Lucy Bronze shares untold stories from England's winning run: My Euros In My Words

[Music] Hello, I'm Charlotte Harper and welcome to a special episode of Full Time presented by Amazon Prime. Today I'm bringing you a really special interview with one of the stars of the summer, Lucy Bronze. The England and Chelsea write back has been on the scene for a while now, but during the Euro's her star, Rocketid, from strapping up her own leg to dispatching a penalty to send the line-esses through to the semi-finals, to revealing that she'd been playing on a broken tibia. This woman cemented her status as a legend and a tough nut to crack. But there's a lot more to Bronze than those memorable moments, and over the course of our conversation you'll hear about how she felt the most unprepared going into the Euro's because of her injury. Shock at Mary Upps' retirement, England's penalty secrets and tears in the centre-circle after the final whistle. So come with me to a London hotel to meet Bronze and a very special guest, her dog Nala. [Music] Ready to roll? Yep. First of all, how are you? Good, yeah? We're covered, rested, ready to go again. When did you come back to Chelsea on preseason? We had two weeks from the final. We tried to negotiate because obviously a few of the days after the final were celebrations. It's technically they weren't off, but no, we still all had to go another one there because obviously the season starts quite promptly. So you went to the mile? Yeah. Had all the celebrations and then went straight for scouts? Yeah, more or less, yeah. Obviously I knew throughout the tournament I was playing with injury. I hurt my knee a little bit in the final as well. So it was like two weeks off was going to be fantastic for me, but also we needed to understand what I needed to do after those two weeks. Instead of just sending me on my way and maybe something was horrifically wrong with me. But there wasn't. It was all in control. Just went on my own after. Better come down? Yeah, it was a bit unusual, but at the same time, he scans. They take quite a while, so it was nice to just lie down and shut my eyes and not have to do anything, I guess. And what did the scans reveal? I mean, everything that we expected. Like obviously I played the whole tournament with broken tibia. It was still broken. hadn't miraculously healed itself. And then my knee is just my all-fony, which is like six surgeries deep and pretty old. It was like nothing major. So just slowly starting to rehab and maybe it's not miss a few games and that'll be it. Can you talk us through what happened? So it was a month, around about a month before the Portugal game. Was there a specific incident? Well, that's the thing because I've been playing with pain for such a long time. It was like hard to remember everything that's happened in training. I can remember being maybe kicked once or twice in training, but like it hurt. But I just, I don't know, I just get on with it. It was just the fact that towards the end of the season, it was like every single time I went to train or to play. It was like a constant pain. And then I used to say, oh, but I don't feel it in the game, but obviously your adrenaline takes over turns out it was actually broken then, but I was completely unaware. I just knew it was painful. Because you have big games, you know, like the semi-final against Barça? Yeah, so it was around just before then. Like I mean, I'm in pain every single day. Yeah, it was like Barça semifinals, Man United Way, where we won the league, we had Liverpool at home and then we had a difficult final. When I went to England camp and obviously the doctor at England's, no one made for like 10 years. And it was like you're saying that you're in pain. That's not Lucy behaviour. Like even when you're in pain, you're just like, I'll find like you don't tell us. So he was like, maybe we should double check this because it's not like you to come to us, come to us for help. It's normally us dragging you off. So they thought maybe it's a bit brain bruising or not? Yeah, that's what everyone just said. It's bone bruising. Be aware of it. Obviously don't take any knocks and yeah, like there's not much you can do for it. It should be fine. There was like the saying, like don't think it'll be broken because you won't be able to play with it. So I was like, okay, but I was, you know, there's an extra in Wembley Stadium and it takes like two seconds to do. So we've written before the game actually, I'd said I was, I think I was doing something in the physio room and I said, written, so we'd just do an extra in. He was like, you took the words out of my mouth. I was thinking the same. Just let's just, you know, take that box and be like, we've checked it. It's fine and it's there. So it's convenient. And then there was like, you could see like a really small obviously like a shadow. So then he was like, right, we're going to have to do the proper MRI scan to find out what it is like the property tell of it. And that was when the scan came back and it was like, oh, you fractured your leg. And at first I was like, okay, what does that mean? He basically showed me the image and he was like, it's kind of as if there's like a fun front at the front of your leg. That's kind of what the fracture looks like. So obviously not gone completely through at all. It's not even close to going through. But he's like, explains the pain. So it wasn't a hairline fracture or a stress fracture. It was a proper fracture. Yeah, it was proper fracture. But I think the term broken leg makes it seem like you're like snapped in half. Obviously, it didn't go all the way through the bone. Yeah. It was just very prominent at the front. In the euros, we cut out the back of my shin pad. Like, so there's in one of my shin pads as a whole. So that if I get kicked, obviously, nothing touches the leg. Really? Yeah. And then I had like tape all around my shin, like with to it had like a numbing patch and then tape to try and relieve like to check the pressure off it to put it elsewhere. Then a shin pad that had a hole in the back so that it wouldn't touch that if someone kicked my shin and like no one ever noticed. I've still got them now that Chelsea training. I'm not used to begin. I have to get some new ones. How did you tell Sonia and Serena? Well, Serena's part of the conversation anyway, obviously like with the medical staff. I mean, she probably found out before me, to be honest. I remember we sat down before the spin game in the nation's league to talk about like, right, what's the plan? Kind of thing. And then yeah, a little by little, the girls kind of found out. I didn't, I keep saying I didn't think it was that big of a deal because I was just playing with it. But then I just had to keep getting taken out of training or like in the spin game. I got took off and the girls were like, oh, what's wrong with it? You need to because sometimes I don't train because my knee and I was like, oh no, like I've hurt my other leg. Oh, what we've done. I was like, oh, it's like it was all hard to say because I've got broken leg. I don't know. It's fractured, which immediately everyone's in shock. But I was like, I'm fine. I can play. So eventually, like all the girls found out. And then I told my mom, I can't remember maybe when I seen her in person. Sonia, she got a text. For me? No, I think they all share information. So she already knew. But when it was getting to the euros, so we had like two weeks off and they said, don't do anything, don't train. See if it can heal a bit, which was tough because I wanted to train for the euros. There is a small risk, but we think you'll be fine. And I was like, yeah, I want to. And they said, you'll need time off after. So that was when I text Sonia. And I was like, just to let you know, like the legs broken. I'm going to play with it in the euros. I might miss pre-season. Hope that's okay. Lucy. And do you actually just text me back and was like, you see, I would do the same. I used to play like hope, everyone's well and you say, blah blah blah. Yeah. So it was fine from that point of view. What changed in your prep to make sure you could be in the best condition for the years? Yeah, it was tough because I had to skip out all of a lot of training sessions and do more bike sessions or off the lot of swimming. And there's so much swimming by myself. I mean, the only thing you can do is really rest. There's not like anything special to fix a broken leg, calcium tablets, vitamin D and the best things. And then yeah, I had like an exigen machine, which is like something that heals bones basically. I mean, it heals it like the smallest amount, but they were like every every little is going to help. So that I put every 24 hours, you just have to stick it on the area and leave it for 20 minutes. But it was one of the not scariest, but like most worrying tournaments have gone to because it was the least prepared I've ever been. And I've always said like, I'm never nervous because I've done everything and fully prepared. So if something goes wrong, like it is what it is, I've done everything I can. Until a certain extent, I had this time, but also I hadn't, but it wasn't for lack of try and how did you cope with that? Did you talk to anybody about that? And not really. I think it was just like one of them things. I can't change it. It's happening. It was like the choice. Like I want to be here. So I can't sit and feel sorry for myself. There's so many people who would want this opportunity. And I'm going to give it my best if it's not good enough to renal tell me the girls will tell me I'm not play. If I'm good enough to help the team, then I'm playing. And if I have to play with pain to do that, that's what it is. There was nothing much I could do. So I did think maybe I might not get to play as much. If Serena thinks like my performance is on what they should be. But yeah, it was always playing and I played the most in the end, potentially, outfield players. Yeah. Did doubt start to creep in that you just think, God? No. I mean, I never doubted injury. I knew it was going to hold me back but I don't think I ever let myself doubt myself because I know that like in especially for the England team I'm someone who's quite confident knows what they're doing. I know that a lot of players look to me so it was like if there's a small seeded doubt in me they're going to see it. So I think the whole time all the players just saw like normal Lucy like confident even though they knew what I was playing with I never ever once I never complained about it, I never complained about it. Like if anything I was like I really want to be trained and even though maybe sometimes I was like there was I think it was the warmup in two games I can't be much to where I was like oh god I don't know how I'm going to fair today like I'm struggling today but I need to like put a face on and just get on with it. I think it helps that I'm very much like I do my own thing in the warmup sometimes where people think oh she's not focused when she's warm and warm but it's just like sometimes money needs something different or the physios say like Lucy you need to not do this part of the warmup that part so even in the France game I remember running up and Rufu was like I S&C she was like don't do this bit it was like this had to happen so I'm just like walking around and I'm thinking a lot of people are used to me doing stuff like that anyway because I always had to so even like that preparation still felt the same so no one else ever saw that doubt that I might have had before again and then I do want to just touch on the absentees because that was a big loss in in Mary and Millie and Fran you were one of the first that Mary contacted how did you feel about each of those I mean yes sad I'm similar age to all three of them so I think I get on quite well with them there's always been like a really strong level of respect and commitment with me and those free just I guess because we've been so much together in different ways I remember Fran grabbed me when before we played Spain to say I'm retiring I'm a Mary called me on the way to come to tell me I was shocked just because for me it was like these are huge big players for England big personalities big like amazing quality like we're gonna need them we're gonna need them I still think we do need them like it's it's such a shame because they're such fantastic players but it was like we're just gonna have to like celebrate them and move forward and I think Mary's a great example like what Mary did at England Hannah's been watching like in close quarters for the past few years so actually Hannah should be the best prepared because she's watched firsthand the best goalkeeper in the world and then the same for like Esme or Jess who's stepping in and playing center back they've watched Millie Bryant do that for the past however many years then they're all attend like they watch Fran Kirby like and I was like every single player in this team because they're all younger than Fran apart from myself dreamed of playing with Fran Kirby like that's insane she's left some friends they're all prepared because that's the only way I could look at it was like we're losing them but we're not really because they've already left something with all these players that they've played with for the past two three however many years did it rock the bay I think obviously it was a shock to players because it was quite all of a sudden all these decisions like it seemed to the team teams been in quite a good place behind the scenes I think so much noise goes on now around the line S's think that always drew us closer together even when new players come in they realize like it really is a team environment where everyone just kind of sits together and it just pushes us all closer I think that's what happened what up y'all Zena Katie here host of No Off Season the home for Women's Basketball Podcasting at the Athletic March Madness is upon us the best of college ball is happening now and this year the WNBA is set to celebrate 30 years if they can ever sign a new CBA and get to the games as the world of women's hoop skits bigger and bigger no offseason is growing too coming to you not twice but now three times a week but that's not all alongside my brilliant co-hosts and athletic writers Sabrina Merchant and Stantel Jennings we're adding a new co-hosts to the next former WNBA star Mesa Claren did they'll be along for the ride breaking down all the SNOs and bringing that insider perspective they just can't fake so tune in Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays for the smartest talk in the women's game period by no offseason wherever you get your podcasts this isn't going to be pretty to watch when France called but it's the story of England's tournament same yeah so I remember this moment we lose the bottle but I'm obviously in that high position that we look at the rest of the back four or in that three back position because we were in possession so I've been told to go high so now I'm absolutely lagging it back like because obviously Baltimore's essentially the left winger which would be the right backs player so yeah I'm coming back to double it with Lear and then obviously there is when a trip fall over and I have no idea where in that moment I'm like if I keep the ball away then it's out of like I imagine you you roll over the balls just there you just try to kick it away obviously you're not gonna pull me up yeah I'll pull my leg back it's just as worse as trying to kick it but that's the unfortunate thing and I remember Lear's was like she was like I couldn't step because I thought I was gonna give a penalty because she was nipping through us so I've seen the ball that obviously Lear couldn't have got to because she probably would have given a penalty away if she stepped out and then I'm just thinking if I can kick the ball away but I just couldn't get enough on the floor I just couldn't get enough power on it to hit it away basically to fit against fans you said you know any team could lose against fans in their opening game and then we scored at the start it was off side by a fingernail or a toenail whatever you want and then at the end of the game we nearly drew and we didn't even play that good and like everyone made a bit of a amount of an out of a mole hill like we lost two onto France this is like wasn't the end of the world we knew that I just made the rest of the tournament every game's a final now can you just bring us into that room the day after and those kind of staff and player meetings what happened yeah I mean normally we have like an analysis session after a game and this one was just a little bit different instead of like Serena just showing clips I think we just sat around in a room and like everyone sat in a circle and normally when lines because we're facing like the screen which we're watching and she was like right we're gonna pull the chairs back with sitting on her who we're gonna speak to each other she got a stool and she sat in the middle and she was like I can't remember exactly what she said but she was like I'm gonna be vulnerable with you guys right now opening up to you to show you like it's okay like but everyone needs to sit together and then just kind of I think that members half the players probably spoke but like one by one it kind of went between different players saying what they felt from the game it wasn't even tactical stuff because I think we didn't feel like tactically we were a million miles off it it was just the connections there's just small things that are more about like what's in your head rather than actually the tactics of it so yeah there was a lot of front conversations from individuals like working through things like what does the team need from us right now like how we like how are we gonna put that to bed and what do we need going forward and I think it was a really good meeting because it allowed us to get a hot chest off of frustrations from the France game and then just move forward and it was like right let's put it right this time again I think we were confident that we could beat the Netherlands and Wales. Going into that Netherlands game it's a pressure game must win stay in how are you feeling going into it? I was really confident I think I enjoyed the games where it's like you have to give everything and I think in that moment like we knew that our whole each of us all knew that we all had to give absolutely 110% there was no giving less you can't say it yourself for the next game I think I enjoyed that moment because I know it definitely that every single player is like just fully going to be gassed out in it in no England game that we played in the Euros we could do that so I think for me it was I enjoyed it and then probably give me a bit of confidence. You said I think you like did a jigsaw with Misha and I did a Hannah Meisha with did a jigsaw. It was like a mountain I think every Nike team had been given a and Nike had come in to do something in the hotel because they set up a barbecue one day and they were like are you still doing that jigsaw and we were like we only opened it like two days ago and the Netherlands has already finished that as we were like right then we can't go to the game until we finish this jigsaw because we're not having people say that about us or yeah it was it was quite funny because may especially I was like I don't even like jigsaws but I'm going to do it now England Sweden I mean we were two no down after 20 minutes like I remember when the second goal went in and I was just like what have we done I actually knew the stats that I know nobody's just come back from that but I was like if any team's going to do it it's going to be England like where the team that's like meant for these kind of games but yeah it's you know the animals just like after 20 minutes what are we doing what we've probably done here met a lot of mess we've got ourselves in the the secret night that said the secret night Lucy gay, which doesn't say Lucy gay. No. What did it say? It had that we would basically change in the formation. I mean, Serena's done it a few times and she said to me two days after, "Oh, did you understand the note?" And I was like, "Yeah, just had the formation." She was like, "No, did you understand the different colours and the arrows?" And I was like, "Juena, we were losing, too, no." I didn't have time to recognise that there was green, red, blue. And I saw the formation and I knew what you were thinking. So that was it. And just needed to know who was in which positions. I think it would be such a funny game if we'd all been mic'd up for that game because some of the conversations were quite funny. Really? Can you say any more, though? So when I'm here, I just have too many swear words. I remember shout on at Hannah O'on Point. She said like a different word, but she basically said, "Yeah, like I said, don't I need to do it this way?" She was like, "Yeah, yeah, no, I'm just trying. I'm just really annoyed." She didn't say a notay to say a different word. And I said, "Hannah, we're all really annoyed. Just do it." Because obviously we just like, we just need to get through this game. Like, just do what you need to do. Get through it. We're all bloody annoyed. Like, get over with it. And then she was like, "Yeah, got it." Conversations like that happened where it was just like, each one of us were like, "What do you need me for?" And it was like, "Just do what you need to do to get us to the end of this game. And if we could score, cool." I remember watching the ball float over and the goal was completely empty because the goal keeps come out. And I was like, just get it on target. I crouched down because I was thinking, literally, if this spoons off your head, like we're done for, like this is now and ever kind of thing. But I was like, so happy because at the end, that means like I pointed to Chloe because it was something that, obviously I've been playing so high in the tournament. And I'd kept saying to him, "Just hit it back post. "Oh, trust me. "I'll get there." Like, even if you look up and you don't see me, just think it back post. Like this game's on to think it back post because the left wing is not following me properly. And every time I was free back post, maybe it was at half time, I even said, if someone gets on the left, just hit it back post. Honestly, I'm just there. So happy because I was like, finally, someone's done it and hit it back post. - Did you kick me advertising, though? - I was just like, it was that, just for streaming. And I was falling. I was going to fall into it. So just absolutely booted it because it was just like, I was angry, I was happy, I was just evasion. - Which leg was it? - My right leg, it wasn't that, yeah. Everyone was like, how was she kicked it with a broken leg? I was like, that's super, I don't know, I've done that. - I just need to, 'cause unfortunately, they didn't have your strapping in the deep dive tactical analysis. They didn't think it was a, it's not on Hadole. - Strangely. - Where did you learn to do this? - I've done it a few times. I told my doctor a lot of times when I was at Leon. The doctor was with Hannah, the physiologist with Alex. I went down and I remember like two minutes before, I'd cleared the ball and I felt something in my doctor. I've taught that many times, I was like, this is not the moment, we've got too much time left and I just need to not feel it. And I sat down and Neve was stood in front of me and she was like, do you want me to do it? And I was like, no, I need to just not feel it. So I did it as tight as I could right on the spot. That's why I kept, was trying to find the spot and then just tight as tight as I could. When I had to roll my ankle, I used to do the ankle by myself. My knee, it's quite normal. A lot of the players know how to do it themselves, just 'cause yeah, I mean in women's football, we've not always had like enough physios when I first played for England we had won. I remember Jill Scott always used to strap her ankles every single day by herself, just 'cause she knew how she liked it. So I, 'cause I thought if I stretch, it might like pull in maybe his tear, whereas if I keep it tight, like at least it'll protect it and I was thinking, I actually was thinking, I don't want to miss the next game 'cause it'll be torn, but obviously we're not even winning at this moment, but I was thinking that. And the ref was Spanish. Were you speaking to her in Spanish? - Yeah, I had the captain's arm bound around my wrist. And she was like, Lucy, you need to put the arm bound on properly and I said, I can't, I said, basically, the first game obviously leased the captain. It kept falling down her arm, so I kept man's a seamstress. So he made it smaller for her, the referee was like, Lucy, you need to put it on your arm properly and I was like, I actually can't, like, it's been made for Lea and her arms are small and I was like, in mind of like two mussels, so it hurts when it was up there. Like it was a strict in my blood and Lea was like, that's so embarrassing that your wrist band is my bicep. - Penalties. - We never meeting about penalties. We always do every tournament and they always change a little bit like, well, yeah, you just get like a Google doc sent and I don't really know what it says 'cause I just click, okay, it says like what preference number you would take in a penalty shootout so it has one to 11. For example, Chloe might put five. Maybe someone like George Stanley would put first because she's really gonna take the first one. It's just people's preferences 'cause I don't know if people feel pressure in different ways whereas I just, it had like one to 11 and they had any comments and in any comments, I just wrote, I'm not bothered and put next side. I think that's why I'm like number seven. You practice penalties at the end of training but I wasn't training. So that didn't practice any penalties in the tournament. So it's probably again, wow, seven. In that Sweden game, the subs aren't in that huddle so that it's like smaller and we can hear better. Obviously Lea and Kira weren't on the pitch. So I had to be like to the girls like, if you don't wanna take one, it's absolutely fine. Like you can put your hand up and say like, this is too much for me. I'm not ready. And we can switch numbers. I was like just because Serena's giving you a number does not mean that we can't change. Like I'm happy to take any penalty. So if someone just wanna take it, I'll take it. But everyone was like, no, like we're happy, we feel good. So that was like the process of basically the penalty shoot out. - You didn't practice any penalties? - Me personally. - Yeah. - I think I hit two penalties the whole time. - It's anything. - Yeah, because sometimes when we played like five aside, it would start with a penalty. So they would be like, we take a penalty each team and then we start the five aside, like the small sided games. So I took two penalties and one of them. But normally penalty is at the end of training. - Yeah. - So I'm already like in the ice bath or something by then. - And the whole psychology around the process, like is that a team thing with England or is it individual? - Yeah, it's a bit of both, but it's very much individualized to like what you want. So as much as I'm sat at the scene, I didn't practice a penalty. I've practiced my process a hundred times. Like it's been the same process the whole time I played for England. I just never had to take a penalty before for England. So yeah, I don't think. - And what are like the principles under Serena and I and? - I guess it's like 30 times. Especially when it comes to the referees whistle, because a lot of people, the whistle goes and that's their automatic thought to be like, I need to take it now. But actually the whistle goes and it's more like, now it's your time. So you can see people tip penalties, whistle blows and they're like, Russian. But actually if you're not right, go and place the ball again like, take your time, do what you need to do. And then just repetition. Yeah, I guess it's individualized 'cause it's like you find your own process. But in these meetings, I know that they said to Chloe, like, oh, would you like to tell the girls like your process, not to copy it, but maybe someone might be like, oh, I might like to try that. Then I think Georgia's down there, like two people who take a lot of penalties for England. They were like, oh, explain to the girls your process and why you like it. Two completely different players, different processes. But then it's like now going find your way of doing it. - Okay, so you've got your process. Where did you develop your process? - I don't know. I think mine's like counting. So I just like numbers. I think it's something that like calms me. I really like even numbers. I think there's something like balanced in that. They always has been in my head. So my process, like, I find like the dot of the ball. I put that down first. I step next to it. I take six steps altogether 'cause six is my favorite number. So I go four back and two to the side. Yeah. - Okay. - And it's like a right anagle triangle, which I also really enjoy mass. So first time I've said that. - Ah, the subject process. - So when I step back, I think you can see on the video, I'm going one, two, three, four, five, six. I stand still, wait, and then I do two steps and then I'm not gonna take it. That's like my like calm, not getting like too excited or too nervous or anything. Yeah. We're very like process driven when it comes to Pelt, it's the time to take out like the nervousness or like not, instead of having to think it's just like these other steps. So you don't have to go, well, what do we do now? What do we do now? We're so driven on the process that we know that that's how it goes. I always try and go and like collect the person when they're coming back so they don't have so far to like walk either way and stuff. I really enjoy it. I'm really pounding short of fingers. Yeah, there's like small gains to be had. - Yeah. And talking about like that body process, you're not specifically partnered up as just anyone to go and congratulate or control. - Yeah, it's not specifically, but I think for me, especially, it's quite easy for me to do it. 'Cause I'm, yeah, like a lot of people, some of the other girls maybe is processing and trying to figure out what they're doing, whereas I'm quite good at like compartmentalizing. So I'm quite good at that. Yeah, maybe if it's someone specific, you might go and get them if it's like, somewhere like LJ, like I was straight to go and get LJ kind of thing. - Yeah, I actually felt once you missed. - I mean, yeah, I was obviously good for her. And it's crazy, like the conversations we've had since then, about the penalty shootout and stuff, like how she actually felt. But I was like, I wasn't disappointed. I was just like, like sad for her because I was just thinking, I want to share because everybody knows how good she is and are completely like believed in her 100% and stuff. But I guess that's just penalty shootout. It's so, so decisive in small moments. It's not as, although it's such a simple process, it's not always as straightforward as like, one, two, three. - And how are you feeling in the line? - In the Sweden world. - Yeah, do you remember who you sat to think standing next to? - I think I was next to Neve because I was really squeezed the shoulder really tightly at one point. I'm sure I was next to Neve at the beginning. And like, and I talk a lot as well. Whereas Neve was just a dead quiet. - What are you saying? - Just like, like, oh, she's gonna do this. She's gonna do that, like, I don't know, just talking and talking. And yeah, just celebrating every time we scored or every time Hannah, like, said, there's some, all their mistakes. - Right, your penalty. - Yeah. - Everyone talks about the long walk. Does it feel long? - It didn't to me because I just obviously struck my leg beforehand. So in the moment, I didn't expect it to go to seven penalties and I was seventh. So I like, still had this strapping on my leg. But then when the girl before me, the Swedish girl, got her saved. That was the moment where I was like, oh, I'm actually gonna have to say it one. So I started walking and I was like, I can't kick the ball with this on my leg. So part of that walk, I was like, taking the strapping off anyway. And then, like, again, like, I think, Keir and Leo laughing at the game because they were like, the way you took it off and then just fling it behind you, it was something out of like a movie or something. We were just like, right, what's he has to score now? I said the funniest thing. I didn't, I wasn't even aware of what I was doing. I was just taking it off and throwing it away so it wasn't like in my way when I was walking. But yeah, so then the walk wasn't as long, obviously Hannah, Hannah brings us the ball anyway. So that's part of the process. Hannah brought me the ball, like, just past edge of the walk. So it wasn't really that far to walk. She gave me the ball and I said to her, I'm gonna score this and you save the next one. And then we've won and she was like, okay. So that's what I was like, right, I've said it to Hannah so now I have to score because I've said it out loud. Put the ball down left foot. One, two, three, four. And five, six to the side. Then stop, two steps and then run all. - Was your heart going? - When I was taking it. - Yeah, were you conscious of like your breathing and? - No, I think that's why I like counting there. So when I'm counting it was like, that's all I was thinking about. - Why did you pat the grass? - To make sure I didn't slip. Beth shouldn't done that in the final way. - When did you decide where you were gonna put it? - Once I put the ball down. And then I was thinking, I didn't wanna go either side which is what normally I've practiced. Just 'cause my, yeah, my body wasn't in. To step down with my left, her, to pass with my right, her so it was like, we have to do the most straight forward penalty which is down the middle so that you can. - And the feeling afterwards? - I think in my head I was like, right, we've won it. Yeah, I just had like a feel. Obviously the penalty show, I wasn't fantastic anyway. Hannah was doing really well. And I feel like sudden death so hard. And like I said, when you go first and the person scores and then they celebrate and like that, it's quite intimidating to someone else who's coming now, you're the seventh penalty taker. So likelihood is you don't normally tell them, you now have to score to stay in it, not to win, to stay in it. Like I didn't even know who it was who was walking towards me. That's who I was looking at, like, as soon as I turned around. But I couldn't, like, I couldn't tell you what she looked like. I could just say I was looking at a person walking towards me 'cause that person's obviously had to start walking. And as soon as I turned around, I've seen someone walking. And I was looking straight at them and I was thinking, "No." You're listening to full-time in conversation with Lucy Bruns. I wanted to ask about Serena and her motivational techniques. Okay. 'Cause we heard that she did like some pre-match, quite motivational speeches. And there's one time that she got her chair, was it? And that she stood up on the floor chair for the stool. Yeah, can you tell me about that? That was the stool that she had from the meeting after France. So we came and changed and we was like, why is there a stool in here? 'Cause normally there's not a stool in. And then before the game, she was like, "I've brought this stool from the hotel. Remember being stood on it, saying about how vulnerable I was and I have got your back." And that's why I went from use today and something like that. Tell me about the wash bag. In glitter writing, like a Barbie style writing, it says, "Bitches get sh*t done." Talked me to that, she's supposed to end just one pre-match game. Well, this whole like proper England thing has kind of started since the turn of Christmas 'cause it felt like our identities kind of changed a bit. And but there's all this talk of like European champions, European champions, European champions. And we were like, that's the last thing we need is to go to the Euros as the European champions. Like we just need to be England. So then it was like proper England and that's where that came from, like a conversation. And then it was before we played Spain in Wembley and it was like proper England. And then Serena like just randomly come out and said something. I just want you to be bitches. So like, like everyone obviously fans it hilarious when she swears 'cause it's like hearing you grandma, your mom's swear or something. Yeah, and she said something like, you gotta be bitches. So then obviously we won that game. So after the game in the media, we were very much talking about proper England 'cause that's something we'd said. But we couldn't say like the whole bitches thing 'cause that's, yeah, you can't say that in the media. But that kind of came out of that game and it was just like quite funny. That's what we did in that Spain game. We like bullied them at Wembley. So yeah, it just kind of stuck from there. And then they just came back out at the euros of her. She just said it pretty much every game. - Where did the washbag come from? - She brought the washbag to a meeting one day in the euros and she was like, so this is my new washbag. She put it on the table. She started pulling things out that like bitches need to get shit done 'cause I was like, what is she going on about? Everyone was proper laughing. She'd bring out tape and she was like, for their moments that you just need to get shit done just like, I hadn't even strapped myself up before this moment. So it was just like complete coincidence. There was a bouncy ball. I remember that. She was like, do you know what this is for? Because when someone puts you down, you bounce back up and you threw it off the floor and it bounced back up. And we were like, what is going on with Serena? - Was she straight first? - Yeah, she's always straight first and we're like laughing. - Do you still take my cup up for her? - I think I'm the one that annoys her the most. I'm also the first one to stick up for her because I'm like, it's not easy to speak in a second language all day and I'm like, I'm probably the person who can relate to that the most. So I do stick up for a bit but then I do make fun of her just to like, just to make her more relatable to the girls. - Yeah. - Yeah, no one sees her as like a scary manager. She's relatable, she laughs at herself. - So you go behind against France, you go behind against Sweden, you go behind against Italy. - It's a theme, isn't it? - Did you ever think we're going out? - I didn't, but I did think it was a struggle for us and I think playing the toll of playing like these long games and these emotional games really like was like heavy. That's reading game and going extra time and penalties and the way it was. Like I think you could see the fatigue on our players than in this game because that game was so like so too no doubt and all that was so dreaded and I don't think but it was just like the heavy legs of everyone was like, come on, where's this spark gonna come from? That was the only thing it just felt like and that day of the time was and stuff like that as soon as they all went in. But yeah, me, so to the rescue. - Do you remember anything going into the final [BLANK_AUDIO] Sunday like how you slept or how you're feeling. Did it feel any different? I remember walking on the pitch with like me and some of the younger players in the like pretty much stuff and I was like that was the I mean that was the only moment where I thought about the last euros because I was like this is not the same as Wembley. That was the only thing I was like this is so amazing that we're playing in a final but Wembley was like epic talk on to and maybe it's been English. That was the only split second I thought about the last euros and I said that to someone but yeah well for them I just was like but this is still pretty cool and there was a good pitch and stuff. I don't really remember much about the rest of the day. I remember in the warm up I stopped the warm up because I had to get like a pill off the doctor to stop myself from being sick from taking like pain colors. Yeah I was like warm up when I was like that doesn't feel right. So I just. You can get quite bad like acid reflux. Yeah you can get like stomach ulcers if you take too many which I wasn't taking them the whole time. I'd only take them around games and then off days I wouldn't take them so it was like to not be like too much on my stomach but by the time I got to the final I was feeling it better and all the gels from too many extra times and cramped juices that I like vinegar and all this salt and stuff. Yeah by the time the final come I had a gel and then I was like no my stomach doesn't feel nice. I need something to stop me being sick. Yeah were you nervous before the final? No not really like I always say to everyone like to obviously spend with the favourites and I'm like but if Spain were meant to win nobody would be turning up today. Like we all come to watch football because anything can happen. Like so it's one you're in the final like that's the last moment the rest of them are probably more on overracking. Once you're in the final it's like well you're already here and anything could happen in in a final like the person who wins doesn't always win isn't the person who's supposed to win doesn't always win. The person who's supposed to score doesn't always score like that's why people watch it because it's unpredictable it's football it's sport it's entertainment so I guess I just think of it in that way. And did you do any jigsaw? The jigsaw was completed by then? Yeah we did jigsaw that were sweetening in me, meesh made like a mini stadium to go out of Lego. No because this is earlier kickoff as well. So the other days you've had so much time to burn because it was nine o'clock kickoff so it was such long days and this was the first time where everyone was like oh my god it's not nine o'clock kickoff like you don't have all day to sit and just like thinking you're room or waste time. We always go for a team walk but this time we got followed by loads of fans which was different so normally we go for a team walk and like some people go out and get coffee and stuff but this time it was like everyone just needs to go back to hotel because there's too many people outside. How hard is it to come back against Spain when you want to know down? In this game I felt better in this game than Italy game. I felt like our game plan was better for Spain. We were in a better flow, we were a bit more relaxed, we were a bit more energized going into the Spain game than the Italy game. Like we had really good chances at the start of this game. I think everyone expected Spain to win and to go ahead and rally and the air but like in the first ten minutes I think we could have been up like two nil as well. So I think that gave us a lot of confidence and then just the reality of what we'd done throughout the tournament it was like I think we weren't afraid of Spain because the only thing that maybe might have hurt us was being physical because we were so tired but I don't think that's a strength of Spain so it was like we were always gonna be in this game and I think we all felt that. I love our goal and I had to be in touch with the ball. I don't like being an out and out midfielder but I'm quite comfortable coming in as a fallback to help and that's what I mean this was the game plan and this is why I love our goal so much because the context behind it is like amazing and it's literally what happened and that's how everyone will watch the cross and the header but the build up is what we planned for. Talk me through it. We changed a bit and I was going to be in midfield as a two with Kira sometimes but wide other times but it kind of depending on when Hanna was playing another ball out and we kind of weren't on the same page in the first half so it never really comes to fruition that much. You and Kira. Me and Hanna. Right. Because obviously there's quite a difference between me being next to Kira and me being the right wing like I've been in the other games like it's quite a big distance for me to cover in a split second of playing out and playing along because playing along I need to be there or why you hit no one and playing short I need to be there why Kira is not going anyone. Serena sat me and Kira down a couple days before the Spain game and I was like this what we're thinking and I was like maybe I'm not the best person to put midfield like couldn't you drop Georgia down just because that was like I don't know if you use a confident but Kira was like no you can do it so when Kira said that was like if you think I can do it I'm gonna do it like if there's one team needs I'll do it so we practice it in training and once of me coming into midfield was like great I'm tired my leg hurts my knee hurts I feel sick and now I'm playing in midfield against the best midfielders in the world just what I wanted to do on a someday even though but it was like that moment where everyone else feels really comfortable and I was like I can't can't show one one seeded out in this moment because like I'm not the key to this play but that's kind of how the rest of the team are able to be where they are so I have really have to make myself so uncomfortable to get the best out of some of our best players so basically it was like me and Kira as two because in that moment Alexia is going to think that she's picking up a midfielder so the whole point was bombatian Alexia will think that they're picking up two players but Patrick's gonna have two tens because she's gonna have two Nian down my which is impossible to pick both them up and we saw in the Switzerland game she's struggled picking up two tens because them too aren't as aware as what's behind them as much as what's in front of them so they're gonna like leave Patrick because Patrick's quiet I mean I played it with a barter genuinely she's really good at that but at the highest level you're not there for a split second it's hard so George is in one pocket Tunis in the other and Patrick's got to pick both of them up so if I come in that means that one of them will be with me I don't want to either pick Kira up George is free or stand with Tunis free which Tunis was free a lot in the first half if they're gonna step then Tunis or George gets to ball if they stay back then Kira gets it because Alexia thinks she's picking me up as a midfielder well I'm not a midfielder so in that moment Alexia's picking me up I Tana's then had to like pick between that she's come let it so Kira's got time on the ball to find a pass George is in the pocket because Patrick can't come all the way across because that's how I've attend which was Tuni here they've left to George are completely free so everyone's like how the hell's Georgia in their half the pitch run them with the ball completely free like we've broken like the entire front line of press with two passers just because I'm stood in midfield and I've known him touch the ball I'm just walking but I was so happy coming in on the on the full backs this way because that's where they leave space I don't know obviously Alexia's done really well I go to Georgia and Kira and I was like it worked it worked like I wasn't even bothered I don't even remember who scored across it like they're all celebrating together but I was with George and I was like that's what we did in training like keep doing it I love that yeah because you see that Patrick all the way over there because she can't pick her up this one is when you go down yeah a two minutes before that like my knee cut like I've had some of these surgeries like my knee's a bit of a mess so it just was catching and it got stuck what do you mean it got stuck it like locks it's like what happens when you tame in this because I haven't told in this because there's don't have way of like 10% left and it's a mess so I was just trying to push it out which I normally do I do it like quite regularly but in this moment like it wouldn't so I was I had to take the ball out and I'm trying to like move it to get it to go straight it just wouldn't like it wouldn't lock out and then normally I don't have the physios to come on so they come on I was like just move it like just get it out and I'll be fine and then I just tried to carry on and I was like yeah I'm fine I keep playing and then I remember running over for the half time of second earth extra time and it's pretty and it was like I'm taking you off like this is like too much now I was so devastated I went and sat behind her like seat in the bench so that no one could see me and just started taking off all like the strapping on my legs and stuff and I was just like devastated and I was like I can't believe I've had to come off and I'm tired was the right thing because I was really struggling but we'd spoke about it previously like in last year I played against France with a bad knee and she was like I always just let you let you let you play because you'll never let me take you like you You'll never say to come off. And I was like, I think you're just gonna have to take the ownership. So at the end of the year, she was like, that was me taking care of you for once and doing the right thing instead of waiting for you to be like, I'm done. 'Cause she was like, I knew it was just never gonna come. It took me like two minutes to sit down and then I was like, (beep) that. I need to get my hat on there. It's to go all the way to the top of my boots off. Went and sat next to a Lesia. And I was like, a Lesia, how do people sit on the bench? Like, this is awful. Like, she was like, I know, I can't do anything now. And then just, the panties come in and I just got all my energy back. I just kept my knee up myself so that I could stand up. And yeah, I could remember the panties that well. I was just like shouting and tearing, just making noise in that. Just going back to when you came off. You obviously devastated. Was that like, 'cause you just so wanted to finish this game? - You just feel like more in control. Is that what it's like given up the control? It's not even that I think the team needed me. Like, well, they didn't, like, leave the damez and when she come on. And she took a penalty, which I wouldn't have been able to say either. Like, I was so happy that she, like, she come on, took a penalty and they woke up. Eurone was fine. Like, that was so sick. That was the right decision because I couldn't have done that. It's just I've put on a front this whole tournament and worked so hard and this is, that was the last moment. So I had to come off and there was like, I can't, there's nothing else I can do. Like, it's done. What will be will be and it's completely out of my control. And then it took me a second to think, no, I can still influence this. 'Cause she asked me the next day. She was like, "Will you set me on the seat?" She was like, "I tried to tap you on the head to see if you were okay." I said, "I just wasn't doing what I'd speak to anyone, to be honest." I said, "I just needed a minute to like, compose myself and like, just get rid of it for everybody else." Yeah. And then during the penalty shootout, how did you feel? So confident. I know Spain really well. I think that was like a nice thing. I obviously know their goalkeeper really well. The players that we had on the pitch, I was so confident in them. I think having gone through the penalty against Sweden, it was like, the girls then realized like we have nothing to lose. We did some bad penalties, a couple of good ones and we still made it through. I think it gave the girls a lot of confidence. Whereas I know Spain haven't been in that moment, and I think that's like heavy. They're in an amazing team, amazing players, but to be in a, the Euro final, like a penalty shootout, like, it's such a different role of emotions, processes, and just processes that for me, I felt like we were ready for this process of penalty shootouts, what it takes, and how it goes. So yeah, I was like super confident. I think you also in the center circle, obviously just really upset. Was that like, tears of pain? I think it was the first moment, like apart from being subbed off, it was the first moment I actually got to be upset about feeling and pain. Whereas the rest of the time, I was like, I'm fine. I didn't cry once with my knee, I didn't cry once with my tibia, like the pain was excruciating and it was like, nope, I don't feel it, it's not there, it doesn't exist, keep going, keep going, keep going. Now we see the long behold that end, it was, that's why when it was subbed off, it wasn't about being subbed off, it was just like, I can finally like, when I took that breath, it was like everything come out. And then finally when celebration was over and sitting down and I was like, I can't hold it anymore, like I'm just like, my legs broken, my knees hurt. I hurt so much, like it hurts, like just let me be hurt for a second. It hurts. And the rest of the time I told myself it wasn't hurt. Yeah. I guess I just didn't realize it was a thing. So understated. How was the party? Did you, any specific memories of a talk, remember? At the parade, you're like, yeah, I can't really remember anything. Yeah, from evil to be fair. Yeah, it was different, it was funny 'cause we took the bus back to Zurich, which was quite nice in a way because we actually got to spend like time together, whereas obviously if we went last, and one of the last time the bus trip was quite long as well. But it's nice to just sing songs with the girls on the bus. I really like Tony's broken glass. I love that. It's become like a thing now, but-- I thought it was class. The first time she did it in like, I think it was the changing room on the gym. I was mean, I guess you had tears coming down off of it. I was like, that's so funny. And then when she got on the bus, that was so funny. I don't know what is about with that girl just like, she just makes everyone laugh. Could you dance or do anything? Are we in too much pain? No, I mean, I had a few beers, and then I was just like, what is what it is by now? I did sit down for a little bit at the start with my family. Yeah, the party was nice, and then next day we flew back to London. How's the mall? Was that-- what did that mean to you, so you think? Yeah, that was crazy. It was funny 'cause there were any other experience that I've had similar with Bassa when we went everything there, and the men won the league. So we did that through Barcelona, and it was insane. And I remember thinking, like, God, this would be insane to do in London, but I never ever thought that we'd do anything close to that. We were all like, Trafalgar Square, let's get back to Trafalgar Square. And when they were like, no, we're not going back there. We was just like, what? We're going to Buckingham Palace down the mall, and we were like, no, surely not. And then all those people turning up was insane. I can't believe how deep the crowds were. I think it was like 60,000. And I'm like, we couldn't even get 60,000 in a stadium a few years ago. And now they're just coming on the streets to like just whatever else and stuff. Like, yeah, it was insane. And just the difference from the last year was to this year, and then Bernaboy shows up as well. Yeah, it was like pretty special experience, I'd say. That was the most charismatic I've ever seen Serena. Everyone was like, combination like Bernaboy. We were like, I'm sure we always talk about the fact that she loves Bernaboy. All the time she's like, put Bernaboy on. Yeah, so I think the general public were so confused to why this little Dutch lady knew who Bernaboy was, let alone like new word for word, his songs. And then danced with it. Yeah. Still got you, I am 2027, OK? Yeah, I mean, I think like anyone like, if you're playing, you've always got your sights on the next tournament, a free national team. I want to keep playing a play football because I want to play for England. That's no more obvious now than it has been before. After the year, I was thinking everyone realizes when I'd say I love playing for England, like I think I've finally been able to kind of show that a little bit more. Like I've always been obsessed with England, playing for England, being successful, leaving it in a better place, even being around the younger players now at the Euros and talking to the Mayor. So I'm watching you all the next one that has to take over and be like the rock of the team and be this fighter and stuff like that. So even just sharing that to make sure that England's in a good place when I leave is so exciting for me. So yeah, I want to go to the local, if I make it, I make it, if I don't, I don't. Like, if I'm fitting and playing well, I get picked and I go on a play, I'm so fortunate that I've played like seven major tournaments in England. Like I think I've got the most appearances and tournaments of anyone, men or male or female. - 36. - Like that's crazy. I would never imagine that before. So I'm very happy with what my career has given me so far and I think I make a point where I can just enjoy it so much because I've accomplished so much and getting to Brazil would be amazing. - So that was my conversation with Lucy Bronze. I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Thank you for listening to this special edition of Full Time. Make sure you're subscribed to Full Time, wherever you get your podcasts and go follow the show for all our extra videos and interview snippets on social media at TA Full Time, on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. If you want more from Lucy Bronze, you can read our exclusive interview, "My Euros in My Words" over on the Athletic. And in case you didn't know, the Athletic has partnered with Yahoo Sports to provide free best in-class coverage of women's sports. Check out the Women's Sports Hub at sports.yahoo.com/women-spots. We'll see you soon.