As today’s Euro 2025 final looms for England, former Lionesses striker Natasha Dowie says the Lionesses have to finally show their best side to retain their title.
Sarina Wiegman’s team have had a nerve-shredding, rollercoaster of a run to the final – their third major tournament decider on the spin – having come from behind in dramatic fashion in the quarter-final and semi.
But former Liverpool star Dowie has cautioned against another slow start in the final in Basel with world champions Spain lying in wait.
What has been your summary of Sarina Wiegman’s team in Switzerland?
They’ve been awful, really bad at times – luckily, they came up against poor Netherlands and Wales sides. Sweden, in my opinion, threw the quarter-final away by taking off three of their best players, Smilia Holmberg, Lina Hurtig and Madelen Janogy, at 2-0 up. The way England played against Italy, they won’t get away with that on Sunday. England have to find a way and have to believe it’s not over until it’s over.
Is there a danger England might run out of lives if they keep playing like they have?
Yeah, how many times can you stop lightning striking again? But there have been players such as Georgia Stanway, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp who have been injured for large chunks of the season and have not been 100% fully fit, which is not ideal. There’s been no Mary Earps, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby and while Alex Greenwood and Leah Williamson have been good, it has been tough for the defence so far. There has been a lot of disruption in that area, with the exception of Lucy Bronze.
The big question: do any of the super-subs, or game-changers, who have got the Lionesses through the last two rounds, start now?
No! I was surprised she made a change at half-time (in the semi-final) but that was because James had a knock. It could be the same situation against Spain now but we have to still be in the game at 60 or 70 minutes to be able to make the subs. Against Spain, we could feasibly be done and dusted by then. We have to start the game well, which we haven’t done in recent matches, but I believe we can go and do it.
They must be knocking on the door. How does Wiegman keep the likes of Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang happy?
You have to respect what Sarina has done. I wish I had been in this squad. Players are allowed to express themselves under Sarina: for instance, you have to let Lauren James be Lauren James. What’s so impressive is that if I was Chloe Kelly and had scored the winning goal three years ago and saved the team so many times and still not got a starting spot, I think I would be in a bit of a mood!
But the players respect Sarina and while it must be so hard for some of them not to be starting, they accept the situation as it is. I don’t think in the past that would have been the case and I’m not too sure I would have been able to do it, I would have wanted to start in the final. Kelly comes with a ‘I’ll save you again’ mentality but the subs now aren’t really subs – they’re ‘finishers’, which allows them to feel as important as the players who start in the XI.
What are the dangers from world champions?
I find it a bit disrespectful that everyone made Spain the favourites coming into the tournament. They have everything to lose in the final. I really do believe we have the greater strength in depth. If something happens to Alexia Putellas or Claudia Pina, I don’t think they have the sort of cover in the Spain squad.
You’re an ambassador for AXA’s Keep on Kicking campaign. Why do so many women give up sport by the age of 21?
As young girls get into dating, partying, getting boyfriends and girlfriends, people drop out of sport. Body image and ‘what you should look like’ play a part in it but the great thing is there is more visibility now and role models out there. That’s not just the Lionesses but all sports.
I didn’t have the opportunity to play sport and football at school. Now I’d be very surprised if that was the case and my hope is that people stay in sport for many reasons.
Tash Dowie is an ambassador for AXA UK’s Keep on Kicking campaign, which explores why women give up team sports at different life stages and the challenges of returning. Search: AXA UK, Keep on Kicking to read the full report