Latest news with #Euros2022
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Furness 'didn't want to hang on and hate the game'
Rachel Furness stood in the changing room and said a few words in front of her Northern Ireland team-mates as she fought back the decision to retire had not come overnight, but that did not make the moment any less oversized shirts and paying to play, to breaking records and making history on the biggest stage, she had seen it all in a career that had spanned 20 in the season, Furness had been in line for a Northern Ireland recall before she picked up an injury which ruled her out until the new was throughout that period when retirement crossed her mind."I thought it might have been my body telling me it had enough," Furness told BBC Sport NI."I'm happy with what I have achieved in the game and I didn't want to hang on and hate the game, so it's the perfect time to step away." After announcing her retirement, Furness jumped on a plane and went on holiday for a week. It not only gave her a chance to reflect, but celebrate a career in which she had achieved so much. From a teenager in a re-formed national team, Furness would become her country's record goalscorer and win 95 caps. She played a key role as Northern Ireland qualified for a major tournament for the first time at the Euros in 2022, and even assisted Julie Nelson's famous goal against admits she almost "downplays" her achievements but, after working with a leadership coach, she has realised "it is something to shout about"."I'm so proud that I've got that record. There was blood, sweat and tears to score that many goals for Northern Ireland, in a team that traditionally doesn't score that many goals. "Every one one of those 95 caps was special in a different way and every one of them has a story attached to it." 'I never thought I'd get that moment' A standout message from her speech was leaving the Northern Ireland shirt in a better place than she found it, and that was certainly the case. Her passion, as was so often evident on the pitch, was clear for all to Furness made her debut as a teenager in 2005, Northern Ireland's senior team had just been re-formed, the players had to pay to play and their shirts were oversized hand-me-downs from the men. "We were always the underdogs. We were budget girls who fought for each other, and what a 20 years it has been with the transition that has happened with coaching and the tournaments. "Alfie (Wylie) paved the way, then with Kenny (Shiels) it was doing what we thought was the impossible, and now Tanya (Oxtoby, the current manager) is leading the new generation. "I can step aside happy knowing we are going in the right direction. "We've still so much to fight for and just because I'm retired doesn't mean I'll stop fighting for what I think we need to compete." Despite her achievements, those final moments with her team-mates in a changing room in Bosnia-Herzegovina may never have happened at all. After Euro 2022, Furness had stepped away from playing for her country to focus on her mental health - something she later opened up about in an interview with BBC Sport. She returned to the fold the following year, but injuries limited her involvement. A final call-up came for May's Nations League matches, and while she did not get any minutes in those fixtures, her experience off the pitch helped guide a young squad to a League A promotion play-off."As a competitor, you are always disappointed when you don't get on, but for me it was the bigger picture of being in camp, being around the girls and having an input off the pitch."It was me able to say goodbye and I never thought I'd be able to do that on my terms. I'm fit and I'm healthy, and I never thought I'd be able to retire and it was in my own hands." 'A little girl's dream came true' Furness didn't only get a fitting end with her country, but also with Newcastle United - the club she had supported since she was a little girl. Her playing career had taken her across the WSL, at clubs such as Sunderland, Reading, Tottenham, Liverpool and Bristol it was the north east of England where her heart was calling, and she signed a one-year contract with Newcastle, who had been promoted to the Championship. As Furness says, it was a "full-circle moment"."My dream was always to walk out at St James' Park and to do that in front of 38,000 people this season was a little girl's dream come true."Early in the season, when she picked up the injury that swayed her towards retirement, it did not look like it would be a fairytale ending. But after recovering, she played a key role at the end of the season and she scored in her final home match and captained the side the following week in her final game."I've not retired sitting on the bench, I've retired on a high playing for the team I support, to the point where people have questioned why I've done it when I've still so much to give. "I would have bought the shirt and paid someone to play, so I feel very lucky and fortunate that I got to wear that shirt and got paid to do it." 'I'm big on being happy' Furness is someone who lives and breathes football. Her passion for the game remains, and now she has hung up her boots she intends to give something back."I'm hoping to go into coaching and stay in the game in some capacity. "I've got a few opportunities. I'm starting again with such knowledge and experience behind me, and such confidence in what I can give."Furness is excited for the future, and no matter what the next chapter brings, her priority is to remain happy and healthy."Life's short so if I'm not enjoying it then I'll find something I do enjoy."I'm big on being happy and mentally being in a good place, which I am at the moment. "We'll see what opportunities come across, and whatever it'll be, there will be a smile on my face and I'll be happy with the decisions that I make."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Spain team guide – have things finally settled for the World Cup winners?
The 2022 European Championship sparked a crisis in Spanish football. The team went to their debut Euros with certain expectations, including a hope of winning their first competition or, at least, going far. But they were eliminated in the first round of the knockout stages by England in extra time. It proved to be the last straw for many players. Advertisement The reckoning was less about losing to England — the eventual winners — and more about Spain's best generation of footballers being let down by a coach who could not help them in certain matches. While off the field, the players felt that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did not support them enough or provide them with the professional tools that other countries had. It sparked the 'Las 15' movement, with 15 players refusing to return to play for the RFEF until conditions changed. Only three of the 15 played in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which Spain won. That final was marred by the non-consensual kiss from Luis Rubiales to Jennifer Hermoso during the celebrations. It also ended with the dismissal of the then-coach, Jorge Vilda, along with Rubiales. Who is the manager? Montse Tome was Vilda's assistant coach and, following his dismissal, she was appointed head coach in September 2023. Her first roster was limited by players protesting Rubiales' non-consensual kiss. Advertisement At her first press conference, ahead of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers against Sweden and Switzerland in September 2023, Tome said she had spoken to all of the players who had declared themselves ineligible as a group. But the players said they had not spoken to the coach. As a result, RFEF and the team's captains met for a long meeting that lasted until the early hours of the morning. The result was a restructuring of the federation. Over time, tensions have settled, but Tome is a coach that many still see as part of Vilda's staff. Despite her saying 'I am not Jorge Vilda' on several occasions, Tome has not managed to fully win the trust of the dressing room and her future with the team after the Euros is uncertain. How do they play? Spain play in a style very similar to Barcelona. In a 4-3-3 formation, they want to dominate the ball, be offensive through possession and position, and get a lot out of their midfield while playing out of defence. Advertisement In terms of selection, the defence and midfield are set, with perhaps the only question mark being whether Olga Carmona or Leila Ouahabi will play at left-back. Up front, there is an excess of attacking options. Mariona Caldentey has been playing as a right-winger, Esther Gonzalez has returned to the national team in fine form, having scored four goals in the last three games, and Real Madrid's Athenea del Castillo is also in the mix. Another big question is whether Salma Paralluelo or Claudia Pina will play on the left wing, as both have been selected in the squad. Pina has had a great season, but Spain seem to prefer her as a substitute. Who are their most influential players? The midfield trio of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas is the key to Barcelona's — and Spain's — success. Mariona Caldentey, of Arsenal, provides a bonus to this setup. Advertisement Caldentey was the Women's Super League (WSL) player of the season and won the Champions League with Arsenal, playing a key role in the final win over Barcelona, her third consecutive Champions League title. Although it is not her ideal position, Tome plays Caldentey as a right-winger. Guijarro has returned to defensive midfield after two years playing in the attack, and this is where she shines most. The 27-year-old organises the team, provides balance between attack and defence, and is the compass for her side. Bonmati was considered one of the top players in the Champions League, but she did not have her best season in Liga F. The 27-year-old still has the ability to shine in big games and is the one who sets the tempo for the team. Putellas is back to form after an ACL injury suffered the day before the start of Euro 2022, which prevented her from performing at her prime in the World Cup and the following season. This season in Liga F, she has been Barcelona's top assist provider and second-highest goalscorer behind Ewa Pajor. The 31-year-old gives the team vision and is a player who tends to make good, quick decisions. What is their biggest strength? An ability to link up well. The World Cup winners know how to play an attacking and entertaining style of football thanks to the talent of one of the best generations of players the national team has ever had. Advertisement It also helps that the core of the team is made up of Barcelona players, who are used to playing together. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? Teams that sit back in a defensive block are Spain's biggest weakness. Due to their attacking style of play, they can leave themselves exposed at the back and can be hurt by quick counter-attacks. Any notable absences? Jennifer Hermoso and Misa Rodriguez. Both were singled out by Tome for what she considered to be bad behaviour that did not help the team after the Olympic Games, where the team failed to collect a medal. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? The last Olympic Games were the first time Spain's women had played in the Games, and they were left disappointed. Advertisement The players expected the organisation to be on a par with the European Championship or the World Cup, but what they found surprised them. The players felt far removed from what the Olympic Games were about, spending little time in the athletes' village. 'Did I take anything away from the Olympics? The shirt, nothing else,' Caldentey explained in her book, released earlier this year. On a sporting level, it didn't end as they had hoped either. They started as favourites, but Brazil beat them 4-2 in the semi-finals. They then lost 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal match. After the Olympics, Spain drew with Italy and Canada (both 1-1). Since then, they have scored 30 goals in eight games and conceded 10. They collected seven wins and only one defeat (1-0 at Wembley against England in February). Advertisement They beat the Lionesses 2-1 in their last game in Barcelona, which gives them confidence for what lies ahead. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? Spain and England have been locked in a battle since Euro 2022, and if the two teams meet in the knockouts, it could be quite the rematch. The fact that Spain won the last match in Barcelona, which qualified them for the Nations League semi-final, gives them a boost of confidence. But the memory of the match played at Wembley remains fresh in their minds, as does the fact they have always found it difficult to beat the Lionesses. The group they have been drawn into is manageable: Portugal, Belgium and Italy. They faced the first two opponents in the first phase of the Nations League, beating Portugal 7-1 and 4-2 over two matches. They beat Belgium 5-1 and 3-2 over their two fixtures. In October, they drew 1-1 with Italy, the only opponent who could complicate things. Advertisement Many are focusing on the semi-finals, where they could face England, though the teams from northern Europe also command a certain amount of respect. Did you know? In Spain's last starting 11 against England in the Nations League, which will likely be the one Tome will use for the Euros, nine of the 11 players were from Barcelona or had played for the club at some point. Laia Aleixandri played in the club's youth teams and Mariona Caldentey played there until last summer when she signed for Arsenal. Carmona signed with Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in June. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Spain, UK Women's Football, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Spain team guide – have things finally settled for the World Cup winners?
The 2022 European Championship sparked a crisis in Spanish football. The team went to their debut Euros with certain expectations, including a hope of winning their first competition or, at least, going far. But they were eliminated in the first round of the knockout stages by England in extra time. It proved to be the last straw for many players. Advertisement The reckoning was less about losing to England — the eventual winners — and more about Spain's best generation of footballers being let down by a coach who could not help them in certain matches. While off the field, the players felt that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did not support them enough or provide them with the professional tools that other countries had. It sparked the 'Las 15' movement, with 15 players refusing to return to play for the RFEF until conditions changed. Only three of the 15 played in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which Spain won. That final was marred by the non-consensual kiss from Luis Rubiales to Jennifer Hermoso during the celebrations. It also ended with the dismissal of the then-coach, Jorge Vilda, along with Rubiales. Montse Tome was Vilda's assistant coach and, following his dismissal, she was appointed head coach in September 2023. Her first roster was limited by players protesting Rubiales' non-consensual kiss. At her first press conference, ahead of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers against Sweden and Switzerland in September 2023, Tome said she had spoken to all of the players who had declared themselves ineligible as a group. But the players said they had not spoken to the coach. As a result, RFEF and the team's captains met for a long meeting that lasted until the early hours of the morning. The result was a restructuring of the federation. Over time, tensions have settled, but Tome is a coach that many still see as part of Vilda's staff. Despite her saying 'I am not Jorge Vilda' on several occasions, Tome has not managed to fully win the trust of the dressing room and her future with the team after the Euros is uncertain. Spain play in a style very similar to Barcelona. In a 4-3-3 formation, they want to dominate the ball, be offensive through possession and position, and get a lot out of their midfield while playing out of defence. In terms of selection, the defence and midfield are set, with perhaps the only question mark being whether Olga Carmona or Leila Ouahabi will play at left-back. Advertisement Up front, there is an excess of attacking options. Mariona Caldentey has been playing as a right-winger, Esther Gonzalez has returned to the national team in fine form, having scored four goals in the last three games, and Real Madrid's Athenea del Castillo is also in the mix. Another big question is whether Salma Paralluelo or Claudia Pina will play on the left wing, as both have been selected in the squad. Pina has had a great season, but Spain seem to prefer her as a substitute. The midfield trio of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas is the key to Barcelona's — and Spain's — success. Mariona Caldentey, of Arsenal, provides a bonus to this setup. Caldentey was the Women's Super League (WSL) player of the season and won the Champions League with Arsenal, playing a key role in the final win over Barcelona, her third consecutive Champions League title. Although it is not her ideal position, Tome plays Caldentey as a right-winger. Guijarro has returned to defensive midfield after two years playing in the attack, and this is where she shines most. The 27-year-old organises the team, provides balance between attack and defence, and is the compass for her side. Bonmati was considered one of the top players in the Champions League, but she did not have her best season in Liga F. The 27-year-old still has the ability to shine in big games and is the one who sets the tempo for the team. Putellas is back to form after an ACL injury suffered the day before the start of Euro 2022, which prevented her from performing at her prime in the World Cup and the following season. This season in Liga F, she has been Barcelona's top assist provider and second-highest goalscorer behind Ewa Pajor. The 31-year-old gives the team vision and is a player who tends to make good, quick decisions. An ability to link up well. The World Cup winners know how to play an attacking and entertaining style of football thanks to the talent of one of the best generations of players the national team has ever had. It also helps that the core of the team is made up of Barcelona players, who are used to playing together. Teams that sit back in a defensive block are Spain's biggest weakness. Due to their attacking style of play, they can leave themselves exposed at the back and can be hurt by quick counter-attacks. Jennifer Hermoso and Misa Rodriguez. Both were singled out by Tome for what she considered to be bad behaviour that did not help the team after the Olympic Games, where the team failed to collect a medal. The last Olympic Games were the first time Spain's women had played in the Games, and they were left disappointed. The players expected the organisation to be on a par with the European Championship or the World Cup, but what they found surprised them. The players felt far removed from what the Olympic Games were about, spending little time in the athletes' village. Advertisement 'Did I take anything away from the Olympics? The shirt, nothing else,' Caldentey explained in her book, released earlier this year. On a sporting level, it didn't end as they had hoped either. They started as favourites, but Brazil beat them 4-2 in the semi-finals. They then lost 1-0 to Germany in the bronze medal match. After the Olympics, Spain drew with Italy and Canada (both 1-1). Since then, they have scored 30 goals in eight games and conceded 10. They collected seven wins and only one defeat (1-0 at Wembley against England in February). They beat the Lionesses 2-1 in their last game in Barcelona, which gives them confidence for what lies ahead. Spain and England have been locked in a battle since Euro 2022, and if the two teams meet in the knockouts, it could be quite the rematch. The fact that Spain won the last match in Barcelona, which qualified them for the Nations League semi-final, gives them a boost of confidence. But the memory of the match played at Wembley remains fresh in their minds, as does the fact they have always found it difficult to beat the Lionesses. The group they have been drawn into is manageable: Portugal, Belgium and Italy. They faced the first two opponents in the first phase of the Nations League, beating Portugal 7-1 and 4-2 over two matches. They beat Belgium 5-1 and 3-2 over their two fixtures. In October, they drew 1-1 with Italy, the only opponent who could complicate things. Many are focusing on the semi-finals, where they could face England, though the teams from northern Europe also command a certain amount of respect. In Spain's last starting 11 against England in the Nations League, which will likely be the one Tome will use for the Euros, nine of the 11 players were from Barcelona or had played for the club at some point. Laia Aleixandri played in the club's youth teams and Mariona Caldentey played there until last summer when she signed for Arsenal. Carmona signed with Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in June.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
An 'exciting summer' of women's sport lies ahead
Sitting together, laughing and chatting, at The Oval cricket ground in south London, Ellie Kildunne, Niamh Charles and Sarah Glenn could pass for any other 25-year-olds. But they are professional sportswomen who each have huge summers ahead of them in an England Charles is hoping to help the Lionesses defend their Women's Euros title in Switzerland in July, before Kildunne aims to lift the Women's Rugby World Cup in England in September and Glenn targets Cricket World Cup glory in India in the same sport takes centre stage across the BBC this summer and it is an ideal time to bring the trio together, to compare and contrast stories and hear how preparations are going. How big could this year be for your sport? Footballer Niamh Charles: We know that the expectation is going to be there after winning in 2022. It's such an exciting prospect but it's not the exact same as we're a new team. The women's game is growing so much. All the other teams have got so much better as well. It's about who turns up in the lucky we've had lots of good games before to prepare so I think we're not looking to peak right now, but when it comes to the Euros we're going to hopefully have used all those games to be in the best position from that first game and see what Sarah Glenn: We had a really tough winter [England lost 16-0 to Australia in the Women's Ashes]. We've got the India series coming up this summer at home and those games can be quite chaotic good rivals, we get good crowds in and obviously there will be that pressure for us, it's just a great opportunity to show how good we are and to get those wins and, obviously with Lottie [head coach Charlotte Edwards] coming in and Nat Sciver-Brunt as the new captain too, it will be like a breath of fresh air for the a really exciting summer. I trust in the process and let the outcome take care of union player Ellie Kildunne: People expect a lot from us, being a successful we were expected to win the last World Cup and we didn't, so it is a really huge tournament. Everyone shows up for major tournaments so it doesn't matter what the world's saying about how well they expect us to do, we know there's a lot of work to be fact that people are expecting something massive from us is a very cool and special place to be, but we know that there's work to be done still looking to improve, we can still get better and as long as we can keep striving for better and the best, I think we'll be in a very good spot come this World Cup. When did you decide to become a professional athlete? Kildunne: I played quite a lot of sports growing up and I didn't really know what path to go down, because I just loved playing I was playing rugby for Gloucester, I was also sneaking home on the weekends and playing I got asked to play rugby for England and was given a contract. That's when I knew that it could be a profession, and I could be a full-time really getting into that place now where the game is definitely growing. There's more investment going into it and you can see that professionalism, and how that can really accelerate the growth of the sport. Glenn: I played cricket and hockey. Balancing those two was pretty tough and I did think about which path I wanted to take. I played in the Kia Super League in 2017 and it was my first professional tournament. It was really inspiring because we were getting crowds in and there were young kids coming to watch us, and we could chat to them I picked up my first England contract, even though that was amazing, there wasn't too much structure to the domestic game. There was a huge amount of pressure on that England contract because otherwise I'd have to pick up a job alongside more contracts have come into our domestic league. I can represent England and my county, which I'm really proud to do as well. And that for me was the biggest turning point. No matter who I was, I could make cricket my lifestyle. How much do you look to older team-mates who have seen the progression and professionalism of women's sport? Charles: That's always a conversation. And I would say the generation that's coming through now will have it even better than us, and that's what we're striving for in the women's I speak to Lucy Bronze, she talks of working two jobs and doing loads of different things to get to the professional point now.I see her in meetings, advocating for how much the women's game is growing. The revenues have grown, the investments are growing and she's really at the forefront of that because she's had to women's game has grown and I think 20-year-old Lucy wouldn't believe what it would be now. She's been massive in forcing the women's game to keep up with how it's growing, she's pushing it, but also advocating for what we deserve and making sure that we're growing and it's As a team you don't really see an age. I know that there's girls who have been through two World Cups and for some, this will be their first World Cup. So we do a lot of collaboration of what to do a lot of connection points with the vintage Red Roses on how women's rugby started. We remember the heritage of it and one of our sayings and values that we go for is 'do it for the girls'.It's for the younger generation, the girls in our team and the girls that came before us. And I think that makes what we do a little bit more still got that inner passion to do more than what it is. The game is not just winning, it's much bigger than do it for the girls that came before, but also inspire the next generation and take it to a place beyond where it's ever I was in the crowd when England women won the World Cup in 2017 and I literally went as a big super fan, and was cheering the girls on.I thought it was amazing and I had a moment where I thought 'I really want to be a part of this' - because at that point I was training hard, but I didn't know if I could quite make it.I was involved with the England junior academies and then when I started training with the senior girls, I was training with Heather [Knight], and Katherine [Sciver-Brunt], who were a part of that World seen where the game was and where it is now, and how much they've grown the game. They really took me in as a youngster and now I feel like I've started to become one of the senior players, which is really weird to say. It's amazing to see that path grow. All aged 25 and in your prime? Kildunne: It was weird when I got World Player of the Year at 24 [years old]. I kind of didn't want it then because I didn't feel like I was at my best yet, and I still don't.I feel like I'm learning game to game where I can improve and get better. You can always get better. I don't think I'm ever going to be at the peak. I'd hope to never be at the peak of my game because I think you can always The last day before I retire, I should hopefully be at my best. I'd know everything, I'll have been around the block and I think every day I'm learning different margins about myself, like how I can get better in little things. So I like to tell myself as I get older that I'm just hopefully getting better and better. The best is yet to come, I've definitely learned how I go about things. In terms of my actual game, I feel like there's still so much more in me to give.
New York Times
03-06-2025
- General
- New York Times
England's Fran Kirby retires from international football before Euro 2025
England midfielder Fran Kirby has retired from international football with immediate effect. Kirby, now of Brighton & Hove Albion, has made her decision, she says, after being told by England manager Sarina Wiegman she would not be included in the squad for the European Championship, which begins next month. Advertisement Wiegman will confirm her group for the tournament in Switzerland on Thursday. Kirby was selected by Wiegman for the Nations League matches with Portugal and Spain and made what will now be her final national team appearance as a second-half substitute on Friday. She wasn't part of the squad for Tuesday evening's defeat to the world champions. Announcing her retirement on social media after the game, Kirby wrote: 'After being in the England team since I was 21, it's time to close that chapter of my life. I didn't ever want this day to come, but I cannot tell you how proud I am that it happened. 'It's been the biggest honour to represent my country, one that I had only dreamt about as a young girl. I've played with incredible players, worked with some incredible managers, played in some amazing tournaments, and have some irreplaceable memories.' Thank you @Lionesses ❤️ — Fran Kirby (@frankirby) June 3, 2025 Kirby leaves the international stage after winning 77 caps. She was a key player as England's women won a first international tournament at a home Euros in 2022, but missed out on the World Cup in 2023 — where England reached the final — with a knee injury. 'My journey has been full of ups and downs, setbacks and achievements,' Kirby continued. 'Enough has been said and written about those, but regardless of whatever was thrown at me, I want you all to know that every time I put on that England badge I gave 100 per cent. Every single call up, I accepted my role and did whatever was needed for the team. I wanted England to win. I've always been there to help England win. 'My mum had a dream of me representing my country, and I'm so proud I was able to do that and play in front of you all. I will never, ever forget the noise when my name is read out at a stadium. I was first selected when I was playing in WSL 2, I played a part in the game-changing World Cup, winning bronze in 2015, creating some memories of a lifetime. Advertisement 'Starting in every game and winning the Euros in 2022 was a dream come true, to be a part of change in women's football was one of the best experiences I could have ever imagined. Thank you to you all, for embracing me as a young girl from Reading who had a dream. I hope you all know, wearing that badge was the greatest honour. To every young girl that suffers setbacks, just remember you can. You can. Forever a Lioness, Fran'. Wiegman praised Kirby's 'incredible contribution' to the national team. 'Fran has given so much to England and has been an inspiration to so many for what she has achieved on and off the pitch. I have loved working with her, she is an amazing player and a great person,' she said. 'I fully understand her decision to say goodbye at this point in her wonderful career, and we will always be grateful for her incredible contribution to the team. 'I am just happy that she will continue to show her top ability in club football. Fran is a unique talent and plays football in a way that excites the fans and has earned the respect of all who have played with and against her. We will miss her of course and I look forward to the chance to honour her in the right way later this year.' Kirby follows Mary Earps in calling time on her international career, the goalkeeper hanging up her international gloves last week. 'It is something I have been thinking about for over a year. I knew this was going to be my last major tournament,' she told the BBC. 'The plan was to retire after the Euros but after speaking to Sarina, I'm not going to make the squad. It was like a dagger to my heart but also a weight off my shoulders all at the same time. It was emotional for both of us but we both respected what each person was saying.' England begin their tournament against France on July 5 before games against the Netherlands (July 9) and Wales (July 13). ()
