Lucy Bronze described Spain's setback of losing Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas as "devastating" and a blow to the women's game as a whole.
England star Bronze, who will become a team-mate of Putellas next season after recently signing for Barcelona, backed the 28-year-old to rebound from her crushing Euro 2022 disappointment.
Putellas, who has scored 27 goals in 100 international appearances, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training on Tuesday and will play no part in the tournament that began on Wednesday.
"For anyone who suffers an ACL, it's devastating," Bronze said. "My old team-mate [Lyon's Germany international Dzsenifer] Marozsan did her ACL just before the tournament, and I was devastated for her, and now Alexia as well.
"Obviously she's one of the best players in the world – the best player in the world right now – and one of my team-mates.
"For women's football, we want the best players on the pitch. I'm sure she'll get straight back to Barcelona, and they'll want to get her back on the pitch and fighting fit.
"I'm sure she'll be back playing for Barca as soon as possible, and the World Cup is still to come next year, so she's still got plenty of time and plenty of stages to shine."
Putellas' absence is a colossal blow for Spain, with the 28-year-old having top-scored in the Champions League with 11 goals last season.
Bronze, who has battled knee problems during her own career, is hoping for a clean bill of health in the England camp throughout the finals.
The hosts began with a 1-0 win over Austria at Old Trafford, in front of almost 70,000 supporters.
Bronze said the occasion was "huge", but it was a scrappy showing from England, with Beth Mead's first-half goal proving just enough.
"We know we can improve on that performance," Bronze said. "Especially under [coach] Sarina [Wiegman] we score a lot of goals and play exciting football and I don't think we did that at our best. We didn't quite click and didn't quite get in the flow.
"Ultimately, the best teams have to win even when they're not playing at their best, so we managed to show that which is a different side to this England team."
Second England call-up 'means so much' to Solanke
Dominic Solanke was in a reflective mood at the press conference ahead of England’s Nations League match against Greece on Thursday.
The 27-year-old picked up his only England cap seven years ago, coming off the bench as a 75th-minute substitute in a goalless draw with Brazil in a friendly at Wembley.
But, with captain Harry Kane an injury doubt for the Greece fixture, Solanke could be about to double his tally of England appearances after his international recall by interim manager Lee Carsley.
The significance of returning to the national team was not lost on the Tottenham striker, who even spent two years in the Championship with Bournemouth during his international exile.
“It means so much, I’ve worked very hard to get back to this moment,” he said.
“Obviously, I made my debut a long time ago now. It’s been quite a journey, but to get back here is a great feeling for me and the family.
“It’s just part of football. Everything happens at the right time for you. Everyone’s journey is different.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel like this is the way it had to be for me and I feel like my game is clicking now and I feel good in myself.”
Having had to wait so long to be back in England contention, it would have been understandable to lose hope, but Solanke explained that he always kept faith in his ability.
“[I had to] just keep playing well and scoring goals and I always believed that I would get back here,” he added.
“That was my mindset. I'm thankful to be back here now, and hopefully I can stay here.
“It was definitely something I was pushing for, but there's so many good players that could represent England
“It's a dream to play for your country, so when you don't get selected, it definitely motivates you to work even harder to make the next one.”
While talking about his drive to earn a Three Lions recall, Solanke also revealed that he has kept hold of the shirt he made his England debut in.
He said: “I think over the years, when I do see it, I've always thought 'When I get back there and win more caps for my country.’
“Having something like that on the wall is definitely extra motivation.”
Solanke is in form, with two goals in his last three Premier League appearances.
But he acknowledged that the journey to get to where he is now was one that required mental fortitude.
“The mental side of football is just as big these days, because there's so many ups and downs, a lot going on, on and off the pitch,” he said.
“So it's important to stay focused and believe in yourself and keep working hard.
“Everyone's journey is different. Some people have a smooth-sailing career and some not as smooth. It's just about sticking with it.”
Free-shooting Lyon make flying start but Wolfsburg lose to Roma in Women's Champions League
Kadidiatou Diani scored twice as free-shooting Lyon made a flying start to their Women's Champions League campaign against Galatasaray.
The first Turkish side to qualify for the group stage, Galatasaray proved no match for the eight-time champions in Tuesday's Group A clash at the Groupama Stadium.
Diani was the leading scorer in last season's competition, scoring eight times, and continued her exceptional form with a double. She scored either side of Vanessa Gilles' goal on the stroke of half-time.
Lyon, who finished as runners-up to Barcelona last term, had 40 shots, which ranks as the joint third-highest total in a single match in the competition's history.
Both higher totals came in 2023-24, with Barcelona having 41 shots in a match against Rosenborg, and Lyon themselves having 47 against St. Polten in March.
Lyon have lost just three of their last 28 home matches in the Champions League (W23 D2) and are unbeaten in their last six (W5 D1), scoring two or more goals in each of those games.
The French giants have won 13 of their previous 19 games in the group stage with their 68.4% win rate the joint-second highest of any team since group stages were introduced to the competition in 2021, behind only Barcelona. (89%).
Elsewhere in Group A, two-time European champions Wolfsburg slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Roma. Their captain Manuela Giugliano scored the decisive penalty in the 14th minute at Stadio Tre Fontane.
Giugliano has been directly involved in 16 goals in her 13 group-stage appearances for Roma in the competition (eight goals, eight assists).
Wolfsburg, who were beaten by Barca in the 2022-23 final, had 23 shots, 33 touches in Roma's box and hit the woodwork through Marina Hegering, but were unable to snatch an equaliser as Roma snapped a four-game winless run in the Champions League.
Bonmati refuses to rule out WSL move but open to retiring at Barcelona
Aitana Bonmati has refused to rule out a move to the Women's Super League in the future, though she is also open to the prospect of ending her career at Barcelona.
Bonmati, who won the Ballon d'Or last year after helping Spain become world champions for the first time, recently put pen to paper on a new four-year contract with Barca.
She has been with the club since 2012, winning 23 trophies with the senior side to sit eighth in the all-time ranking for most titles with the Catalan giants.
Bonmati, who is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, has won the Champions League on three occasions, netting in last season's final victory over Lyon.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Bonmati was asked if she could foresee a scenario in which she never leaves Barca, and she is open to the idea.
"Yes, that would be nice to be a one-club player," the creative midfielder said.
"For now, I've been playing for Barcelona since I was 13 years old. It would be nice if I could end my career like this… but you never know.
"I'd never close the door. You never know what might happen in the future. But for now, I'm here for four more years, so I want to enjoy."
If Bonmati were to leave Spain, a number of WSL clubs – including Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal – would likely be in the hunt for her signature.
Bonmati appreciates the growing strength of the WSL, saying the investment in women's football in England compares favourably with that seen in Spain.
"It's a league that is so nice because England are investing a lot in women's football since the Euros – I cannot say the same about here in Spain," she said.
"Of course, it's a league that we have to keep watching, to be like them for helping women's football grow."
Barcelona open their Women's Champions League campaign against City on Wednesday, having been drawn into Group D alongside Hammarby and St Polten.
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