Love Island, Monopoly Deal and boat trips: Williamson on England’s team bonding ahead of Euro 2025 opener | OneFootball

England’s ‘home away from home’ environment is helping the team ahead of their Euro 2025 opening fixture against France, says captain Leah Williamson.

Speaking in Zurich the day before their first match of the tournament, where they are looking to defend their European Championship, Williamson feels confident the team are ready to go.

As well as all the hard work, the Lionesses are enjoying their downtime together at camp and are supporting Alessia Russo’s brother, Giorgio, who entered the Love Island villa last week.

“The team have worked really hard to make our environment as much of a home away from home as possible,” Williamson said. “It’s been lovely.”

“Lots of social spaces and, whether or not this deteriorates as the tournament goes on, you spend every day together, but we’re spending quite a lot of time together at the minute.

“Lots of Monopoly Deal, cards, different games. We went out on a boat trip just to see the city that we were in on the day we arrived. So it’s been nice and there has been Love Island watching. It’s the discussion around the table at breakfast.

“We are supporting Giorgio and then just trying to spend time together and relax as much as possible.”

As well as enjoying their downtime, Williamson and her teammates are relishing the opportunity of playing in another major tournament.

Williamson is playing in her third major tournament, having previously played in the 2019 World Cup and then captained the Lionesses to victory at Euro 2022. She missed out on the World Cup 2023 after suffering an ACL injury.

When asked about the advice she is giving the younger players making their tournament debuts, Williamson said: “I think the game has changed a lot since the experienced members of the team played their first; the whole landscape of women’s football.

“So we have to take those things into account when we speak to them. But I think it’s giving them as much freedom to enjoy the experience, but know that they’re ready to perform and make their mark on the pitch. And just trying to find that balance. I would never want anybody to come and be so anxious.

“There’s lots of shiny things when you come to a tournament and lots of experiences to be had, but ultimately the main focus is on the pitch.

“I think based off of training, and I’m sure Sarina agrees, everybody’s focus is football first, which has been great because I think sometimes players that have never been to a tournament – this is probably me when I went to my first – you have to keep them in line a little bit because they get a bit distracted. But there’s no fear of that with these guys.”

As well as praising her less-experienced teammates, she was full of admiration for manager Wiegman, who has won the previous two European Championships – guiding Netherlands to victory in 2017 and England in 2022, a first for both nations.

“Sarina is a winner,” Williamson added. “She doesn’t like to lose. She wants to do things the right way.

“She’s a good person. As a player, you want to respect the person that you play for, which we do, and you want somebody that’s going to push you and challenge you.

“First comes the respect for her as a human, and also as a coach. To know that somebody’s done what they’ve done and to have them on your team is comforting, to say the least.”