England are out to defend their title this summer in Switzerland, and the Manchester United midfielder spoke to GOAL about her hopes and expectations
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There is a target on England's back heading into this summer's European Championships. They head to host nation Switzerland as reigning champions and there are plenty of contenders looking to snatch the continental crown from them. Spain beat them to win the 2023 FIFA World Cup. Germany are out for revenge after losing at Wembley three years ago. France and the Netherlands have the chance to stake a claim early doors after being drawn in England's group for Euro 2025.
At the heart of the Lionesses' efforts to keep their royal status is Ella Toone, now a household name domestically having played a major role off the bench at Euro 2022, notably netting in the final with a superb playground-style lob. At club level, she is leading Manchester United's charge for a Champions League place having helped them win the FA Cup for the first time at the end of the 2023-24 season.
GOAL sat down with Toone to talk the Lionesses' hopes of retaining the Euros, United's surge back up the WSL table, her involvement in Specsavers' Best Worst Team campaign alongside Harry Redknapp and more.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images'We've got work to do before Euro 2025'
Toone is due to join up with the England squad at St George's Park next week as they prepare to resume their UEFA Nations League campaign, with a double-header against Belgium peering over the horizon. Even though the attention is on those back-to-back encounters with the Red Flames, the 25-year-old admitted there is one eye on the Euros as well.
"The last camp that I was in was really positive. We had a lot of conversations about the Euros and what we expect from ourselves, and we know the talent that we have in the squad, it's massive," she said. "We've got a lot of experienced players, but we've also got a lot of players coming through, really exciting players as well. And we know it's a different squad going into this Euros than than what it was the last, but it's really exciting for us. We know each game is going to be tough, but we know we've got a lot of work to do before that and we all have. We're all on the same page in what we want to do.
"We need to make sure that these camps we really work hard together. We make sure that we use every single training session that we can because there's not a lot. And yeah, I think for us it's really exciting and and definitely a tournament that we look forward to. But for now it's focusing on the the Nations League."
AdvertisementGetty Images'The competition for places is really difficult'
England's major strength at Euro 2022 was their ability to change games through the use of their substitutes, with Toone scoring twice off the bench during their quarter-final comeback against Spain and then grabbing the opener in the final with Germany. She has since been promoted to a regular starter by manager Sarina Wiegman and has backed the next wave of impactors to make a similar mark this summer.
"What's so good about the squad that the competition for places is is really difficult," she said. "I think when I first came in and going through the Euros, I knew my role was was to come on and impact games and to be obviously not starting, but making sure that I was ready to come on and and knew my job and knew my role. think as a footballer you you always want to play. You always want to play every game. You always want to start. But to know my role was that I knew that I had to, I had to do it well.
"And I think I did throughout the year, I knew my role and I made sure that I did it well for the team and then fast forward, I'm at a World Cup [in 2023] and starting in games. I think I was ready for it.
"No matter who comes into the squad, everyone knows that they're good enough to play. Everyone knows the role and I think it's a really good squad to be a part of. I think when I started in the World Cup, no one made it difficult for me. Everyone was on board and it's the same with anyone coming into the team. I think I'm quite experienced now. I'm still I'd like to say I'm still young – still young! – with more experience. I've been to two major tournaments now. A regular starter at Manchester United as well, and I know my role when I come onto the pitch and when I'm starting in games. I think for me it's always about making sure I impact the game and and give 100% for the team."
Getty Images SportDefending champions – but beaten finalists
Winning Euro 2022 on home soil was so nearly followed by an even mightier triumph 12 months later. Wiegman's side reached the FIFA World Cup final in Australia, only to fall 1-0 to what history will look back upon as a legendary Spain team. England will head to Euro 2025 in a unique position as both champions and challengers – but are the Lionesses more motivated by defending their title or making up for only securing silver on their last tournament excursion?
"That's a good question," Toone replied with a puff of the cheeks. "I think we've got a not let go of the fact that we won the Euros…but it's been a long time since then. Teams have have grown, teams are a lot better.
"There's a lot more exciting talent in in world football now, and our squad's definitely changed since then as well, which is exciting too. Obviously you've got that feeling of what winning feels like and you obviously want it again. And then we've got the feeling of what it felt like to lose and to fall short at the World Cup. So I think there's a bit of everything really.
"But I think as professional athletes and competitive athletes and players we play for England, you want to win everything. So I think we have that, we've got that teams togetherness, we know what we're capable of and we all know the goals in our heads and that's to win, to win games for England and win tournaments for England. That's what you dream of when you're growing up. So I think there's a bit of everything, but I think there's that belief within the squad as well that we can go on and and do good things."
Getty Images SportBouncing back with Man Utd
With Manchester United, Toone has been in excellent form of late after recovering from a calf injury that sidelined her for two months through the winter. Having made her return in style with a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory away at rivals Manchester City, Toone and the Red Devils have since won five games from six to move level on points with second-place Arsenal in the WSL.
"I think the campaign overall, I think the first half we we probably didn't start how we wanted to, there was a few results that didn't go our way and probably not what we expected," Toone said of United's season so far. "But we came back in the second half of the season and we've been smashing it. I think we've won every game apart from one and that's massive for us. I think we've got a lot of momentum. We've been playing really well, we've been really attacking, we've been really full of energy and I think it's really worked for us.
"On a personal level. The first half was a bit of a write-off and I can't really remember much of it. But then coming back from injury, I started really well, got a few goals under my belt and I think for me it's just helping the team every week putting in performances and giving 100%. When I step out onto the pitch and I know that at Manchester United, I'm one of the more experienced players in such a young group. I just want to help them as best I can and I think we've done really well and we've just got to keep going."
