England ahead Beth Mead says she is embracing her new function as an affect substitute forward of the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 showdown with Italy on Tuesday.
Mead, who was the Golden Boot winner and named participant of the event when England received the event in 2022, has began only one sport to date in Switzerland, discovering the web within the 6-1 win over Wales of their last Group D sport.
England emerged victorious of their quarter-final conflict towards Sweden courtesy of a penalty shoot-out on the finish of what was a thrilling encounter in Zurich.
Sarina Wiegman’s aspect got here from two targets down to attract degree earlier than happening to win the shoot-out 3-2 and progress to face Italy as they appear to defend their Euros crown.
WE NEVER QUIT.
ENGLAND ARE IN THE #WEURO2025 SEMI-FINALS ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Gu8o4Vxc3Z
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2025
The match underpinned the significance of these coming off the bench and, whereas Mead has been one of many standout performers throughout Wiegman’s tenure as England supervisor, she has discovered alternatives to start out matches this summer time restricted.
Because the Lionesses put together to attempt to attain a third-straight event last, Mead acknowledges that her function within the squad has modified.
“You’ve bought to be prepared to enter the second,” Mead stated in an interview with BBC Sport.
“You’ve bought to be prepared to enter a place that you just may not need to play or don’t usually play in and that was what was completely different for me [against Sweden].
“I ended up enjoying in midfield as a quantity six after which I used to be a quantity 10 – I modified place just a few instances within the sport and I cherished it.
“I really like being on the pitch, I really like having the ability to do what I can do for the crew however they’re the issues that you’ve got to have the ability to do as a participant.
“You need to anticipate the surprising and be prepared to do what you’ll want to do for the crew and the larger good.”
Mead embracing a “shift of my function” within the squad
Following the Lionesses’ triumph at Wembley three years in the past, Mead was named the BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr and got here runner-up within the Ballon d’Or and Uefa Participant of the Yr Awards that 12 months.
The 30-year-old Arsenal participant missed the World Cup in 2023 via damage, a marketing campaign that noticed England go all the best way to the ultimate the place they have been crushed by Spain.
And whereas she admitted the diminished enjoying time was powerful, she insists doing what’s finest for the crew stays her precedence.
“It’s not straightforward when you realize you’re not beginning and also you’re enjoying effectively or no matter however I believe that’s what has set us aside as a crew,” Mead added.
“The togetherness, the willingness to attempt to make one another higher, to attempt to make one another really feel like we will determine it out.
“That’s one thing that I’ve additionally seen as a shift of my function. I actually understand how vital that’s – from being a starter to being aggressive in coaching – to make us higher. To this point I believe we’re doing a superb job of that.”
