Things came to mind at the 2023 World Cup. Lucy Bronze, the UK’s most capped player in the tournament, has been dealing with contact lens issues throughout her career. When the lenses were exhausted in Australia, enough was enough.
“We ordered a little more, but they were wrong because they were different brands. Obviously, we were in Australia so it was hard to get the same thing as in the UK.
“At the end of the tournament I really didn’t need this. But I was worried about the laser eye surgery and the risk of something going wrong. This procedure was reversible, and it gave me peace of mind and reduced the risk for me.
“It sounds crazy, but it made a huge difference.”
During the winter break, the bronze had a collagen lens Evo It was embedded between her iris and natural crystallographic lenses. Corneal tissue was not removed, but it is biocompatible with the eyes. She came and went within an hour. “I left the building and I could see.”
While her career as spectacular as she was broken into this issue, it seems extraordinary to hear her talk about her experiences – in past tenses, thankfully – and it’s amazing that she endured it for so long. Even certain lights were troublesome.
“That’s what it is. That kind of thing. When I was playing in Bristol in Liverpool years ago, it became a bit of a folk tale. After I had my surgery, then captain Gemma Bonner said, “There are no contact lenses that fall into the game anymore.”
“When the girl accidentally brushed her eyes, she lost the lens in the header. She took a throw with her touchline up and down, saying, “The spare is in my laundry bag, under my bench, in my front pocket.”
It came to dominate her thinking. “If I forget about contact lenses more than soccer boots, I’m devastated,” says Bronze. “It was so important. I could make it in time with another boot, but it’s much more stressful if it doesn’t look right.”
Supporters may not be aware of the change. Bronze was previously an elite player. But from her perspective, the transformation was important. “What a difference on the pitch in terms of looking around and seeing things faster,” she says.
“It was surreal, like I’m going through all these moves I’ve been doing for a lifetime. How clear was it? My vision is actually even better than before.
Chelsea’s Johanna Lights Cannelly celebrate with Lucy Bronze
Those younger bronze reputations were built on her physicality. A strong run from the right back has become her trademark, following the 2019 Baron de Ara Pineau.
“It’s a kind of change in football at that moment. Everyone thought of physical attributes as the key to everything. But in reality, your brain, your vision, how to see the game quickly, look at every angle, it’s more important than physical output.
“There are players who can play for longer. Thiago Silva is a great example. He’s very smart and has a photo in his head.
Thiago Silva is quoted by Lucy Bronze as an example of a player who stayed at the top
“I’ve always appreciated that aspect of the game, but I didn’t think I could make something I really good at towards the end of my career. I realized I needed to work on it because you’re more likely to lose physical attributes than your brain.”
As a result, the bronze game has evolved. It was a process that began in Manchester City. “They wanted me to get inside as a midfielder in the holder and help with buildup,” these scanning skills have improved. “In the middle, there’s no choice,” she says.
“In fullback, you can choose a kind of choice. In the middle, you’re involved. You need to be careful. The world’s best midfielders aren’t necessarily the fastest, the biggest, or even the best technical.
Lucy Bronze believes her game evolved while playing for Barcelona
There was even more variety in Barcelona. “I played back three occasionally and then 20 minutes later I played like a right winger. Previously, I would run up and down, run.
Bronze, now 33, talks about her ability to “read the game” and includes “trying to make the most of others” in her responsibilities — all parts of her evolution as a player. Is all of these aims to extend your career? “I mean, I think I already have it.”
What’s clear is that hunger remains and Bronze is willing to do everything she can to stay on top. “I’m pushing myself to improve in as many ways as possible. I think recovery is the biggest thing when I’m in my game,” she explains.
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Lucy Bronze on safety for women in sports after Emma Radukanu was targeted
Bronze describes herself as “over-obsessed” in the ice bath and places them wherever she is. “I’ve always been very obsessed with recovery and sports science. In the last year or two I’ve probably taken it even more seriously than ever,” she adds.
“I’m just getting older, so I don’t want to overtake me any of these young players. Look at how Cristiano Ronaldo and how he took care of his body to maintain his level.
“Maybe I was trained when I was younger. You couldn’t stop me. That’s the only reason I’ve picked up injuries in the past. I didn’t stop and listened to my body slowly, so I went out longer than I should have.
“To me, it’s not to be afraid to take a step back. People think you’re weak for it. It’s always a perception. If you’re not doing enough or you’re not playing all the time, you can’t handle it.
“When I was injured recently, I managed to stop myself. Thankfully, I only had seven days of injuries, but if I pushed myself, it could have been seven weeks. That’s probably the biggest change and it all comes with the experience.”
Whether it’s recovery techniques, tactical adjustments, or embedded lenses, Lucy Bronze still wants its edge.
