The Chelsea defender grabbed the quarter-final win over Sweden by the scruff of the neck and will be vital again in Tuesday's clash with Italy
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Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the pastFeatures classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL
From
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From
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BuyGoalkeeper
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Lucy Bronze has accumulated her fair share of iconic moments on the international stage over the past decade. It’s 10 years since she scored in back-to-back knockout games to propel England to their first Women's World Cup semi-final, and it was her sensational strike that put the gloss on the Lionesses’ win over Norway four years later, as they again made the last four. On Thursday, she added another to the list, as her header kickstarted an unlikely comeback in the quarter-finals of Euro 2025, before her thumping penalty proved to be the winner in the shootout against Sweden.
As England have become a mainstay in the latter stages of major tournaments in recent years, Bronze has been a stalwart. It's remarkable to think that, just two years before her breakout at the 2015 World Cup, she was struggling for call-ups and considering representing Portugal, the nation of her father, instead.
Fortunately for the Lionesses, it never came to that. Now, as the Euro 2022 winners prepare for a sixth-successive major tournament semi-final, Bronze, who has played in all of the last five, is only enhancing her status as an England legend in a remarkable show of longevity that few can match.
Getty ImagesStanding tall
For all of England's defensive issues at this tournament, Bronze's right-hand side has stayed relatively steady. One might assume that the oldest player in the Lionesses' squad might be worth targeting, but after finding things tough against Chelsea team-mate Sandy Baltimore in the opening round of games, as France emerged 2-1 winners, Bronze had stood tall.
No one has won more aerial duels or made more clearances in the England squad than the 33-year-old, who also ranks second for how often she has won possession, second for interceptions made and third for tackles won.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesDefying age
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Bronze continues to be her athleticism, which hardly seems to be dwindling as she enters her mid-30s. That's despite the injuries she's had and the amount of football she plays, with only two outfield players racking up more minutes last season in the Women's Super League for Chelsea, and just three England team-mates sitting above her in that column at Euro 2025.
She plays her full-back role with remarkable commitment, flying forward and hurrying back to ensure she makes her mark at both ends. It's that which makes her capable of switching seamlessly to wing-back too, as was the case during the 2023 Women's World Cup and the latter stages of Chelsea's past season. If Wiegman was to switch to that 3-5-2 system again at this Euros, which could well address the issues on the opposite side of the defence, Bronze would by no means struggle with the workload. In fact, there's an argument that she'd be better for it.
Getty ImagesNot without doubters
Despite being a five-time Champions League winner and an England icon, there have been doubts about the full-back over the years. Long considered the best player in the world in her position, many have questioned whether Bronze can still reach that level, whether age was catching up with her and whether she was not longer capable of getting forward in the same manner as before, as it left her exposed defensively.
Getty ImagesFighting back
But she continues to fight back whenever those doubts are raised. At Chelsea this season, she was one of the best players in the WSL, despite plenty of questions being asked about her signing by the club. Now, she's backing that up with a solid Euros, the highlight of which was undoubtedly her performance against Sweden.
It wasn't just the header that kickstarted England's comeback, impressive because of the awareness of the run as well as the finish itself, or the thumping penalty that flew down the middle of Jennifer Falk's goal and gave the Lionesses the lead in the shootout at a vital moment. It was also the grit she showed, taping up her hamstring herself in the late stages of extra-time while others received treatment, and the know-how that was central to her winning spot-kick.
"I watched the goalkeeper in every single penalty and she dived quite early," Bronze explained to . "Statistically, in a penalty shootout it's quite risky for the goalkeeper to stand still and go down the middle."
She was thinking about the numbers when she won the coin toss ahead after extra-time, too. "You're more likely to win if you go first," she explained, citing her "love" of "maths". "I've been around long enough," she added. "I need to know the ins and outs of the game. All the little things can make a difference and for me it felt like it did tonight."
