Bethany England: “My mum couldn’t even look!”

Looks can be deceiving. Bethany England coolly dispatched her spot-kick with the calmness and confidence of a seasoned veteran. And yet, when our centre-forward stepped up in the Lionesses’ penalty shootout against Nigeria on Monday, she had never taken a penalty in a shootout at a major tournament before.

“It was crazy,” she said, speaking in the Lionesses’ Diary Room earlier this week. “It was a bit of a blur. There was so much emotion and you could see the shift that everyone had put in. I just wanted to make sure I came on, brought some energy and made a bit of an impact.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to go all the way to penalties or not, but when it did, I felt like we were in good spirits for it. I felt like we were prepared for it. We already knew what our list of takers were. 

“I actually didn’t expect to be number two, so you just have to step up in those moments. That’s my first ever penalty shootout I’ve been involved in at a major tournament and it was such a surreal feeling. I just remember walking up, I felt like I couldn’t even hear the crowd. All my focus was on that ball and that goal. I thought it would be a very different experience but, in a strange way, I just ended up in my own little bubble where all the noise was blocked out. It was like a really surreal feeling. 

“The minute it went in the back of the net, I just remember the relief and turning around and cheering and looking at my teammates. It was really good that we all felt confident in that penalty shootout.”

England won 4-2 on penalties after Nigeria missed their first two and Chloe Kelly won it for Sarina Weigman’s side to progress to the Quarter-Final against Colombia.

“I don’t think anything can match that feeling of being able to do what I did yesterday and having my family there in the crowd watching me, although I know my mum couldn’t even look,” Beth said. “From what I’ve been told, she was turned away and couldn’t watch it.

“Hopefully something more can top that night, but so far, that’s the pinnacle since I’ve been here.”

The Lionesses take on Colombia on Saturday (11.30am kick-off in the UK), hoping to make more magical memories.