Despite a narrow victory over South Africa, Lucy Bronze admits England's team is still evolving. With Euro 2025 on the horizon, focus shifts to addressing challenges and strengthening team dynamics for the upcoming tournament.
Lucy Bronze has stated that England are still not the 'finished product' after their close 2-1 win against South Africa in Coventry on Tuesday. Following their loss to Germany last Friday, England got back on track with a victory over the South African team, which is ranked 50th, thanks to first-half goals by Leah Williamson and Grace Clinton. However, the game was more difficult than expected, with Thembi Kgatlana scoring a goal and another being disallowed for offside.
Reflecting on the match, Bronze stressed the importance of addressing issues now rather than waiting until Euro 2025, which is set to begin in Switzerland next July. She said, 'We have to evolve; we're not the same team that won the Euros. We can't be, because if we're the same, we won't win the Euros; everyone is developing.' She added, 'Germany the other night delivered one of the best performances I've seen from them in a long time, and South Africa was much tougher than people anticipated.'
Bronze emphasized the strong competition within the team, pointing out that players are contending for their spots as coach Sarina Wiegman tries out new tactics. "In the upcoming camp, we have two friendlies, and by the summer, we need to be the complete package. It's preferable to face challenges now rather than during the summer," she mentioned. "We are in a unique position compared to any previous England team; we hold the title of current champions, and everyone aims to defeat us. Many are watching us. Wearing an England jersey is a mental roller-coaster for everyone involved."
Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier, who joined the squad for the friendly match, made an immediate impact by assisting Clinton's goal. She admitted that the Lionesses 'made hard work of it' but expressed confidence in their preparations for next summer. 'They're a fast team on transition, but we'll build towards July and have many things to work on,' Le Tissier said. 'We have different players playing together. We were given our opportunity here, and I think it's about building those connections. These games are never easy; it was a tough opponent, and full credit to them as well.'
Le Tissier reassured fans by saying, 'We're good, don't stress. We're enjoying it; it's nice to be back with the group. We've been away since the summer, but everything is under control.' As England continues to evolve, the focus remains on strengthening team dynamics and performance in preparation for the upcoming Euros.
