'The best decision' - Millie Bright explains shock Lionesses withdrawal from Euro 2025 contention as Chelsea star opens up on burnout

The Chelsea captain shocked many when she withdrew from this summer's Euros, citing burnout. Now, the Lionesses centre-back has gone a little deeper on her reasoning, saying she had given this a "lot of thought" and that she wouldn't have been at her best at the tournament.

She said on her podcast, The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness: "Obviously a really, really big and tough decision. We all have to make big decisions at some point in our lives, not just our careers. And for me at this moment in time, I just don't feel 100% mentally or physically in a position to go on and compete in a tournament. And listen, I think with the Lionesses and the squad, they have an unbelievable pool of players to choose from. I think we both know how much it takes to be at a tournament and the things that you have to tolerate mentally, physically.

"The demands of it are incredibly high and I would see it as a little bit selfish to take up an opportunity in a position from somebody else when I'm not 100% there. It wasn’t an easy decision and one that I take unlikely. It was something that I'd spoken about with friends, family, the people around me, and I gave it a lot of thought. But ultimately, I thought this was the best decision for the team, but also for myself and using this summer to really just zone into mentally, physically, getting myself back in tip-top condition and just happy again, I think, all round, just feeling like myself. So yeah, it's obviously hard, but I'm going to be the girls' number one supporter and I know they're going to go on and smash it."

Bright has been one of England's best defenders in recent years, highlighted by the fact she has captained her country. The Lionesses are trying to retain their Euros title but that may have become more difficult following the 31-year-old's decision to pull out. Despite that, she and the country will hope those going to the Euros can bring the trophy home.

Before Sarina Wiegman's England begin their Euros campaign in Switzerland, the Lionesses take on Jamaica on June 29 in a pre-tournament friendly.