Fans of England were left stunned after Lucy Bronze revealed that she played the whole ladies -2025 tournament with a broken shin -an injury that she had kept secret until after the final.
The 33-year-old was deducted during the half-time period during Sunday's final, who ended 1-1 before England defeated Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel.
But when he was asked about the new knee injury she picked up during the game, Bronze casually revealed that she had already played much worse.
“I actually played the entire tournament with a broken shin,” she told BBC Sport. “And then I hurt my knee on my other leg.
'That's why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game, because I had a lot of pain. If necessary to play for England, that is what I will do. Very painful. '
The previously unknown injury led to an outpouring of disbelief and admiration on social media on Sunday evening.
'Lucy Bronze played the entire tournament with a broken shin !!!!! Wow. She was already incredible, but this is something else, “wrote journalist Giulia Bould.
'She's not a human, I swear, that's just crazy! Absolute machine! 'Added colleague reporter Karen Fazackery, while another fan tweeted everything in Caps:' Lucy Bronze played this entire tournament on a broken shin? What the hell is there. '
Bronze started all six games of England at Euro 2025 and picked up 600 minutes – more than any other outfield player except Keira Walsh (601) and Alex Greenwood (628), and just behind goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (632).
Her heroic deeds in Switzerland came back in a triple -winning season in Chelsea when she helped her club to lift the WSL, FA Cup and League Cup.
Thinking about the tournament after the second shootout triumph of England in 11 days, Bronze said that the lion ribbons never lost faith.
“There was a lot of noise on the outside,” she added. “We stayed together and dug deep. To win on penalties … This team is so inspiring to be part of. What we did today is incredible. '
'Winning on penalties is a great feeling, but to lose on punishment is a terrible way to lose a final. I know many of these girls from Barca who miss fines – it's hard, I was there a few years ago. This year it was intended for England. '
“Today we shown resilience. We have shown everyone to believe in yourself, regardless of what people say about you. '