Greenwood: We have a voice of purpose and want to use it to our advantage | OneFootball

Alex Greenwood says that England’s triumph at Euro 2025 will help create more positive role models in women’s sport.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the City captain, who played a huge role in helping the Lionesses retain their European crown in Switzerland last month,  said she is delighted at the progress that has been made in women’s football, but insisted there’s still a long way to go.

“The ultimate goal is we get to a point where we don’t actually have to have those conversations because it’s normal, that grassroots are available for girls and in schools girls can play football and it’s not a fight for that. It’s a normality,” Greenwood said.

“We hope one day we can get to that point, but while it’s still something we need to keep speaking about I think the girls feel really in-tune with wanting to do that.

“It’s a collective thing, it’ something we all want to improve together as a team and it’s important. The more we keep winning, the more we keep being successful, the more young girls in our country want to aspire to be a Lioness.

“And that’s ultimately what we want to do.”

England didn’t have an easy route to the final as they fought tooth and nail, with all three of their knockout games seeing gutsy comebacks.

“I think we gave a couple of frights to a lot of people around the country for sure,” Greenwood added.

“We were very focused initially on the group stage and we knew how competitive that group was going to be and we saw that from the first game. I think every nation has massively improved, even since 2022.

“We had a lot of tough games but our mentality and willingness to win really shone through in this tournament.”

The Lionesses' journey also saw them forced to go to penalty shoot-outs, both in the final against Spain and Sweden in the quarter-finals.

As the nation watched on from behind their hands and with gritted teeth, the mood on the pitch was very different.

“Personally, you have to go back to trusting the preparations you’ve done. Which we did a lot of previous to the tournament. We practiced those moments,” Greenwood added.

“Honestly, you can’t relive a moment like a full stadium, the pressure of you’re going home or through, or you’re going to win the tournament or not.”

Greenwood, who played every England game as the Lionesses retained their European title, now has a cabinet full of trophies – including an FA Cup from City’s victory over Everton in 2020.

But she’s set her eyes on one key missing piece of the collection – the World Cup.

“We got to a World Cup final two years ago and to get that close and not get over the final hurdle was heart breaking,” she added.

“With another World Cup two years away, it does seem like such a long time but it comes around so fast.

“If I’m in a position where I’m still performing really well and my body’s in a good place then I’d love to be a part of that tournament.

“I think my focus now has to go more closer and that’s the season coming up with Manchester City which I’m really looking forward to.”