The Arsenal and England forward is backing new global campaign because talent and teamwork should decide the game – not the climate
I
’ll never forget stepping out on to the pitch in Switzerland for the Euro 2025 tournament. The air felt heavy – not with pressure or expectation, but with heat. It was more than 30C (86f) that day. It makes your lungs sting, makes you feel like you’re running through water.
In the England camp, we had done everything to prepare. Ice vests before training, hydration breaks, modified warm-ups – things that just weren’t part of football life a few years ago. At our base in Zurich we even had cryotherapy and Slush Puppies to cool our core temperatures. During training, there were ice-cold towels, extra rest moments and constant reminders to hydrate. You could feel how carefully the staff planned every detail. But when the whistle blew, no protocol could change the fact that the climate itself has changed.
The tempo of the game slowed. Recovery took longer. Every sprint, every tackle, costs a little bit more. This summer’s Euros felt different for me in other ways too. My role as a forward with England had changed – I wasn’t always starting, but I was part of what we call the finishers. You’ve got to be ready to go into any moment, any position, even one you don’t normally play. In Switzerland I dropped into midfield, switched roles mid-game, That willingness to adapt is what makes a team succeed.
