The secret behind Ella Toone's Euros form? Gruelling holiday work-outs
The England midfielder was in Cyprus on holiday with her boyfriend Joe Bunney, but there was work to do. The pair took to a local football pitch to perform sprint after sprint in gruelling heat. This was Toone's preparation for a big summer.
The Lionesses had 12 days off between their Nations League game with Spain on June 4 and the beginning of their pre-camp for the Women's European Championship. Toone used it wisely, maximising time with family as well as pushing herself to her limits.
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The Manchester United player knew she would have to be in the best physical shape to force her way into Sarina Wiegman's starting XI. There would have been disappointment when she was not picked to start the opening game against France, but those who know Toone well know she is more dangerous after a setback.
Those hard yards in Cyprus paid dividends when Toone started against the Netherlands. She was all over the pitch, pressing and harrying the Dutch defenders, her second-half goal a reward for the tenacity she had shown – but her best was yet to come.
Back in the team and back with a goal ⚽️
Ella Toone made it FOUR for England 👏🏴 pic.twitter.com/rO06QSle7o
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 9, 2025
Against Wales, Toone scored, assisted and completed 100 per cent of her passes. But it has been her work off the ball that has caught the eye most of all. Toone's inclusion in the team has led to the redeployment of Lauren James from No 10 to the right wing.
The switch has allowed James to get on the ball more while Toone has provided balance to the midfield – something which the two players sitting behind her, Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, have appreciated.
'She's come in and done an incredible job,' Walsh said after England's victory over Wales. 'People speak about her offensively, but the defensive work she does for me and Georgia when she's in there is incredible. She covers a lot of spaces that we can't.
'That's probably been the main thing that's stopped other teams from playing as well. Obviously, with LJ on the wing, we've managed to get both of them on the pitch at the same time and they are two world-class players.'
This is not the first time we have seen Toone overcome adversity. The midfielder's father, Nick, died in September having been diagnosed with testicular cancer the day after he had watched his daughter score in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.
Toone is extremely close with her family, who attend all of her matches for club and country. The midfielder struggled for form at the start of the season before picking up a calf injury that kept her out for six weeks. Toone told Telegraph Sport earlier this year that the injury was a blessing in disguise and allowed her time to grieve.
Her return from injury coincided with an excellent run of form. She scored a hat-trick in the Manchester derby in her first game back and went on to win United's player of the season award.
It was a surprise to see the midfielder left out of United's starting XI for the FA Cup final in May, but Toone is a player who thrives off bouncing back – much like England have done in this tournament.
Toone has been able to lean on Beth Mead, whose mum died of ovarian cancer in 2023, for support in the past year. Both players have celebrated their goals at this tournament by pointing to the sky in a tribute to their late parents.
'I think we've both said the first game we really struggled a little bit,' Mead said. 'You look to the stands for your person who is standing there and they're not there anymore.
'So I obviously understand what Ella felt in that moment. And it's a special to be able to have that moment and think about them and dedicate to them.'
Toone has been watched from the stands by boyfriend Joe and mum Karen for each game in Switzerland and the pair play a vital role in supporting her through tough times.
Her team-mate and best friend Alessia Russo is also key. The two players have a bond on and off the pitch and have linked up for multiple goals in the last two games. Russo assisted Toone against the Netherlands and was also involved in the build-up for her goal against Wales. Toone then repaid the favour by teeing up Russo in the same match.
😫 Mistakes galore at the back for Wales
🏴 Ella Toone adds a second for England pic.twitter.com/6dr3fegc4Y
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025
The pair are chalk and cheese when it comes to personalities but have an incredible understanding on the pitch. 'She's been working so hard on lots of different things,' Russo said of Toone. 'As a best mate, to see someone go on a journey like that, especially after the tough year she's had, it's really nice to see her flourish on the big stage.'
With Toone playing behind Russo and James out wide, Wiegman has found the perfect attacking formula. The midfielder was taken off at half-time against Wales because she is carrying a yellow card from the first game and Wiegman knows how valuable she will be in the knockouts. Pick up a booking in the quarter-final against Sweden and she would miss a potential semi-final.
Toone has proven herself to be an indispensable member of this team. 'I've been working really hard,' she said after the game against Wales. 'I'm my own worst critic when it comes to me playing in games and training and I've been quite hard on myself.
'I wanted to make sure that for this tournament I was at my best so I've worked hard. The rewards are really paying off and I'm really enjoying it.'
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