A first full day in the camp for the Lionesses began with a training session out in the rain. All called up players were out on the field to be a part of the full training session ahead of their double header, this camp, against France both home and away. The teams haven’t faced each other since a friendly back in 2021 where France sealed a 3-1 victory.  

The typical English weather couldn’t stop the squad getting stuck into the training session. First onto the field was Beth Mead and Millie Bright who were evidently eager to get started with day two of camp. Bright returns to the England roster after her long-time out with a knee injury: she hasn’t been in a Lionesses camp since October last year.  

Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh have had to switch from the sunny Spain to the miserable England weather, but this didn’t dampen their spirits. The pair are on a high after they became back-to-back Champions League winners at the weekend with their club Barcelona.  

Bright was asked about how significant this was and stated that ‘it’s a massive achievement for both of them.’ She also reflected that ‘they’re too humble’ to still be celebrating the huge achievement at the England camp. Bright praised Bronze for her consistent success in the competition saying that ‘no matter what team she plays in she always seems to come out a winner’ just because ‘that is her mentality’.  

With the retirement of Rachel Daly, Bright was missing ‘her right arm’ this camp and now has to find more people to ‘annoy’ now Daly is not with the Lionesses. Bright reflected, though, that the squad is looking to progress and develop as a team. ‘Everyone’s got that mentality to push each other’ she said. 

Bright hasn’t had the best season with injuries having been out with a knee injury for several months. ‘It’s definitely been the most tasking period for myself’ she reflected, but ultimately ‘that’s football’ the centre-back confirmed.  

Playing a team twice in quick succession isn’t common in football. Bright spoke about the possible threats that the developing French team have but also reflected that ‘there’s things we (England) can do to put the threats on them’, ‘we don’t go out for anything other than wins.’ 

There were some new faces in the Lionesses squad. Aggie Beever-Jones earns her first senior call up while Missy Bo Kearns, Jessica Naz and Lucy Thomas have been called up, for the first time, ‘on standby’ in case of any injuries. Beever-Jones’ senior international debut has been discussed all season because of how she has performed, domestically, for Chelsea. 

Bright and Beever-Jones play with each other at Chelsea and have got to know each other well this season. Bright described the youngster as a ‘great addition to the squad’, ‘super humble’ and a ‘real good character’ that will help the Lionesses team thrive.  

Beever-Jones also spoke to the press about the feelings surrounding her first senior call up. She had plenty of praise for club captain Millie Bright, ‘me and Millie get on really well’, ‘she’s always looked after me’, ‘she’s someone who I’ve always looked up to’ and ‘she’s a great person before anything else.’ 

The young forward was also asked about what it would mean to make her senior debut, ‘it would be a pinch me moment’, she described. I asked Beever-Jones about what it would be like to play with some of the people she has idolised growing up, ‘its what dreams are made of!’ She spoke about some new friendships she had gained since being a senior, ‘all the girls have been so welcoming, especially Georgia (Stanway).’ 

‘The quality in Europe is unmatched’ but because of ‘the quality in the team’, Beever-Jones knows that England can push to be the best in Europe once more. She constantly praised her new teammates, ‘every single one of these players is world-class’ and ultimately reflected that she is ‘delighted to be here’ as it is something she ‘always knew (she) was capable of.’  

The Lionesses are taking international football back up north to Carrow Road for their first game against France. Aggie Beever-Jones told the media that the team ‘want it to be sold out’ so that the fans can get behind the Lionesses on their Euros campaign.