The gulf in everything from funding to training and even basic confidence was laid bare as England cruised past Wales into the last eight. Before kick-off one of the messages from the Welsh camp was that the elite teams at this Euros should be mindful of their own journeys and stay humble.
Yet the Lionesses are a group who have overcome their own demons, adversity and heartbreak. Over the past 10 months Ella Toone has turned to Beth Mead as a mentor; a teammate who knows the agony of losing a parent so young, all while under pressure still to perform at the highest level.
Mistakes galore at the back for Wales Ella Toone adds a second for England pic.twitter.com/6dr3fegc4Y
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025Those stats are made all the more impressive by the fact Toone came off at half-time. She hoped that her dad, who she lost last year three days shy of his 60th birthday, and Mead’s mum who passed away shortly after the last Euros, would be “up there with a few pints in their hand watching us”.
Sarina Wiegman was able to take Toone off precisely because she had already put the game to bed within 21 minutes, scoring from close range before a pinpoint cross to set up Lauren Hemp’s header and another assist to tee up Alessia Russo.
Alessia Russo with England's FOURTH Lauren James pulling strings in the lead up pic.twitter.com/zOHpzLOHWA
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025The fact Toone did not start the defeat to France was one of the main reasons for England’s opening defeat, Lauren James’ free role leaving the midfield two behind exposed.
Toone is perhaps best known for coming up with big moments – the first goal in the 2022 final against Germany, and a screamer against Australia in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. Fran Kirby’s are big boots to fill but she has shown glimpses that she can be the midfielder to do it.
“Massive credit to Ella Toone,” said Keira Walsh after the Wales game. “She’s come in and done an incredible job, people speak about her offensively but the defensive work she does for me and Georgia [Stanway] when she’s in there is incredible. She covers a lot of spaces that we can’t.
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That was recognised at United this year, when Toone won Player of the Year. These awards can be skewed by fame and popularity of individual players, particularly England ones, but it was a moment to recognise all that she had overcome in the last year. Nevertheless, much of the response was critical.
Toone gave a hint of what was to come with a brace in the warm-up friendly against Jamaica, including an early goal to break the deadlock. A player once seen as a “finisher” who would come on to see the game out is now among England’s most senior and influential.
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