Lucy Bronze England's best player since Kelly Smith, says Faye White

Lucy Bronze cemented her place as England's best player since Kelly Smith by helping the Lionesses to back-to-back European Championship wins, according to Faye White.

Bronze started all six matches in Switzerland as the Lionesses retained the crown they won in 2022, playing a key role in their quarter-final comeback against Sweden.

The right-back scored the first of England's two goals as they recovered from 2-0 down, also netting in the penalty shoot-out as Sarina Wiegman's team edged through.

Bronze was withdrawn in extra time as the Lionesses secured another shoot-out victory over Spain in Sunday's final, before revealing she had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia.

White, a former England captain, said Bronze's mentality and skill make her the country's best player since Smith.

Smith scored 46 times for England in 117 appearances and was their leading scorer until Ellen White surpassed her record in November 2021.

White told Stats Perform: "After the Sweden game, when she scored the header and then the penalty, I text her agent and just said, 'she was unbelievable'. 

"She again showed that she's a winner and so determined and has that never-give-up attitude, and I said to her agent, 'please tell her after the tournament that I believe she's the best player since Kelly Smith for England.'

"It's always given to skilful, goal-scoring forwards. Kelly, obviously, was an amazing player, the best, in my opinion.

"But Lucy in her time... the best players not only have that skill and talent, but they have that mentality that says, 'I will bring the team through no matter what.' 

"She is [the best] for me. Obviously, she's a serial winner at club level as well, and in those moments, she will do whatever it takes for England, and I know what that feels like; I put my body through a lot of things to play for England too.

"For that [news of her injury] to come out afterwards, it doesn't surprise me. I just was like, 'that's what she will do'."

Bronze's senior career started with Sunderland in 2007 before a spell in the United States was followed by stints with Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Lyon, Barcelona and now Chelsea.

White believes Bronze had to battle through adversity in the early stages of her career, with those challenges moulding her into the player she is today.

White added: "She knows because she started her journey back in 2007 playing for Sunderland.

"She knows where the game has come from, and that fighting spirit of trying to get the game recognised, trying to prove the doubters wrong, trying to get more profile...

"It's just been a fight and a slog her whole career, really, and now she's playing at the top level for club and country, at a time when everyone is accepting it.

"Everyone is lapping it up and enjoying it and realising how good the women's game and the team is.

"She just carries that on, really. Her whole spirit and that never-say-die, I will not quit attitude... It's ingrained in her.

"The first time that England have won a tournament on foreign soil, that whole spirit, for me, it just defines what the women's game has gone through for decades.

"That almost makes it sweeter, that they've played and performed in that way and managed to get it over the line."