‘Very painful’ – England star played Euro 2025 with a broken leg

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·27 juillet 2025

‘Very painful’ – England star played Euro 2025 with a broken leg

England defender Lucy Bronze has confirmed that she played the entirety of Euro 2025 with a broken leg on the way to glory.

The Lionesses exacted revenge for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final by defeating Spain via penalty shootout.

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Arsenal attacker Mariona Caldentey put the Spaniards ahead in the first half, but it was cancelled out by a looping header from clubmate Alessia Russo in the 57th minute.

With the scores level after full-time and extra-time, penalties beckoned. Spain were one up after the first round of attempts, but missed the rest of their spot kicks, two of which were saved by Chelsea‘s Hannah Hampton, before Chloe Kelly netted the winner.

“What we have done today is unbelievable,” Bronze told BBC One after the final whistle. “Winning on penalties is an amazing feeling, but to lose on penalties is a horrible way to lose a final.

“This year it was meant for England. Today we have shown resilience. We have shown everyone to believe in yourself no matter what people say about you.”

England star Lucy Bronze played Euro 2025 with a broken leg

The Chelsea star played through the pain barrier to help England win a second successive Women’s European Championship, exemplified by her strapping her own leg during the quarter-final win on penalties over Sweden. But she only revealed the full extent of her injuries after the final, confirming that she played with not just a hurt knee, but a fractured tibia, too.

“I have actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, and then I have hurt my knee on my other leg.

“That’s why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game, as I’ve been in a lot of pain. If that’s what it takes to play for England, that’s what I’ll do.”

“Very painful.”