Alex Greenwood's top five fixtures

Six tournaments, over 100 caps and two major trophies, Alex Greenwood's international career has seen plenty of highs.

Ahead of the Lionesses' historic 500th fixture, she takes a look back at five of her most memorable matches.

Germany 0-1 England, 4 July 2015

The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup set Greenwood’s expectations after the defender – included in her first squad for a major tournament – and the Lionesses came away with a bronze medal.

A first-ever victory over Germany came in timely fashion as England ran out 1-0 winners in the third-place play-off to finish as the best-placed European team.

“We were playing with nothing to lose,” said Greenwood. “We didn't go there with any expectations. I got to go into a tournament – my first one – with only the expectation of us as a group and myself, rather than a whole nation.

“To even come home with a medal – which is crazy now when you think about it because we now go to every tournament as one of the favourites to win – it was amazing.

“I was the youngest. I didn’t go with any expectations to play or to get a medal and I played in the bronze medal match which was amazing.”

England’s most-capped player Fara Williams was on target from the spot, with her extra-time penalty proving the difference.

However, as Greenwood reiterated, it was a different era for the Lionesses.

“The game is different.” She explained. “The expectation is different. The pressure is different.

“I guess now we are a lot more fortunate than maybe then. Don't get me wrong, we still had privileges but I'm glad I went through the journey then. I got to learn so much of that part of the game for a short time while it was like that.”

England 3-0 Cameroon, 23 June 2019

Greenwood was involved in what she described as another ‘pressure game’ when England came up against Cameroon in the round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup – being held in France.

However, she rose to the occasion, scoring in a 3-0 win over Cameroon to advance to the quarter-finals.

“That game was crazy,” she said. “A lot of stoppages. Sometimes the games blur into one but that stands out to me because that was unique, to say the least.

“I went through whole loads of emotion during that game but then to score, with a fellow scouser [Toni Duggan] that set me up. There's nothing like scoring for the country anyway but to do it at a World Cup was so special.

“We practised that routine a bit. We practised it on both sides – the other side, it would have been Toni on the end of it and they decided it was me on the end of Toni, so practice pays off.”

Phil Neville’s England side placed fourth, losing to eventual winners USA in the semi-final.

“The tournament didn’t go as planned but for me personally, it was great,” explained Greenwood. “The USA were the best team but in terms of football ability, I thought we were as good as anyone.”

England 2-1 Germany, 31 July 2022

‘What a moment’ are the words Greenwood uses to sum up UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.

Introduced off the bench in the 88th minute – alongside Jill Scott – the defender was on the pitch when the final whistle sounded at the end of extra time after Manchester City teammate Chloe Kelly won it for England.

“Both of them – 2022 and 2025 – have to be in your top five,” she said. “Both were the most incredible experiences of my entire life for so many different reasons.

“Being at Wembley with the way we won and the atmosphere. Every time I talk about it, I say the same thing but I wish I could re-live the moment again. You just can't, because it was an incredible experience that only the people on the pitch will ever be able to understand what I'm saying.

“You couldn't write it, could you? I just don't think you can ever write that as a script, to win a home EUROs at Wembley against Germany in front of 90,000 people. It's almost unimaginable to do, but we did it.”

England 1-1 Brazil (4-2 on penalties), 6 April 2023

The first-ever UEFA Women's Finalissima was won by the Lionesses, overcoming Brazil on penalties in front of over 80,000 fans under the Wembley arch.

After playing out a 1-1 draw – Ella Toone opening the scoring for England before Brazil levelled in injury time – Greenwood successfully converted her spot-kick in the shootout.

“It was tough game but I thought we played really well,” she recalled. “I remember going up – Wembley's packed out – taking a pen, I scored and I jogged back like I was just playing on the park.”

And the defender highlighted the importance of appreciating every triumph.

“A trophy's a trophy and you take all the wins you can,” explained Greenwood. “Winning trophies is momentum and something you get used to and something we have worked really hard to get used to.

“It hasn't come easy and tournaments like that probably get overshadowed a little bit, but we don't really see it like that. It matters and it's important, and to have that winning mentality, regardless of what it's for, I think that's really crucial.”

England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on penalties), 27 July 2025

An England centurion and another piece of silverware. UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 was memorable for a number of reasons for Greenwood.

After collecting her 100th cap in the Lionesses’ opening game defeat against France, Sarina Wiegman’s side made it through the group and into the knockouts and although it wasn’t plain sailing, it ended with England lifting the trophy in Basel.

“I can look back on it now and smile because we won the tournament,” she said. “We put everyone through every bit of emotion possible – sadness, happiness, tears, laughter, disbelief.”

Greenwood stepped up to take England’s second spot-kick – after Beth Mead was made to re-take her penalty – with Spain holding the advantage, but only one thing was on her mind.

“Don't miss!” she emphasised. “It was a massively important penalty. If I missed, it was probably big, big pressure to turn that one around.

“I’d taken one in Sweden game and missed. I went the same way but everything about the setup was different. The way I approached the penalty was different because I got everything wrong – I went about the penalty completely not Alex. When I watch back the Sweden one, there's nothing of myself that I can see.

“If you connect with it properly, I don't think any keeper will save a penalty that I take. That's just a confidence thing I tell myself. I just knew I couldn't miss.”