Georgia Stanway has likened England's opening defeat to France in Euro 2025 to a "bad night out", expressing her strong desire to move on from the experience. Following the 2-1 loss, Stanway and her Lionesses teammates have engaged in honest discussions and are determined to respond strongly in their upcoming match against the Netherlands.
The midfielder admitted to being "disappointed" with her own performance and emphasized the need for the team to return to being "proper England". Stanway highlighted the importance of rediscovering their traditional style of football, characterized by tough tackles and a deep understanding of their purpose. She stressed the need to block out external noise and focus on delivering on the pitch.
Stanway expressed frustration with excessive talk and a desire for action. "What we want going forward is to make actions and stop talking," she stated. She admitted to being reluctant to attend the press conference, stating she was "fed up of talking now". Stanway believes the only way to create change is through their performance in the next game.
The Bayern Munich midfielder sees their upcoming game against the Netherlands as a must-win situation. A loss against the Dutch, coupled with a France victory against Wales, would result in England's elimination from the tournament. Stanway acknowledges the high stakes, stating, "If we're not good enough on Wednesday, then we don't deserve to continue the tournament".
Stanway views herself as a leader within the England team and her disappointment stems from her desire to lead by example. She had knee surgery in January, and sees the time away from the pitch as a blessing in disguise. Despite concerns about their midfield performance against France, Stanway and her teammates are eager to put things right and demonstrate their capabilities. "We know as individuals what we're capable of, we know as a team what we're capable of and we just have to do it," Stanway asserted.
The team has analyzed the defeat against France, holding meetings and watching clips to identify areas for improvement. Stanway relayed a message she received, which helped her put the defeat in perspective: "It's just like a bad night out, and you want to forget it as much as possible. Move onto the next one". This sentiment reflects the team's determination to put the loss behind them and focus on the challenges ahead.
Stanway insists that England needs to be brave and ruthless to overcome the Netherlands. She wants the team to go back to what they are good at. "We are England. We're full of English blood and we want to go out there and fight as much as we can and go back to the way that we know it,” Stanway affirmed.