England's Lionesses fight off a resilient South African side with a 2-1 victory in Coventry. As Euro 2025 approaches, Lucy Bronze and the team acknowledge the need to refine their strategies and team dynamics.
Lucy Bronze has admitted that England are not yet the 'finished product' after their narrow 2-1 win over South Africa in Coventry on Tuesday. Following a loss to Germany last Friday, England got back to winning form against the 50th-ranked South African team, with first-half goals by Leah Williamson and Grace Clinton. Nevertheless, the match was more difficult than expected, as Thembi Kgatlana scored to reduce the deficit and had another goal ruled out for offside.
Reflecting on the match, Bronze stressed the importance of solving any issues now rather than waiting until closer to Euro 2025, which will begin in Switzerland next July. 'We have to evolve; we are not the same team that won the Euros. We can't be because we won't win the Euros by staying the same; everyone is evolving,' she declared. 'Germany the other night was one of the best performances I've seen from them in a long time, and South Africa was much tougher than people expected.'
Bronze emphasized the competitive spirit within the team, noting that players are vying for their spots as coach Sarina Wiegman tries out new strategies. 'In the next camp, we have two friendlies, and we need to be a complete team by the summer. It's better to encounter issues now rather than in the summer,' she mentioned. 'We are in a position unlike any other England team before; we are the reigning champions, and everyone is eager to defeat us. Many eyes are watching us. It's a mental roller-coaster for everyone who wears an England jersey.'
Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier, who joined the team 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 transition quickly, but we'll build towards July and have plenty to work on,' Le Tissier commented. 'We have various players working with each other. We were given our opportunity here, and I believe 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 worry. We're enjoying ourselves; it's nice to be with the group again. We've been apart since the summer, but we've got everything under control.' As England continues to evolve, the focus remains on strengthening team dynamics and performance in preparation for the upcoming Euros.
