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Speaking ahead of England’s first Euro 2025 game this weekend, Lucy Bronze has made it clear that the Lionesses are looking forward to the challenge that is Group D.
England have been drawn in what has been affectionately dubbed as the ‘group of death’ at Euro 2025, with France, Wales and Netherlands all vying for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Although the Lionesses are the highest ranked team in Group D, France and the Netherlands are both in the top 11 for FIFA’s World Rankings and Wales cannot be underestimated on their debut major tournament.
Lucy Bronze & England relishing Euros challenge
When discussing the competitiveness of the rest of England’s group just over 24 hours before they face France, Lucy Bronze said: “It’s a good and a bad thing.
“It depends on the result. If we lose that game, everyone says it’s the worst. If we win that game, it’s the best thing. It’s similar for every other team. I think we just try to look at the positives in the fact that we get to test ourselves against the good teams straight away. There’s no surprises going through the tournament.”
England face France on Saturday afternoon in their first game of Group D, but before that, Wales will play their first ever Euros game against a tricky Dutch side.
“We know the standard that you have to be at, whereas other teams maybe can build in, but you don’t really know the level then.” Bronze continued.
“So we’ve just got to take it for what it is and be excited to play in a big game. I think when you get to these kinds of tournaments, you want to play in the big games against the best players. And why not have it in your first game? It makes it more exciting.”
Euro 2025 is hardly Bronze’s first rodeo and the Chelsea full back has won every imaginable trophy in major competitions both domestic and international, so she won’t be phased by the nerves this weekend.
12 years since @LucyBronze‘s #Lionesses debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/A0PnHR2nxo
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 26, 2025
Bronze will be one of the first names on Sarina Wiegman’s team sheet for Saturday and should bring some invaluable experience to an otherwise youthful dressing room.
England Euro 2025 odds
While the world champions, Spain, remain short favourites to win Euro 2025 this summer, England are only just behind them in the odds at a price of 4/1 with the best UK betting sites.
The Lionesses would likely have to face Spain in the final should they advance as the top team in their respective groups, which could set up for a thrilling rematch of the 2023 World Cup final.
