For fans watching England's Euro 2025 journey, it has been a wild ride. But spare a thought for the Lionesses' loved ones out in Switzerland. They have been there every step of the way on the rollercoaster journey with Sarina Wiegman's side, following five matches over three weeks, cheering every goal, kicking every ball, and watching every penalty from behind their hands.

'Every goal she scores, he's watching over her'

For England duo Ella Toone and Beth Mead, Euro 2025 has been particularly difficult. It is the first major tournament both have played since losing a parent. Mead lost her mum, June, to ovarian cancer in January 2023, while Toone's dad, Nick, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in September 2024.

"We were talking about him only the other day as a family," Toone's boyfriend Joe Bunney told BBC Sport. "Nick would've loved this. The inspiration Nick gave us to support Ella in the way he did was great. Hopefully one more step and we can win the Euros for him. Every goal she scores, every game, he's watching over her."

'Our job is to give them that normality'

Euro 2025 is Lucy Bronze's seventh major tournament for England. She has played a starring role for the Lionesses in Switzerland with her solid defensive displays, as well as scoring in the 79th minute against Sweden to help force extra-time, before converting a brilliant penalty in the shootout.

"My goodness the things they have put us through this tournament," Bronze's brother Jorge told BBC Sport. "People keep asking me if I am having a great time out here and I say 'no!' It's just trauma after trauma after trauma. It's been a brilliant time, exhausting, emotional, thrilling and everything in between."

'I'm not used to this as a fan'

Alessia Russo's brother Giorgio missed England's first two group games of Euro 2025 because he was on Love Island. He swapped Spain for Switzerland and flew out in time for the nervy quarter-final win over Sweden in Zurich.

"Me and her are best mates, we talk about everything outside of football," Giorgio said. "She was the first person I told about Love Island. We're really good friends and it helps her switch off from work."

'We tried to just keep it normal and keep it real'

Described by Giorgio as one half of the 'fun police' alongside Joe Bunney, Georgia Stanway's brother John-Paul helps to organise gatherings with the players' friends and families.

"We went for a Chinese meal the day after the Geneva game," he said. "A few of the team got wind of this meal so there was us, the Toones, the Walshs, Jill Scott joined us. We didn't really chat about much. It's just calmness. We talked about tickets to the final, a little bit of how the game was. Our job was to take her mind off it and bring some calmness and normality. We tried to just keep it normal and keep it real."

Related Topics

• UEFA Women's EURO
• Football
• Women's Football