Electric Ella Toone illuminating England’s title defense at Euro
ZURICH (AP)– England midfielder Ella Toone is back to her “amazing” best.Toone took
the show in Sunday’s 6-1 knocking of Wales at the Women’s European Champion with an astonishing first-half performance to propel the safeguarding champ into the quarterfinals.Advertisement The Manchester United star set up 2 of England’s 4 objectives in the first period and netted one of the others herself for her 2nd objective of the competition.” I think she was unbelievable,”said England colleague Beth Mead.Toone likewise had an incredible 100 %pass conclusion against Wales before being substituted off at halftime,
with the result an inevitable conclusion and the defending champ’s location in the quarterfinals guaranteed.”Well, I suggest, it might not have actually been 100%if I remained on the 2nd half, however I’ll take it,” Toone said with a laugh.
“However I’m a number 10, I wish to take threats, I wish to discover passes that often may not come off and I always think that it’s fine to make a mistake.Advertisement”I feel really good at the minute, feel truly confident and really enjoying my football. So hopefully I can continue with that in the next games.
“England will deal with Sweden in the quarterfinals, on Thursday in Zurich– where the Lionesses played their first 2 matches of Euro 2025. The 25-year-old Toone is all but guaranteed of a place in the starting lineup, specifically as England coach Sarina Wiegman typically prevents playing with a winning group in tournaments.Wiegman kept the very same starting lineup for all 6 of England’s matches in its victorious Euro 2022 run and made just the one change after England opened its defense with a disappointing defeat to
France.Advertisement That was to bring Toone, who had come off the bench versus France, in for Mead against the Netherlands, moving Lauren James to the right. England won 4-0. Mead herself had a superb performance versus Wales,
after coming off the
bench at halftime, with a goal and an assist as England concluded the scoring.”That’s the Beth that I saw in 2022 at the Euros when she took an extra touch in the box and sat a few protectors down and got an objective and I’m so pleased for her,”Toone said.But the 30-year-old Mead, who was the Euro 2022 player of the competition, is most likely to begin again
from the bench versus Sweden.Advertisement “I believe Tooney is truly coming into her own and in some cases in scenarios where you feel a bit low, it brings you to the top of your game,”Mead said.”And I have entirely felt that and done that before, remained in a hard place and return … and she is worthy of whatever she’s solving now because she
has actually worked truly hard for it.” Bonding over grief Mead and Toone have actually both lost parents considering that England lifted the Euro 2022 trophy. Mead’s mom died from ovarian cancer in January 2023, while Toone lost her dad to prostate cancer last September.Both players pointed to the sky after scoring on Sunday.Advertisement” We both said the first game we really struggled a little bit,” Mead stated.”You look to the mean your person who was standing there and they’re not there any longer.”I think my mum was the first individual I would try to find in the stands, so I undoubtedly comprehend what Ella felt because moment and it’s simply unique to be able to have that minute, think about them and devote it to them.”Toone says she and Mead have actually”truly bonded over such a
horrible thing “and that her teammate has been a coach to her as she understands what she is going through.”I was buzzing for her that she got that tonight and we both could commemorate to the sky,” Toone included.”I am sure they will be up there with a couple of pints in their hand enjoying us.”___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer