Beth Mead and Ella Toone honor their parents with emotional performances at Euro 2025

In Switzerland, England has progressed to the Euro 2025 quarter-finals after a dominant 6-1 victory over Wales. The match took place on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the St Gallen stadium, where Georgia Stanway opened the scoring with a penalty. Following her, Ella Toone scored and provided assists for Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, contributing significantly to England's substantial lead by halftime. Beth Mead also scored in the second half, further affirming England's strong performance. The match ended Wales' campaign in the tournament and marked a successful turnaround for England after an opening defeat to France. The emotional backdrop of this victory for both Mead and Toone is profound, as they have both faced the loss of their parents in recent times. Mead's mother passed away from ovarian cancer earlier this year, while Toone’s father succumbed to prostate cancer last September. Both players expressed their connection to their deceased parents during the match. Toone pointed skyward following her goal, echoing the sentiments shared by Mead, who noted the difficulty of competing while mourning the absence of a loved one. Both players dedicated their contributions on the pitch to their parents, highlighting the personal significance of the tournament. The match against Wales follows England's earlier 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, which was necessary to ensure they moved past the group stage as runners-up in Group D. Despite this setback in their tournament opener against France, Mead stated that the experience helped galvanize the team, allowing them to learn and improve rapidly. This ability to bounce back and find motivation in adversity has characterized England’s journey in Euro 2025 so far. As they prepare for their quarter-final match against Sweden on Thursday, the team is riding high on this victory. Head coach Sarina Wiegman expressed satisfaction with how the squad played, noting their ability to dictate the game and create numerous scoring opportunities. The collaboration and support amongst the players, especially for those who have been mourning losses, have fostered a strong team environment that drives their performance. The Lionesses remain hopeful about maintaining this momentum as they continue their campaign at the tournament in Switzerland.