Lucy Bronze: England’s warrior defender is actually ‘Powerful’ by identify and nature after match-influencing flip at Euro 2025

The picture of Lucy Bronze shouting with sheer ecstasy and aid after hammering house a game-altering penalty in opposition to Sweden will stay lengthy in Lionesses historical past.

England regarded lifeless and buried at 2-0 down. However Bronze’s header within the second half, adopted by her tremendous strike from the spot, meant the reigning champions made it via to the semi-finals – largely to their most skilled participant.

For greater than a decade, Bronze, whose full identify is Lucia Roberta Powerful Bronze, has proved why she’s probably the greatest all-action defenders of a era. She’s the one defender to be named the very best participant on the planet for a motive.

What’s lastly beginning to emerge, nonetheless, is an appreciation for her significance as a frontrunner, fighter and customary bearer in each workforce she’s been in.

“Lucy Bronze is one of a kind,” England head coach Sarina Wiegman mentioned after the Sweden win.

“I’ve by no means, ever seen this earlier than in my life, and I am a really fortunate individual that I’ve labored with so many unbelievable individuals.

“That penalty, the goal, but that’s not [even] what defines her. It’s that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in a wheelchair.”

It is no coincidence each workforce Bronze has performed for wins trophies.

You do not grow to be a five-time Champions League winner on capability alone. There’s an intangible high quality to the right-back’s sport few can match.

It is no coincidence England’s run of going deep at main tournaments started when Bronze grew to become a fixture within the beginning XI.

Not many can ever be nearly as good because the 33-year previous by way of high quality, which suggests she calls for the best requirements from her teammates so as to sustain.

“It’s about giving everything to the badge that the girls play with,” Bronze instructed Sky Sports activities Information after the chaotic sport in Zurich.

“I know that that’s my responsibility as one of the leaders in the team, to make sure I pick the girls up in tough times.

“We discuss ‘correct England’. I have been part of this workforce for 13 years and I’ve at all times introduced that to the workforce.

“The girls know they can always rely on me to bring a little extra when needed. They know I’ve got their back, I’ll always push them.

“I want England to be the best team in the world so I play like that and hope everyone else plays like that.”

You could possibly see how essential Bronze is as a frontrunner when occasions acquired robust in opposition to Sweden.

Bronze pulled gamers collectively throughout breaks in play to remind them of their obligations and provides them a proverbial kick up the behind when wanted.

One other picture that might be lengthy remembered is her mendacity on the turf taping up her personal thigh in further time whereas teammates had been getting remedy within the six-yard field.

If somebody cannot do the job, the Chelsea defender will simply do it herself. She has her whole profession.

However one factor individuals do not see is the gentler aspect of Bronze. She additionally desires the lives of her teammates to be improved and can do what she will be able to to assist.

She was privately one of many extra vocal gamers through the Lionesses pay dispute earlier than the World Cup two years in the past and recurrently works with participant unions to attempt to enhance requirements.

She’s additionally grow to be an important determine throughout lengthy and generally lonely worldwide camps.

Bronze introduced the workforce collectively after the 2-1 defeat to France to reassure the ache of the consequence and efficiency can be utilized as gas for future battles. She drew on her personal experiences at main tournaments to reassure and encourage others.

She’s additionally grow to be a beacon for the squad’s youthful gamers, wrapping an arm round them when beneath scrutiny and providing a supportive presence when wanted.

You solely have to have a look at her relationship with Lauren James, a naturally shy and introverted particular person away from the pitch. Bronze has taken the ahead beneath her wing, displaying her the softer aspect of worldwide soccer and likewise serving to her take care of the fixed media consideration.

She’s now developed an identical relationship with the youngest Lioness within the squad, Michelle Agyemang.

Whereas others had been going via their pre-match routine forward of the Sweden sport, Bronze spent hours with the 19-year previous on the workforce’s resort constructing a Lego duplicate of Zurich’s Stadion Letzigrund.

“Lucy’s a leader and I’m grateful she’s in this team,” Agyemang mentioned whereas standing subsequent to Bronze after the sport.

“She has a lot of trust in every single player and it helps me a lot on the pitch. To have a familiar face that’s there reassuring me all the time, I’m so grateful for that.”

The final phrase, as occurs with most conversations with Bronze, might be had by the particular person herself.

Bronze’s mentality, self-discipline and skill to encourage are her superpowers. She knew she’d do what was wanted within the penalty shoot-out and made positive her goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was prepared too.

“I knew I had to score and literally said to Hannah ‘I’ll score this, you save the next one and it’s game over’.”

Fortunately, due largely to Bronze, it is not sport over for the Lionesses this summer season.