Latest news with #rolemodel
SBS Australia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Учите енглески уз СБС: #90 Talking about role models
For more stories, interviews, and news from SBS SERBIAN, explore our podcast collection here. This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz. Learning notes Different phrases you can use when talking about people you admire: I really look up to my grandpa. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. I would say she led by example. They didn't just talk — they followed through. She's the kind of person who walks the talk. If you look up to someone , it means you admire them. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. If you lead by example , you're showing others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve. When someone has a big impact on someone, they them really make them think and change them in a meaningful way. In the dialogue Allan and Claire use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about things that started in the past and are continuing to have an impact on the present, and the past simple (verb + ed) to talk about thing that happened in the past and are finished. When Allan talks about his feelings for his grandfather and his impact on him, he uses the present perfect because he still has these feelings: Allan: I've always admired him. (have + admired) He's had a big impact on me (has + had) But this grandfather has passed away, and so when Claire talks about what his grandfather did in the past to cause such feelings, she uses the past simple: Claire: … someone who always led by example (led) Allan: .. He didn't just talk —he followed through….. (did + not + talk; follow + ed) …person who walked the talk (walked) Practise speaking dialogue from this episode: SBS English 08/07/2025 03:38 English Cultural information: Baker Boy is a proud Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist whose powerful work has inspired audiences across Australia and beyond. Blending English with Yolngu Matha—his traditional language—his music brings a unique voice to the Australian hip-hop scene while celebrating and sharing Indigenous culture. A multi-award-winning performer, Baker Boy was named Young Australian of the Year in 2019. Discover more about his music and story at . Transcript: (Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript) SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia. Think of someone you admire. Someone who taught you, helped you, inspired you, or showed you how to be a better person? My name's Kate, and I have a lot of different role models. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve so that we can be more like them. They could be a family member, a teacher, a friend, or even someone we've never met. In this episode, we'll learn some easy ways to talk in English about our role models. You'll hear useful phrases, real examples, and a few stories from me too! Let's get started. Today, I'm taking you to a small, cosy café. The soft clink of coffee cups and the low hum of conversation fill the air. Allan and Claire are sitting by the window, watching people stroll past as they chat. The smell of fresh coffee beans drifts around them. Claire wraps her hands around a warm mug, smiling as Allan begins to talk about someone close to his heart. Allan: I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. Claire: Yeah, you always speak so highly of him. Allan: I do. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Claire: Would you say he's someone who always led by example? Allan: Yes, I would. He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. Beautiful conversation, isn't it? It made me think about my number one role model — my mum. She's has always been the kind of woman who moves mountains for her children. No matter how hard life got when we were young, she never gave up. She worked long hours, cooked and cleaned at home, and still found time to support me and my brother every step of the way. Whenever something is difficult and I feel like life is too hard, I think of her — and I keep going. She's truly my inspiration, and now I'm getting emotional. Let's get to work and take a closer look at some of the useful phrases Allan and Claire used, so you can talk about your own role models too. Allan first said, I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. If you look up to someone, it means you admire them. You think they're a great person, and you respect what they do or how they live. And when you admire someone, you might try to be more like them or learn from their example. Claire then said, You always speak so highly of him. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. When you speak highly of someone, you talk about all the things you admire about them — their qualities, actions, and character. Allan speaks highly of his grandpa because he respects and looks up to him. So, when you admire someone, you often speak highly of them to others. Next, we have, I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Allan's grandpa had a big impact on him. When someone has a big impact on you, they make you think and they change you in a meaningful way. They influence your thoughts, your actions, and even your values. This big impact can be a result of something someone says, or something someone does, or even just how they live their life. For example, have you heard of Baker Boy? He's a Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist that has inspired so many people. His music blends English and his native language, Yolngu Matha. Baker Boy brings Indigenous culture to the Australian hip-hop scene and has won many awards. He was celebrated as the Young Australian of the Year in 2019. He's young, but definitely a role model! Let's go back to our dialogue, Claire said, Would you say he's someone who led by example? Led by example. If you lead by example, you show others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. Instead of just telling people what to do, you show them the right thing to do through your own actions. Can you think of someone who has led by example? Just like Allan's grandpa, who, as Allan says, He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. He followed through. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. So, someone who walks the talk doesn't just make promises — but keeps them. When someone follows through, it means that you can trust what they say because they actually take real action. We can also say that someone walks the talk when their actions match their words. Sign up for previews, updates and to provide feedback. A big thank you to Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan who voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant. For more on NAIDOC Week, check out Celebrating NAIDOC week | SBS NITV. LISTEN TO SBS English 08/09/2023 27:29 English
SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
#90 Talking about role models
This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz. Learning notes Different phrases you can use when talking about people you admire: I really look up to my grandpa. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. I would say she led by example. They didn't just talk — they followed through. She's the kind of person who walks the talk. If you look up to someone , it means you admire them. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. If you lead by example , you're showing others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve. When someone has a big impact on someone, they them really make them think and change them in a meaningful way. In the dialogue Allan and Claire use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) to talk about things that started in the past and are continuing to have an impact on the present, and the past simple (verb + ed) to talk about thing that happened in the past and are finished. When Allan talks about his feelings for his grandfather and his impact on him, he uses the present perfect because he still has these feelings: Allan: I've always admired him. (have + admired) He's had a big impact on me (has + had) But this grandfather has passed away, and so when Claire talks about what his grandfather did in the past to cause such feelings, she uses the past simple: Claire: … someone who always led by example (led) Allan: .. He didn't just talk —he followed through….. (did + not + talk; follow + ed) …person who walked the talk (walked) Cultural information: Baker Boy is a proud Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist whose powerful work has inspired audiences across Australia and beyond. Blending English with Yolngu Matha—his traditional language—his music brings a unique voice to the Australian hip-hop scene while celebrating and sharing Indigenous culture. A multi-award-winning performer, Baker Boy was named Young Australian of the Year in 2019. Discover more about his music and story at . Transcript: (Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript) SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia. Think of someone you admire. Someone who taught you, helped you, inspired you, or showed you how to be a better person? My name's Kate, and I have a lot of different role models. A role model is someone who sets a good example and makes us want to grow and improve so that we can be more like them. They could be a family member, a teacher, a friend, or even someone we've never met. In this episode, we'll learn some easy ways to talk in English about our role models. You'll hear useful phrases, real examples, and a few stories from me too! Let's get started. Today, I'm taking you to a small, cosy café. The soft clink of coffee cups and the low hum of conversation fill the air. Allan and Claire are sitting by the window, watching people stroll past as they chat. The smell of fresh coffee beans drifts around them. Claire wraps her hands around a warm mug, smiling as Allan begins to talk about someone close to his heart. Allan: I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. Claire: Yeah, you always speak so highly of him. Allan: I do. I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Claire: Would you say he's someone who always led by example? Allan: Yes, I would. He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. Beautiful conversation, isn't it? It made me think about my number one role model — my mum. She's has always been the kind of woman who moves mountains for her children. No matter how hard life got when we were young, she never gave up. She worked long hours, cooked and cleaned at home, and still found time to support me and my brother every step of the way. Whenever something is difficult and I feel like life is too hard, I think of her — and I keep going. She's truly my inspiration, and now I'm getting emotional. Let's get to work and take a closer look at some of the useful phrases Allan and Claire used, so you can talk about your own role models too. Allan first said, I miss my grandpa. I always looked up to him. If you look up to someone, it means you admire them. You think they're a great person, and you respect what they do or how they live. And when you admire someone, you might try to be more like them or learn from their example. Claire then said, You always speak so highly of him. To speak highly of someone means to talk about them in a very positive way. When you speak highly of someone, you talk about all the things you admire about them — their qualities, actions, and character. Allan speaks highly of his grandpa because he respects and looks up to him. So, when you admire someone, you often speak highly of them to others. Next, we have, I've always admired him. He's had a big impact on me. Allan's grandpa had a big impact on him. When someone has a big impact on you, they make you think and they change you in a meaningful way. They influence your thoughts, your actions, and even your values. This big impact can be a result of something someone says, or something someone does, or even just how they live their life. For example, have you heard of Baker Boy? He's a Yolngu rapper, dancer, and artist that has inspired so many people. His music blends English and his native language, Yolngu Matha. Baker Boy brings Indigenous culture to the Australian hip-hop scene and has won many awards. He was celebrated as the Young Australian of the Year in 2019. He's young, but definitely a role model! Let's go back to our dialogue, Claire said, Would you say he's someone who led by example? Led by example. If you lead by example, you show others how to behave by doing the right thing yourself. Instead of just telling people what to do, you show them the right thing to do through your own actions. Can you think of someone who has led by example? Just like Allan's grandpa, who, as Allan says, He didn't just talk—he followed through. He was the kind of person who walked the talk. He followed through. We say someone follows through when they do what they said they would do. So, someone who walks the talk doesn't just make promises — but keeps them. When someone follows through, it means that you can trust what they say because they actually take real action. We can also say that someone walks the talk when their actions match their words. Sign up for previews, updates and to provide feedback. A big thank you to Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan who voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant. For more on NAIDOC Week, check out Celebrating NAIDOC week | SBS NITV. LISTEN TO SBS English 08/09/2023 27:29 English
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Miss Universe New Zealand winner's surprising job
A police officer has been crowned Miss Universe New Zealand, posing in her uniform with her sash to celebrate. Abby Sturgin, a Waitemata police constable, was took home the title across the ditch over the weekend. To mark her win, New Zealand Police posted a photo of the young cop to Instagram wearing her full uniform — complete with taser — in front of a patrol car while wearing her sash and crown. Hundreds of social media users rushed to the comments to wish the 28-year-old congratulations. 'Miss Congeniality,' one person commented. Another said: 'Slay queen.' 'Wow congrats – gotta frame this pic,' another person added. Another added: 'Absolutely wonderful I hope she wins.' 'So exciting! Good luck honey,' one person said. 'How inspiring! A police officer who is able to show her feminine side, to show that she can wear dresses, wear a crown and represent New Zealand on the world stage, along with balancing her other hat as a NZ police officer, upholding law and order/ and safety for the public,' one said. Another added: 'Model Role Model.' Constable Sturgin, who is of New Zealand and Laotian heritage, beat 11 other finalists to claim the title. She first began competing in beauty pageants at 18, saying at the time she was 'figuring herself out' and 'didn't think she was good enough'. Just two years after she started in her pageant career, she won the title of Miss Earth New Zealand. After her Miss Universe New Zealand win, she told Ten One magazine that society has 'built a perception that you can't be pretty, have brains and work hard'. 'I want to be able to show girls that you don't have to dumb down your achievements and your aspirations,' she said. Appearing on TVNZ's 7Sharp, Constable Sturgin said she always knew she wanted to be in a first responder job. She said she loved the fast pace and the fact she had to constantly think on her toes. 'I want young girls — or any women really — to look at me and go, 'She's really cool. She's got a really interesting job but she can also put on a pair of heels, have curly hair and a crown and talk about really important issues',' Constable Sturgin said. Constable Sturgin will attend the 74th Miss Universe competition — held in Thailand — in November.
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘I was sober but secretly scoffing slices of apple pie every night'
David Wilson, 60, is single and lives in Stamford. He's father to an adult son, George. Quitting booze six years ago was the making of me. I was 54 and it didn't just save my life, it got me a new job: helping other people make the break too. But while I was busy being a supposed role model to others, behind the scenes all was not as well. As is often the case with former addicts, I'd simply swapped one craving for another kind. Before January 2019, I was drinking a litre of vodka a night, my cholesterol levels were through the roof at over nine, and my blood pressure (184 over 126) was officially called a 'hypertensive crisis'. I'm lucky I didn't drop dead. (And yes, like everyone else, when the doctor asked 'how much are you drinking?' I'd shrug 'I like the odd drink.') Thankfully, after over 40 years of heavy drinking, I successfully gave booze the boot. But what no one really talks about is the fact that life doesn't miraculously become perfect when you're sober. The reason most of us end up abusing alcohol (or drugs) is to blot out some kind of pain. But even when you remove the toxin, its still there, lurking in the background. My career soared The freshly sober will evangelically promote the message 'life is rosy now'. They're not lying, because initially that is true. In sober circles they call it the 'pink cloud' – the high you feel when, post-withdrawal stage, life seems brilliant. A few weeks after being dry I was buzzing. Up at 6am, sweating it out on a turbo trainer in my mate's garage. I did the London to Brighton bike ride, then London to Paris. I lost over 3st (down from 21st) and I felt unstoppable. What's more, I'd relatively quickly gone from being 'Dave the Carpet' on a makeover TV show, to straight-talking 'Sober Dave' on Instagram. People related to the fact I wasn't some smug influencer running a daily 10k; I was just a big tattooed bloke telling it like it was. The year after I launched my podcast One For The Road, which also did surprisingly well, then came the book and it snowballed. I had a new purpose. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 (@soberdave) Yet my personal life was in tatters But while all that was taking off, behind closed doors my personal life was slowly falling apart. Admittedly, there were already cracks in my six-year-old marriage when I was drinking. Midlife marriages can be complicated; I had four step-children and my ex-wife had undergone cancer – more than once. I can't have been easy to live with, and fundamentally we were cut from different cloth. Stopping drinking wasn't a miraculous cure-all. My issues (a complicated childhood, a turbulent relationship which led to me constantly getting absolutely plastered, sleeping rough for four nights on the beach and culminated in the pain of my mum's death in 2018) were all still there. Once sober I started seeing life in full 4K, realising what I did and didn't want. So by 2022 my marriage was over and we'd separated. I packed my bags and left our London house, we both knew it was for the best. But it was unsettling, especially without alcohol as my trusty crutch any more, and with all the financial stress divorce brings. After moving around in-between rentals and hotels for the next year or so, I eventually bought my own place in the East Midlands. But I didn't have many friends there, so apart from work (I now coach people online as well as give talks in schools, companies and for the Blue Light professions) life could sometimes feel fragile. I'd take Rosie, my dog, out for long, lonely walks thinking about life. But here's the truth – while I'd remained sober throughout an emotional roller-coaster, I'd secretly swapped the booze addiction for a sugar one. No one admits that swapping one addiction for another is incredibly common. Whether it's food (like me) or shopping, work, exercise, social media – we all reach for something, people I meet in recovery circles all say the same thing. We're all a bunch of hypocrites because we're all human! I swapped my beer gut for a food belly Portion control was a problem, I thought I was being healthy having a weighty bowl of granola and Greek yoghurt in the morning, but I'd ladle on so much honey that breakfast alone was probably 700 calories. The bowl would weigh a tonne. Or I'd eat cinnamon buns, or wholemeal toast but slathered with peanut butter. Lunch might be four chicken thighs with jacket potato and salad (and I'd polish my halo), then I'd tuck into a huge steak and chips for dinner – enough to feed an entire rugby team. I wasn't a bad cook, it wasn't like I'd left all that to my wife during marriage, but I was naive about portion sizes and nutrition. In the evenings, I'd come home from a long day talking to people about alcohol addiction and scoff a family-sized apple crumble with vast amounts of ice cream, nipping back for more until – ah, f--k it – I'd finish the lot. 'I'm allowed treats, I've stopped boozing,' I'd tell myself. But just like my drinking had stopped being something sociable by the end, so too had my eating. It was something I'd privately binge for a dopamine hit, along with a huge dollop of shame. I ballooned back up to 19st 8lb through comfort eating, yet all the while I was out there giving talks, helping people get sober. I felt like a greedy fraud. I didn't think it was very 'manly' to diet, as us men generally don't talk about it, but I tried that Zoe patch thing, tracking my blood sugar, logging everything in the app. After three months I got bored and thought 'sod it – I'll be a happy fat, sober influencer' and own it in my big elasticated trackie bottoms pulling them up to my man boobs! But I wasn't happy, I'd found my divorce quite traumatic, and even though I'd had a relationship after that, I hit a wall last spring, feeling a 59 year-old fat b-----d. Plus I was a mess physically, I was out of breath climbing the stairs and my gut was by then hanging over my trousers. Finding the right diet So I was properly fed up and looking for ways to lose weight when I came across a lovely lady on Instagram, who explained how when we quit drinking – and sugar cravings start to take over – it's very common for people like me to gain weight gain. And with that comes a higher risk of diabetes along with other health problems. Sugar, you see, isn't just 'empty calories' but in fact a substance that drives cravings, addiction and long-term health issues in itself. More than just the waistline, too much sugar destroys our liver, heart, brain, and pancreas, too. I started focusing on stabilising blood sugar and getting insulin under control – which I realised was exactly what I needed. Signing up to what's known as The Human Being diet was brutal at the start. I kicked off with two days only eating vegetables and drinking Epsom salts, so let's just say the floodgates opened – I felt like I'd shed 5st on the loo. No one talks about that part! The good thing about it is the rules are clear: three meals a day (always combining a protein with vegetables) and a five-hour fast between meals to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This means more stable energy, diminished cravings and better moods (because we all know being hungry makes us grumpy). They seemed like the tiniest portions known to man. No oil, no sugar (including fake sugar and sweeteners) and no grains. You're not allowed alcohol either initially, but that wasn't a hardship for me. In fact, once you've gone through the extreme discipline of quitting booze, you've got the mental strength it takes for this kind of diet discipline. I followed the rules to the latter, with 'no negotiating, no excuses' the same mantra I'd had for quitting booze. And it was effective quickly, I dropped over a stone in 16 days. Within a few months, I'd lost more than 4st and was down to 14st 10lb. I could see my jawline again. I bought proper suits, stopped hiding behind baggy black jumpers. I started to feel proud when I walked into a room. By late autumn in 2024, I was at 14st 10lb, which for my 6ft height I'm happy with, even if I go up and down a pound or two. Looking ahead Now, I follow the plan but I'm not a robot. During the week I eat clean: salad and boiled eggs for breakfast, tuna and avocado on rye for lunch. No processed rubbish, no refined sugar. But I'm human. At the weekend I'll have a cinnamon bun. It's about balance. I'm not punishing myself, just not taking the mick either. Sobriety taught me this: I needed to stop running away. From booze, from food, from myself. Now, I do what people call 'sitting with my feelings'. I love my work coaching people through addiction and hosting a weekly sober group. I'm up at 5am, in bed by 10pm. As I'm single now I've no idea how it will be if I re-enter the dating scene. I'm certainly never drinking again but if I go out for dinner I can treat myself to some nice peppercorn sauce with my steak at least. Otherwise can you imagine me on a date? 'I'll have a lime soda and your finest salad please and absolutely no pudding' – that won't quite cut it. Right now I live a clean, quiet, grounded life. When people come and tell me they'd still be drinking if it wasn't for me it genuinely makes me so happy. I'm alive, I've got purpose and I'm trim. I love it. I turn 61 this month. Life is full of ups and downs, but I'm in the right place to manage them these days. As told to Susanna Galton Dave Wilson (aka Sober Dave) is a sobriety coach, author and host of the podcast One for the Road, a bestselling book of the same name. Follow him on Instagram @SoberDave What Dave ate before Breakfast: Huge portion of granola, with fruit, honey and yoghurt Lunch: Chicken thighs, jacket potato and salad (again enough for four people) Dinner: 8 sausages and mash with peas and gravy, followed by apple pie and ice cream Snacks: Toast slathered with peanut butter mid morning, the in the afternoon biscuits or cake Drinks: Coke, milky coffees and teas all day What Dave eats now Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs and salad Lunch: Tuna, red onion on rye bread Dinner: Small portion chicken breast and mixed veg, with no pudding apart from on my treat meal on a Saturday, which could be fruit and Greek yoghurt Snacks: None, just 3 meals a day Drinks: Black coffee with meals water in between How to quit a sugar addiction Blood sugar highs and lows disrupt brain function, which can make cravings, mood swings and fatigue feel unbearable, according to Petronella Ravenshear, creator of the Human Being Diet (HBD). 'Restoring healthy blood sugar balance is key to weight loss and to breaking sugar (and alcohol) addiction,' she says. Here's how to do it: Start the day with hydration Drink ½ a litre of water first thing on waking and another 1.5l before lunch, adding unsweetened and unflavoured electrolyte drops for energy if needed (e.g. Viridian Sports). This will help clear out toxins from the fat cells that have broken down overnight. Eat breakfast within an hour of waking up Waiting too long between meals can allow blood sugar to drop too low, making sugar cravings more likely. Stick to three meals a day In every meal, including breakfast, always combine one protein food, (e.g. fish, eggs, chicken or tofu) with a mixture of vegetables. Meals like eggs and salmon with avocado and tomato work well. No Snacking – try a pinch of salt instead Eating in between meals is not allowed, as there needs to be a five-hour fast, with water only, between meals. This helps maintain blood sugar levels which will diminish cravings and improve mood and energy levels. If you're feeling weak or light-headed during the fasting windows, put a pinch of sea salt on your tongue. Food to strictly avoid Grains, sugar, honey, sweeteners, alcohol and fruit juice, eliminate all fruit other than an apple, to be eaten with with one meal a day. The drinks allowed In between meals stick with only water, or black unsweetened coffee or tea with meals. When drinking with meals, adding apple cider vinegar helps with our blood sugar balance. Avoid intense exercise Don't attempt any cardio (for at least the first 16 days) to minimise cortisol (the stress hormone) which raises blood sugar Bathe in Epsom salts Before bed, add a pound of Epsom salts to a hot bath, then soak for at least 10 minutes, dry off and hop straight into bed. There's a theory these can draw out toxins – while that's unproven, they do aid falling asleep because of the magnesium. Prioritise sleep Get as much rest as you possibly can – it's when we're asleep that we're fat-burning and detoxing. And sleep deprivation makes us more like to crave sugar and carbs.
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
I went back to the team where it all started. I am able to be the role model I never had
I will be on a plane on Monday with Denmark heading to Switzerland to take part in my fourth Euros, but before the tournament I went back to where it all began for me, to Danish side FC Midtjylland. I was there to spend time coaching 80 girls from the age of eight to 13. More than 20 years ago, I began my own journey there and things looked very different then. There was no women's team and no women who played football. For me to go back as a role model these girls gives me a lot of energy. There is no better way to ground yourself than to be reminded where you came from. I'm really happy I am able to be that role model I didn't have myself, but most importantly it's fun. I love being around these young girls, some who are really good and all who are just happy to be on a pitch. There was no future for me at the club and when I was about 14 I had to move to another one an hour's drive away. Now, these girls are in here early – maybe a little too early – and are already started in small talent teams with high-quality training. They are being given an opportunity to develop in a way my generation was not. In 10 years' time, these girls are going to be so good. I was lucky I had parents who were supportive and willing to take me to a team I could play in, but there were a lot of girls who didn't have the same opportunities and support. It's crazy to think about how much talent was wasted. Now, these girls can play and train in the city they come from and the setups around them are of a much higher quality. I can see the growth in the talent pool and the quality of the young players coming into the national team or the Denmark youth teams. The technique and control of the ball is so much better than that of my generation when we were coming through. It's very interesting to see they have a natural understanding of the game as well. It would be easy to think I would feel slightly envious of what is available now and it would have been interesting to see how good I could have been if I had the same setup. However, I gained in other ways from having to try to figure out for myself how to get better as a player. We had to sacrifice a lot and nothing came easily for us and there were important lessons there too. Coaches have a wider responsibility today to ensure girls benefiting from better setups don't become too entitled. They have to know that it's also about hard work, among other things. They have different challenges though. There are a lot of things that are more difficult for them today. There is a lot more pressure from social media on the newer generation. That can affect their game, make them worry too much about making mistakes and then they've grown up constantly comparing themselves on social media and trying to get likes and follows. These are not good things to have in sport: you need to be confident in yourself and be able to play without fear of criticism or comparison. It's weird reflecting on the platform football has given me. When I was a kid I never would have considered I would be able to advocate for women's rights, equality, the environment, for young people and speak up on so many other issues. These are the things you don't realise you will reflect on as being as important – if not more – than the titles won. That platform wouldn't exist without the titles, but even when I reflect on those, I spend more time thinking about the moments with teammates rather than lifting the trophy. There is always pressure in major tournaments, but when women's football is developing so quickly across Europe, knowing the effect of a good tournament more widely back in Denmark adds more pressure. If we get to the knockout stage and if we do well there, that is something that brings the country together. In the past few years there has been more and more attention on us so if we do well it could be hugely positive for the development of women's football. There is no denying our group is tough, with Sweden, Germany and Poland in it. We had a tough end to the Nations League, a 6-1 loss to Sweden, who we play in our first game in Switzerland, but I don't think that loss has taken too much of our confidence from us. It's motivation to show it was just a one-off. Having played them so recently we don't have to spend too much time on tactics and formations, it's about being ready from the first minute, it's about all 11 players having to be on it, it's about the duels and it's about the energy. When we play against the better teams it is as much about the mentality. There is a personal edge to the game for me. Although we have played with and against each other many times, it is very special that I face my partner, Magda Eriksson, at a Euros for the first time. How do we interact before a big game against each other? I don't talk about our tactics and she doesn't talk about their tactics, but we know each other pretty well and so do the countries. It's hard for our families though – they get very nervous about us playing against each other because they want the best for both of us. That's the difficult part, you want the best for each other, but not in that moment. Pernille Harder plays for Bayern Munich and has 78 goals in 162 appearances for Denmark Numbers are in: England have announced their squad numbers for the Euros, with all 16 squads now confirmed. Despite a traditional 1-11 for most expected starters, Alessia Russo has retained the No 23 shirt she wore in 2022 at the home Euros and wears for Arsenal. New start: Crystal Palace brought in former England international Jo Potter as their new manager. Potter joins after two years with Rangers, where she won a cup double in both seasons. As a player, Potter won 35 caps for the Lionesses for 13 years and scored three goals for the national team. 'When someone makes that decision, it's for a reason. Millie's come out and spoken about her mental health, which I think is really, really brave to make that decision, to put that first. Now she's had the knee surgery as well to make sure that she's ready for next year' – Fran Kirby praises Millie Bright for her decision to prioritise her mental health. Despite South Asians being the largest minority group in the UK there has never been a player from the region at senior Lionesses level. Regular Women's Football Weekly podcast guest Marva Kreel explores why that is in this documentary for Copa 90. Roll up! Roll Up! Our Euro 2025 guides are coming thick and fast: team guides on Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain are live Our all-singing, all-dancing guide to every one of the 368 players at Euro 2025 is ready for your perusal, with stats, individual profiles and pictures for every single participant. From a stadium with an in-built retirement home to a ground that inspired British band Muse, we run the rule over the Euro 2025 venues in Michael Butler's snazzy stadium guide. Tom Garry on how Seb Hines and Giles Barnes have transformed the fortunes of Orlando Pride and the English coaching duo's unlikely route to NWSL glory. And our women's transfer interactive tracks all the deals from the world's top six leagues – NWSL, WSL, Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, Première Ligue and Serie A Femminile – as well as a nifty club-by-club guide.
