You've made nation proud – Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulates Lionesses
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: 'Champions! Congratulations @Lionesses – what a team. What a game. What drama.
'You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers.'
Champions!
Congratulations @Lionesses — what a team. What a game. What drama.
You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud.
History makers.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 27, 2025
The Prince of Wales was spotted in the stands applauding and celebrating with those around him – including his daughter Princess Charlotte.
William was among those to heap praise on striker Michelle Agyemang, who was named young player of the tournament.
As the presentation ceremony took place, William exchanged words with Agyemang, appearing to say, 'Well played, fantastic, well done'.
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North Wales Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Sarina Wiegman urges more investment in women's game at Downing Street reception
After successfully defending their European crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the tournament's showpiece in Basel on Sunday evening, the England team flew home to attend a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 decorated for the occasion with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. As Wiegman rose to speak to those gathered in the Downing Street garden she joked that 'this is different from standing next to a pitch'. She added: 'I have to make my apologies (for giving) you lots of heart attacks. You all made it through and we made it through and that's why we're here now. 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team. 'Thank you so much for having us here. It's very, very special to be here and to be in this very nice garden with the way you set it up with all these pictures, it makes it more special, it's the first moment it sinks in a little bit because it was surreal what happened last night.' Wiegman, speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, used the moment to call for further investment in the game. 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls,' Wiegman said. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more. 'I heard we need to change some things about taxes…I think we have that confirmation tonight. So let's move forward. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' In her own speech, Rayner congratulated Wiegman's team on defending their title 'with grit, with determination and with skill'. 'You roared, and I know I wasn't the only one roaring with you,' Rayner said. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty for England in the shoot-out after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two outstanding saves. The game had gone to extra time and spot-kicks after Alessia Russo cancelled out the opener from Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey as it finished 1-1 following extra time. Welcome home, #Lionesses! 👋 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 After almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's plane branded with the word 'home' touched down at Southend Airport on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Holding the trophy, captain Leah Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside Wiegman. Outside the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team and the trophy back home. A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. A trip to the Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday.
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on the Lionesses' Euro 2025 triumph: the comeback queens will inspire future generations
Relentlessly, exhilaratingly, Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses have gone where no group of English footballers has ever gone before. Sunday's heroically hard-fought victory over the world champions, Spain – in a Euro 2025 final which required yet another comeback – was the first successful defence of an international title by a senior England team. It was also the first time a major trophy has been acquired away from the home comforts of Wembley. That gives the measure of the achievement. What will live long in the memory was the manner of it. Well beaten by France in the group stages, 2-0 down to Sweden late in the quarter-final, 1-0 down to Italy in injury time in the semi-final, 1-0 down to Spain at half-time in the final, a remarkable group of players seemed somehow to thrive in such adversity. Their spirit was epitomised by the dogged determination of 33-year-old Lucy Bronze, perhaps playing in her last big tournament, who revealed after the final that she had played throughout with a fractured shin. Courage of a different kind has been displayed by England's goalkeeper and Uefa's player of the match on Sunday, Hannah Hampton, who overcame a serious eye condition to fulfil her ambition of pursuing a football career. And by Jess Carter, the defender who suffered racist abuse earlier in the tournament, but ended it with a faultless performance in the final. The effervescent Chloe Kelly, who had considered quitting last season when her career was in the doldrums, had the last word as England's nerveless penalty-shootout match-winner. Increasingly, such inspirational sporting narratives are the things that young girls' dreams are made of. Research by the Football Beyond Borders charity suggests that the number of 13- to 18-year-olds who play and follow the game continues to grow. This summer's excitement will deliver another huge shot of adrenaline to the domestic women's game, which was already preparing for a different set of firsts. This season, Arsenal Women will break new ground by playing all of their Women's Super League (WSL) home games at the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium. Already, 15,000 season tickets have been sold. Everton Women will take over Goodison Park, one of English football's most beloved stadiums, as the men's team decamp to a new ground on the banks of the Mersey. The Lionesses effect, combined with new television contracts covering two fully professional divisions, and a new Sunday kick-off time designed to maximise exposure of the game, should pave the way for further growth. Challenges remain. As a slight drop-off in WSL attendances last season suggested, rapid bursts of growth driven by international success is not a reliable long-term strategy. The task in the future will be to maintain upward momentum, even when the England women's team is not sweeping all before it. And as more girls seek opportunities to play and pitches to play on, a grassroots infrastructure that has been historically geared to the requirements of men's and boys' teams needs an overhaul. That is for tomorrow, though. Once again the Lionesses have lit up an English summer, forging legends that will fire the imaginations of future generations of girls. The extraordinary Ms Wiegman, after winning the Euros first with her native Netherlands, has consolidated her position as by far the most successful England manager of all time. Even more significantly, she has empowered and inspired a formidable group of athletes to transform the profile of women's sport in this country. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Leader Live
28 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Sarina Wiegman urges more investment in women's game at Downing Street reception
After successfully defending their European crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the tournament's showpiece in Basel on Sunday evening, the England team flew home to attend a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 decorated for the occasion with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. As Wiegman rose to speak to those gathered in the Downing Street garden she joked that 'this is different from standing next to a pitch'. She added: 'I have to make my apologies (for giving) you lots of heart attacks. You all made it through and we made it through and that's why we're here now. 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team. 'Thank you so much for having us here. It's very, very special to be here and to be in this very nice garden with the way you set it up with all these pictures, it makes it more special, it's the first moment it sinks in a little bit because it was surreal what happened last night.' Wiegman, speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, used the moment to call for further investment in the game. 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls,' Wiegman said. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more. 'I heard we need to change some things about taxes…I think we have that confirmation tonight. So let's move forward. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' In her own speech, Rayner congratulated Wiegman's team on defending their title 'with grit, with determination and with skill'. 'You roared, and I know I wasn't the only one roaring with you,' Rayner said. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty for England in the shoot-out after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two outstanding saves. The game had gone to extra time and spot-kicks after Alessia Russo cancelled out the opener from Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey as it finished 1-1 following extra time. Welcome home, #Lionesses! 👋 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 After almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's plane branded with the word 'home' touched down at Southend Airport on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Holding the trophy, captain Leah Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside Wiegman. Outside the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team and the trophy back home. A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. A trip to the Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday.
