Mead's England will take Miedema's Netherlands side in Group D at the tournament in Switzerland on July 9 and the pair expected their respective national teams to be drawn together.

The Arsenal star told reporters: "It was inevitable.

"When the [Euros] draw was made, we both sat there and said, 'Of course that's happened!'

"We're both very, very competitive and professional. We're both excited for the tournament and to be able to play in it again."

The couple have been together since 2022 and are in regular communication with each other at the Euros, although football talk is strictly prohibited.

Mead said: "We keep in contact but when it gets closer to our games, we don't talk football whatsoever.

"Obviously we want each other to do well but not against each other!"

Mead was named player of the tournament as England triumphed on home soil at Euro 2022 and is confident that the Lionesses can retain the title despite the absence of some of the key figures from three years ago.

She said: "Obviously the team's changed quite a bit. We've had retirements, we've had different players come in, young players coming to their first tournament, but I think we've got a very good blend at the moment.

"We're going there to win - that's our objective. We know we've got a target on our back but now we've got to consistently perform at our highest level which we know we've very much capable of doing."

England arrived in Switzerland on Monday (30.06.25) in roasting hot temperatures but Mead thinks that the training plan set out by the coaching staff has left the team well-prepared for the weather conditions.

The forward said: “Our staff are very good at being able to give us those extra percentages and margins.

"It’s been quite hot in the last two weeks of training [in England] so that’s been nice. We’ve trained really hard, the intensity has been great and our recovery strategies that we’ve put in place have been really good so – fingers crossed – it’s prepared us as best as we can be for when we get there."