GENEVA: England defender Lucy Bronze said she had been playing the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship with a shattered leg after helping her team win the title on Sunday night in a tense penalty shootout triumph over Spain.
The 33-year-old featured for 598 minutes throughout the tournament, and she will be remembered for scoring the game-winning penalty in the quarterfinal triumph against Sweden after bringing her side back into the game with a 79th-minute goal while England was two goals down and seemed destined to lose.
During the final minutes of that game, she also tightened straps around her upper thigh during a stoppage in play, yet she was able to compete in the semifinal triumph against Italy.
Bronze also played 105 minutes of Sunday's final before being forced off in tears owing to a knee issue. Bronze made a stunning revelation after Chloe Kelly scored the game-winning goal in the shootout: she had been playing with a shattered leg.
In a postgame interview, Bronze stated that he actually played the full event with a fractured tibia, but no one knew.
That is why the girls showered me with accolades following the Sweden game, because I was in a lot of pain, she said, demonstrating her unwavering dedication.
If that is what it takes to play for England, I will do it; they are aware of this. We inspired each other by playing through events like that, and it helped us reach the finish line, according to Bronze.
England coach Sarina Wiegman revealed that Bronze had played with a shattered bone.
The entire team has a fantastic attitude, but she has a crazy mindset; it's incredible, according to Wiegman.
