Lucy Bronze says Arsenal’s Champions League triumph ‘fantastic for England’

Lucy Bronze believes Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League ultimate good fortune towards Barcelona can assist England’s probabilities of successful extra silverware at the global degree, as they get ready to stand Spain in Catalonia on Tuesday.

There have been 5 individuals of the England squad all for Arsenal’s European Cup win in May and the Chelsea right-back Bronze – who has gained the Champions League 5 instances, for a mixture of Lyon and Barcelona – is aware of how a lot self belief the north London membership’s good fortune will give to their Lionesses for the European Championship this summer time.

“It exposes you to that feeling of playing in big finals, and to what it takes to win, and the more players that we [England] have that are used to that winning feeling and the experience, going up against the best players in the world, it’s fantastic for England,” Bronze mentioned, talking on the RCDE Stadium, the house of Espanyol, the place the sector champions will host the European champions.

“It’s something that I’ve always said, years and years ago, when I first went to Lyon, that was what I wanted to do: test myself against the best players, win the Champions League, bring that experience to England. And you see as the years go on, and more and more players have done it, and then now we’ve got all the Arsenal girls as well, it’s just fantastic for us as an England team and us as a country, to have so many more players who are doing great things and achieving great things.”

The Arsenal quintet of Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Lotte Wubben-Moy all featured in 1-0 win towards Barcelona on 24 May, along Arsenal’s Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey, who was once stuffed with reward for Wiegman’s staff on Monday: “They have won already the Euros and have played big games already, and of course when you win, you feel stronger and have more confidence. That’s always dangerous. We could see against Portugal [on Friday] how they won that game with six goals and they are one of the best teams in the world. We know and respect that, but we have confidence in ourselves as well.”

England were with out Bronze’s Chelsea teammate Millie Bright on this global camp whilst the centre-back takes a destroy for her psychological well being in addition to to permit her frame to recuperate after the home season and – talking for the primary staff about Bright’s resolution – Bronze mentioned: “She’s missed. We’ve all spoken to Millie during the week. We’ve just offered her our support. Both physically and mentally, it’s been a long season for everyone but, having spent every day with Millie, I know she’s someone who’s quite tough and maybe just holds a lot in, so I think it’s been quite brave for her to come out and speak. And just from a friend’s perspective, I just want her to be OK, and give her as much time as she needs to feel OK again.”

Spain, who will probably be with out the Manchester City left-back Leila Ouahabi (ankle), have been 5-1 winners in Belgium on Friday to stick on the most sensible of Group A3 of the Women’s Nations League, with England in 2nd spot, earlier than the decider on Tuesday, with just one staff progressing to the semi-finals in October. This contest is the overall fixture earlier than Wiegman names her 23-player squad for the European Championship on Thursday and the Dutchwoman says she is just about able to make her ultimate selections.

“We’re pretty close,” she mentioned, when requested what number of extra alternatives she needed to make earlier than Thursday. “Of course you still want to get through the game [against Spain] and then make the final decisions, but we are pretty close.”

Wiegman – whose facet will probably be with out the suspended midfielder Grace Clinton however will welcome again a fit-again Ella Toone – additionally insisted she is not going to take any dangers on any of her avid gamers’ health for the European Championship after they face Spain, announcing: “We want to win that game and also that’s preparation for the Euros. So, short-term, trying to win that game, and a little longer-term, a bit long-term, it’s preparation for the Euros, which of course is the bigger picture.

“If a player has a little injury and is a risk for the Euros then I wouldn’t play her. That’s one difference. But we’re a good team too and will do everything to win that game.”

The fit could also be a repeat of the 2023 Women’s World Cup ultimate, gained through Spain, even though the final time those aspects met it was once the Lionesses who have been victorious at Wembley in February.