England defender Millie Bright is excited about the strength of the Lionesses squad and believes that the new additions to the team are taking them to a higher level. Despite missing a significant part of the season due to injury, Bright has been named in Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers. England will face France at St James’ Park on May 31st and then travel to Saint-Etienne on June 4th for the return tie. The same squad will also play against the Republic of Ireland in Norwich on July 12th before heading to Sweden on July 16th.
With fierce competition for places, Bright emphasizes that no one’s position in the team is guaranteed. She believes that having competitiveness and a drive to push each other in training brings out the best performances. The squad has seen some great additions, and Bright acknowledges the need for continuous improvement and development. She states that football never stands still and always goes to another level.
One player in particular that Bright praises is her Chelsea teammate Aggie Beever-Jones, who has received her first senior Lionesses call-up. The 20-year-old forward replaces Rachel Daly, who announced her retirement from international football in April. Beever-Jones had an exceptional season with Chelsea, scoring 11 goals and providing two assists in the Women’s Super League. Bright commends her attitude, mentality, and development as a player, especially after going out on loan and coming back stronger. She believes that Beever-Jones will thrive in the England set-up, highlighting her runs, pace, technical abilities, and goal-scoring prowess.
Bright describes Beever-Jones as cheeky but also a good character who brings a bubbly and caring energy to the team. Losing Daly was a blow, but having players like Beever-Jones with their positive personalities is beneficial. She appreciates Beever-Jones’ ability to absorb information and her fun-loving approach to the game.
The Lionesses have had a mixed start to Euro 2025 qualifying, drawing their opener against Sweden and winning away against the Republic of Ireland. They now face group leaders France, who have a perfect record so far. Bright sees these upcoming matches as an opportunity to send a massive message by defeating a strong French team. She acknowledges the threats posed by France but believes that England can also pose their own threats and must be well-prepared for the tough games ahead. The goal for the Lionesses is always to win and deliver a good performance, and victory against France would be a significant statement for the team.