Lionesses star Jess Carter feared Lauren James would receive 'astronomical' abuse at Euro 2025

Carter admitted she was "super scared to play" for England at Euro 2025 after receiving vile abuse during the tournament. The Lionesses star has now revealed how she felt relieved to see some of her white team-mates join Lauren James in missing penalties against Sweden in England's quarter-final shoot-out win.

Carter says that she feared James would receive "astronomical" levels of abuse if she had been the only black player to miss. The defender also opened up on her experience in Switzerland and how the abuse she received affected her and her family.

Carter told ITN: "It's horrible to say but it's almost like a sigh of relief when other players that weren't black missed a penalty, because the racism that would have come with LJ [Lauren James] being the only one that missed would have been astronomical. It's not because we want them to fail - it's about knowing how it's going to be for us [black England players] if we miss."

The Lionesses star also spoke about the impact: "It makes you feel really small. It makes you feel like you're not important, that you're not valuable. It makes you second guess everything that you do - it's not a nice place to be. It doesn't make me feel confident going back on to the pitch. My family was so devastated by it as well and so sad."

Wiegman's side are back in action in November when they play a friendly against China at Wembley.