Beth Mead urges England to feed off the pressure of European title defence

Beth Mead has challenged England to use pressure as fuel when they kick off their European title defence against France.
The Lionesses squad travelling to Switzerland this summer is very different from the one that lifted the trophy on home soil at Euro 2022.
Seven members of Sarina Wiegman's group have never played in a major tournament and England will be defending a major title for the first time.
'There's a little bit of pressure that comes with it but I think it's a free adrenaline injection, pump it into your veins,' said forward Mead, who won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals at the 2022 Euros, where she was also named player of the tournament.
Two weeks to go until we begin our #WEURO2025 journey 💫 pic.twitter.com/M2q9oJlD1M
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 21, 2025
'We've been there, we've done it, we need to bottle that energy up and (bring) what we brought last time. It's a completely different tournament and teams look very different but we know what we're about and we've got to concentrate on being the best version of ourselves.'
England face Jamaica in a Leicester send-off on June 29 before travelling to their Switzerland base in Zurich. They kick off their title defence against France on July 5, then take on 2017 champions the Netherlands.
The group stage concludes in St Gallen against Wales, who have qualified for the first major tournament in their history.
Mead is relieved team-building activities this time around have not included a camping trip – a memorable Lionesses excursion under Phil Neville in 2019.
Training is hotting up! 🌡️🏃‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/HewX2Iq6R6
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 20, 2025
'I think I slept two hours and then (got woken up) by the geese around the complex,' Mead recalls. 'That wasn't my favourite team-building activity. I think Toni Duggan snuck back into the hotel for the night instead.'
The group did host a movie night at their last camp – the thriller Sinners, starring Bournemouth minority owner Michael B Jordan – and this time opted for a graffiti painting session to, Mead notes, 'express yourself' and 'show how bad we all are at art'.
Much has also changed in Mead's personal and professional life since lifting the trophy in 2022 – her mother, June, died from ovarian cancer the following winter, shortly after Mead was named Sports Personality of the Year.
This year, she lifted the Champions League trophy alongside her Arsenal team-mates for the first time.
'I feel like I'm in a good place individually,' Mead added.
'I know I've got an amazing team around me. I've got very good connections with players in the team.
'All I can do is do my best. We can all only do our best and take our chances when we're given them.
'I'd like to think I've got quite a good amount of experience to head into the tournament and I've played against a lot of the teams that we're going to come up against and hopefully that experience can help within the game.
'But I'm excited. I'm a little bit older than I was last time, but it doesn't take the excitement away and it still feels like a first tournament even though I've obviously been very lucky to go to quite a few.
'This is a new challenge, new competition, very different teams. I can't wait to get started.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Metro

20 minutes ago

• Metro

Alexander Isak's stance on Liverpool transfer revealed with huge new fee set

Liverpool have not made any approach to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United with the striker not expected to demand an exit this summer. The Premier League champions have moved swiftly and decisively in the summer transfer window, immediately bringing in a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold in Jeremie Frimpong with Milos Kerkez expected to arrive from Bournemouth. Florian Wirtz sealed his move to Anfield on Friday night in the biggest deal in Premier League history, arriving for a fee that could rise to £116million. Liverpool's spending might not end there. With Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez possibly leaving Merseyside, a centre forward to lead Arne Slot's attack could be sought. His side have been linked with a sensational move for Isak, whose current contract at St James' Park expires in 2028. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. But despite growing speculation, the Daily Telegraph report Isak is settled on Tyneside and is not agitating for a move away this summer. There is no expectation that situation will change in the coming months with Newcastle under no pressure from profitability and sustainability rules to sell anyone as things currently stand. Arsenal are long-term admirers of the Sweden international but have given up hope of luring him to the Emirates after being quoted at least £150million last year. The report suggests Newcastle's valuation has only grown, claiming it would take a fee closer to £200m to prise him away – one close to the price Paris Saint-Germain paid to sign Neymar from Barcelona eight years ago. Liverpool have made no contact with Newcastle at this stage – not even an informal enquiry. Isak scored 23 Premier League goals and 27 in all competitions as Newcastle won the Carabao Cup secured Champions League qualification last season. More Trending With European football back on the menu, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer is convinced his side's leading man is going nowhere. 'Got to keep him and they will, I'm pretty certain of that,' Shearer said on The Rest is Football. 'Because of their success this year, because they've got Champions League football, all of those things. 'There's not a worry in my mind that he's going anywhere. He'll be a Newcastle player next season because he's a very, very, very good player.' MORE: Jurgen Klopp sends message to Florian Wirtz after record Liverpool transfer MORE: Marcus Rashford speaks out on Barcelona transfer ahead of potential Manchester United return MORE: Andre Onana responds after Monaco approach Manchester United goalkeeper

Daily Mirror

21 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Brighton and Forest locked in Cuiabano transfer battle after three rejected bids

Brighton and Nottingham Forest are going head-to-head for Botafogo left-back Cuiabano, who is currently away at the Club World Cup Brighton are refusing to give up on the signing of Botafogo left-back Cuiabano - despite seeing three bids rejected for the 22-year-old Brazilian. Nottingham Forest have also attempted to sign Cuiabano and their interest in the player remains strong. The Tricky Trees have already agreed a £30million package deal with Botafogo for striker Igor Jesus and centre-back Jair Cunha, who will both move to the City Ground following their participation in the Club World Cup. ‌ However, so far, they've been unable to strike an agreement for Cuiabano and the race for his signature remains open. Brighton's latest offer was worth in the region of £7.7m including add-ons but it was still not enough to satisfy Botafogo's valuation. ‌ The defender has been used from the bench in both of Botafogo's Club World Cup fixtures including the impressive 1-0 scalp over European Champions PSG. Brighton are exploring the signing of a new left-back despite handing Tariq Lamptey a new contract as Pervis Estupinan has told the Seagulls that he's open to a new challenge. Estupinan told El Canal Del Futbol while away on international duty: 'The truth is they have been three years in Brighton with a lot of learning. But this will be a transfer market with a lot of movement. The club know that I would like to grow, that I would like to keep growing. 'The club have understood this. I've spoken to the club. The club have given me this bit of freedom to be able to make a decision. Now we will try to see better what is on the table and to see where we can go." Meanwhile, Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo has signed a new three-year Nottingham Forest contract until the summer of 2028. ‌ The Portuguese boss guided the Tricky Trees to their highest league finish in 30 years to qualify for the UEFA Conference League. Next season will be the first time the City Ground has staged European football since the 1995-96 campaign. Nuno replaced previous boss Steve Cooper in December 2023 and later guided Forest to survival on the final day of the season before securing a seventh-place finish. Forest also reached the FA Cup semi-finals this term. The 51-year-old said upon penning his new deal: "I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club. "Since we arrived at Forest, we have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the club, which helped us achieve great things last season."

Daily Mirror

21 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Martin Zubimendi announcement plan emerges as Arsenal face transfer delay

Arsenal are set to confirm Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi as their first summer signing in a major coup for Mikel Arteta Martin Zubimendi's transfer to Arsenal is not expected to be made official until July - even though the player has already travelled to London with his agent to put the finishing touches on his switch from Real Sociedad. The Spain international was in the capital on Friday to meet with Gunners officials as Mikel Arteta's side hone in on their first big statement deal of the summer window. ‌ However, Sociedad want the move to be ratified next month for their financial records as the current football financial year is due to end on June 30. Arsenal are also expected to pay slightly over Zubimendi's £51million release clause and the final fee could yet reach £55m all in. ‌ The extra £4m, though sources remain tight-lipped on the final figures at this stage, would entitle them to more favourable payment terms, spread across a longer period of time and significantly, would give them further flexibility in the market amid the tightening of PSR regulations. Real Madrid had been tipped to hijack Arsenal's swoop for the 26-year-old following Xabi Alonso's arrival at the Bernabeu but Zubimendi's impending transfer was already agreed in principle several months ago and the Gunners have long been operating with the belief that he would be joining this summer. Meanwhile, Thomas Partey's contract situation currently looks bleak as discussions have not progressed between the parties and barring any late U-turn, the Ghanaian is set to become a free agent at the end of the month. The 32-year-old has been offered to a number of top European clubs including Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in the past week but at this stage, it is still not clear where he could yet end up as his priority has always been to stay at Arsenal. If Partey does indeed depart, Arsenal will actively seek to recruit another midfielder after also losing Jorginho to Flamengo, although Zubimendi is expected to fill the void of the Ghana international at the base of Arteta's engine room. ‌ Arsenal are poised to ramp up their pursuit of new arrivals in the coming weeks with a striker still considered both Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta's top priority. Interest in RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres remains ongoing and at this moment in time, Arsenal are seemingly still yet to commit to going all-out for either player as both deals remain there to be struck. Both Sesko and Gyokeres are thought to be keen on moves to the Emirates.