ST GALLEN — On nights when one nation is humbled by such a statement performance from another, it can be tempting to divide women’s football into haves and have-nots.
The gulf in everything from funding to training and even basic confidence was laid bare as England cruised past Wales into the last eight. Before kick-off one of the messages from the Welsh camp was that the elite teams at this Euros should be mindful of their own journeys and stay humble.
Yet the Lionesses are a group who have overcome their own demons, adversity and heartbreak. Over the past 10 months Ella Toone has turned to Beth Mead as a mentor; a teammate who knows the agony of losing a parent so young, all while under pressure still to perform at the highest level.
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025
Mistakes galore at the back for Wales
Ella Toone adds a second for England pic.twitter.com/6dr3fegc4Y
After watching Toone dazzle against Wales with a goal, two assists and a 100 per cent pass completion rate, Mead could only speak of her pride at the playmaker rediscovering her “aura”.
Those stats are made all the more impressive by the fact Toone came off at half-time. She hoped that her dad, who she lost last year three days shy of his 60th birthday, and Mead’s mum who passed away shortly after the last Euros, would be “up there with a few pints in their hand watching us”.
Sarina Wiegman was able to take Toone off precisely because she had already put the game to bed within 21 minutes, scoring from close range before a pinpoint cross to set up Lauren Hemp’s header and another assist to tee up Alessia Russo.
Alessia Russo with England's FOURTH
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025
Lauren James pulling strings in the lead uppic.twitter.com/zOHpzLOHWA
The debate surrounding whether Toone should start, or whether Grace Clinton and Jess Park might be better options, has been banished.
The fact Toone did not start the defeat to France was one of the main reasons for England’s opening defeat, Lauren James’ free role leaving the midfield two behind exposed.
It is not even the first time in recent memory she has been dropped for a big game. Marc Skinner’s decision to start her on the bench for the FA Cup final backfired spectacularly; it was not the only reason Manchester United were beaten comprehensively by Chelsea but it was right up there. The theory that she should start as a substitute to inject some creativity later on no longer stands up to scrutiny.
Toone is perhaps best known for coming up with big moments – the first goal in the 2022 final against Germany, and a screamer against Australia in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. Fran Kirby’s are big boots to fill but she has shown glimpses that she can be the midfielder to do it.
Her eye-catching moments going forward can leave her defensive work a little underappreciated, though not by her teammates.
“Massive credit to Ella Toone,” said Keira Walsh after the Wales game. “She’s come in and done an incredible job, people speak about her offensively but the defensive work she does for me and Georgia [Stanway] when she’s in there is incredible. She covers a lot of spaces that we can’t.
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“That’s probably the main thing that’s stopped other teams from playing as well. Obviously with LJ on the wing, we’ve managed to get both of them on the pitch at the same time and they are two world-class players.”
That was recognised at United this year, when Toone won Player of the Year. These awards can be skewed by fame and popularity of individual players, particularly England ones, but it was a moment to recognise all that she had overcome in the last year. Nevertheless, much of the response was critical.
The 25-year-old’s media and podcast appearances have earned her a lot of heat too. Toone has had to endure all of that without her biggest supporter. “You look to the stands for your person who is standing there,” Mead explains, “and they’re not there anymore.”
Toone gave a hint of what was to come with a brace in the warm-up friendly against Jamaica, including an early goal to break the deadlock. A player once seen as a “finisher” who would come on to see the game out is now among England’s most senior and influential.
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