that you can see the country getting behind them. That's something that we want to achieve and build the momentum. 'Hopefully going into this tournament we'll be able to create that momentum and we'll get a packed out stadium here at Twickenham. That would be unbelievable. The same feelings would apply again about a change in women's rugby that is to come.' There were few surprises in Mitchell's squad with centre Emily Scarratt set to play a record fifth World Cup whilst scrum-half Natasha Hunt, who was a surprise omission when the team finished as runners-up four years ago, is also in. Current World Rugby player of the year Ellie Kildunne has also been named and she too anticipated a potentially pivotal moment in the growth of the women's game. 'I feel like it's been feeling big for the past three years,' said Kildunne. 'Since the last World Cup it's almost been everything that people have been talking about. 'It's not that I'm bored or people talking about it, I just actually want to play to show people everting that's been spoken of. 'We don't know what to expect, we're only focussing on ourselves and how we're playing, but the journey we're going to be on in the next few months, to see the rise and the crowds coming in, how much social media starts talking about women's rugby for the first time. That's something to be really excited about. 'It's not necessarily something that we're really focused on, but we're prepared for what's to come without knowing what that is.' After the tournament opener on Wearside, England move on to face Samoa in Northampton before concluding the group stage against Australia in Brighton.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Evan Ferguson scores FOUR on Roma debut alongside World Cup winner as Italian giants win 9-0
He has already smashed his tally for last season Four-guson Evan Ferguson scores FOUR on Roma debut alongside World Cup winner as Italian giants win 9-0 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVAN FERGUSON scored FOUR goals on his debut for new club AS Roma. The Premier League star bagged himself a perfect hat-trick on his first showing for I Giallorossi. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Evan Ferguson notched four goals on his debut for AS Roma, including a perfect hat-trick Credit: Getty 3 Ferguson joined the Italian outfit on loan with a £32million buy option Credit: Getty Ferguson lined up alongside World Cup winner Paulo Dybala in Roma's second pre-season contest of the year. He also notched an assist to accompany his four goals, making it five goal contributions for the day. The Italian giants won 9-0 against newly promoted Serie D side UniPomezia. Ferguson, 20, was once one of the Premier League highest-rated young talents. He joined Roma earlier this month on a season-long loan from Brighton. The deal includes a buy option worth around £32million. Ferguson broke through with the Seagulls in 2021, making his first team debut in the Carabao Cup at the age of 16. He was once valued at over £100million thanks to his promising first seasons in the Premier League, drawing interest from the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 3 Ferguson is looking to turn around a lacklustre season which saw him score only one league goal Credit: Getty But the Ireland international subsequently fell out of favour on the South Coast before an unfulfilling loan spell with West Ham further stalled his career. He scored one goal in 21 Premier League appearances last season between his spells with Brighton and West Ham. European giants release 'absolute worldie' third shirt but it leaves fans divided as others compare it to tennis kit He has already quadrupled that number since arriving in the Italian capital.
