Grace Clinton: 'I believe in every single player in this squad'

This is my first major tournament so getting to the final is crazy.

The Italy game was mad, I just didn’t know what I was watching. I didn’t know how it was going to go because obviously they went 1-0 up and they had momentum. But in the second half we were just attacking and it wasn’t working for us. Credit to them because they defended for their lives.

When Michelle [Agyemang] and Aggie [Beever-Jones] came on we were like, ‘Right, we’ve got a big chance here, these are two top goalscorers’. You also know Chloe [Kelly] will create at least one chance, one big moment.

They brought that fresh energy into the side. Michelle is such a powerhouse and she brings the fight. I was with Niamh [Charles] and Jess on the bench and we couldn’t believe it when we got the goal. 

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Grace Clinton is talking celebrations, friendships in the squad and the task ahead on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/HnpdIledQz

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 25, 2025

I was on the pitch when we scored the second goal and I was just so relived it didn’t go to penalties. We had a lot of tired bodies on the pitch. We just needed to finish it off, get back to the hotel and watch Love Island.

It was lovely celebrating afterwards but I’m going to be honest, I don’t know all the songs. I was looking at other people’s lips, but it was a bit of a struggle. Seriously, though, that’s why we’re so lucky to play a team sport, because in hard moments you lean on each other and when you celebrate it’s the best feeling ever.

The whole tournament has gone so fast, it’s really surreal. When we first walked into basecamp, it was unbelievable. The games room, the outdoor area. We’re so lucky to have all this stuff and it gives us no excuse to not perform. We’ve got everything we need recovery-wise and enjoyment-wise.

Lucy Bronze said she’d never had it this amazing as well so we’re very lucky. Even after the Italy game, everyone just wanted to get back because it’s so amazing.

I spend a lot of time with Jess Park. We’ve become really close, which is nice. We’re very chilled. We’re in the hotel a lot so it’s great to go and get a coffee, we’ve been going on the bike, we love going to the spa – everything you need like ice baths, hot tubs, the sauna.

Lauren Hemp is another I like to spend time with. She’s very experienced and she has a lovely soul.

We watched the other semi-final but we didn’t really care who we were facing. There’s a job to be done.

I feel like the whole world is going to be watching the final and we can’t wait to get out there and show ourselves on the biggest stage. As footballers, this is what you play for. To win it back-to-back would obviously be amazing.

All of us are so excited and I believe in every single person next to me. You look around and the talent we have is amazing.

I’m excited for my family to experience it, too, because they’ve not really been to a game as big as this.

We can’t wait to have the whole of England behind us.