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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The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Switzerland pulls off dazzling high-wire act as Euro 2025 delivers to the last
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Switzerland's relatively modest football infrastructure, not to mention its muted appreciation of the women's game, had raised eyebrows but it staged an event that delivered to the last. 'It's a very strong image of Switzerland that has been shared with the whole world,' the Swiss football association president, Dominique Blanc, said on Monday. 'It has exceeded our expectations as organiser and also the expectation of Uefa.' All parties can reel off a string of convincing figures. If Switzerland needed the money it can bask in 200 million francs (£186m) brought in through tourism by the European Championship. That is a direct consequence of the numbers that make Uefa particularly proud: a record attendance of more than 657,000; all bar two of the 31 games being recorded as sellouts; the number of visiting supporters far exceeding those at previous editions. Then came the sensory evidence that it remains worth granting host status to grow football in countries that are not autocracies, petrostates or both. Switzerland rose cautiously but, in the end, entirely to the challenge of presenting a spectacle. The country has never experienced scenes such as the fan walk in Berne before their historic quarter-final against Spain, when a sea of red flowed over Nydeggbrücke bridge and snaked up the hill towards Stadion Wankdorf. Those fan marches, replicated by several nations' fanbases across the month, were evidence of a women's football supporter culture that has grown in shape and identity here. Uefa wanted to learn more about the sport's audience, its habits and its mores, at Euro 2025 and has been presented with compelling answers. Nor has Switzerland experienced many noises like the commotion that erupted in Geneva when the Nati dramatically equalised against Finland. Crucially it learned to embrace and cherish a young, multicultural team with none of the cynicism previously unloaded on some of their male counterparts. Opportunity knocks in the marketable, vastly talented forms of Sydney Schertenleib and Iman Beney. The country now has a platform to do more than flap its wings. Can it harness that momentum between now and the next Nations League campaign in February? Uefa will hope so as it looks to bolster the suite of credible, high-level contenders for its competitions. England's win at least gave the lie to any idea that Spain could not be toppled but, among some observers, there was quiet disappointment about the level shown by some big guns. Neither France nor Germany convinced, while the Netherlands flopped; Sweden had looked the best prepared team to take on La Roja but blew their quarter-final against an England side propelled by its own destiny. It felt instructive when Emma Hayes, a speaker at Uefa's forum on Sunday, suggested England's transitions had not been as slick as those at Euro 2022. That proved not to matter and there is a sense the standard of play at the top end did not kick on this year, even if there was evidence of a hugely welcome rise in level lower down. Quality, though, is not always the most important measure of a tournament. Short-term endorphin kicks engender the buzz, especially among remote viewers, and it did little harm to the competition's role in hearts and minds that so many of the decisive tussles staggered towards penalty shootouts or dramatic extra‑time resolutions. Those moments, much more than the cruises and cakewalks, cement an event in new supporters' consciousnesses. Euro 2025 achieved that in greater concentration than any of its past equivalent tournaments. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Uefa must now choose the most appropriate step for a tournament that insiders know needs handling with care even if its president, Aleksander Ceferin, was available for only two fleeting appearances. Switzerland's success has given a green light to choose a more outwardly ambitious host for Euro 2029 from five candidates. Germany appears the early favourite and would also be large enough to sustain an expanded tournament, an eventuality that has not entirely been extinguished. The women's European Championship will inevitably join other showpieces in swelling to 24 teams some day although 2033 is a more likely target. 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The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
England trophy parade live: Lionesses to celebrate Euro 2025 triumph at Buckingham Palace
The Lionesses will kick their Euro 2025 title celebrations into a whole new gear as they prepare to take to The Mall for their trophy parade. England defeated Spain in dramatic fashion after Chloe Kelly 's winning penalty secured back-to-back European Championships for Sarina Wiegman 's side. Their third successive major final, the Lionesses rallied after an early setback to prevail in the shootout, leaning on goalkeeper Hannah Hampton 's heroics as Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Salma Paralluelo all missed. The England players partied through the night, having avenged their defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, and returned to home soil as heroes on Monday after becoming the first England team in history to defend a major tournament title. The players will now show off their trophy on Tuesday afternoon in an open-top bus procession, finishing with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. England trophy parade: Route, map and schedule for Euro 2025 victory celebrations Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses will be bringing the trophy home on Tuesday 29 July as they have a homecoming celebration in London. Fans will have an opportunity to celebrate with the team as they travel down The Mall in an open-top bus before taking to the stage for a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. The event will not be ticketed and free to attend, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed, inviting fans, residents and businesses to join the celebrations. The ceremony will be supported by the UK government. Flo Clifford29 July 2025 07:41
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment Alessia Russo playfully tries to put off Ella Toone during Lioness photo as the childhood best friends get red carpet treatment at Downing Street
Alessia Russo and Ella Toone were seen messing around as they stood for a photograph outside Downing Street yesterday, as the Lionesses returned to England victorious. The team was honoured with a special reception at No 10 Downing Street, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. While stood outside Number 10, Alessia Russo was caught trying to put Ella Toone off by playfully sticking her finger in her teammate's ear. The pair are childhood friends despite growing up in different ends of the country - Toone in Greater Manchester and Russo in Kent - the attacking duo are great friends off the field and have been mates since the age of 12. Toone, 25, and Russo, 26, both appear on their own podcast together, where they tell all to presenter Vick Hope. Despite a whirlwind schedule and barely a moment's rest, the duo alongside their England teammates are set to continue their victory lap today – with a blockbuster open-top bus parade through The Mall set to kick off at 12.10pm today. 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Wiegman thanked him for calling and for supporting the team throughout the tournament. Today's celebrations are expected to echo the scenes of Trafalgar Square three years ago, though this year's road to glory has been widely hailed as even more nail-biting and unforgettable. England managed to become European Championship winners again after a penalty shootout win against rivals Spain on Sunday night. The game was 1-1 after 90 minutes and remained tied through 30 minutes of extra time. The Lionesses have touched down in England less than 24 hours after their Euro 2025 triumph Fans with home-made signs wait for the team to arrive back in the UK Drinks were flowing as friends and family joined the England players in celebration Another nerve-shredding penalty shootout followed with Chloe Kelly yet again scoring the winning penalty sparking jubilant scene in the stadium in Basel and in millions of homes back in the UK. 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Led by captain Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, England's players belted out 2010 hit Dancing On My Own by Robyn as they exited down the tunnel. The team would later return to the field armed with several boxes of pizza and cans of beer. Ella Toone was belting out hits on the karaoke machine Ella Toone was on someone's shoulders as she danced with Georgia Stanway The Lionesses have roared to victory in a nailbiting penalty shootout that saw them triumph over Spain Penalty hero Chloe Kelly and Lucy Bronze, who played the final with a broken leg, head into the team hotel after winning the Euros and the party began Last night the team were seen continuing celebrations into a second night as they descended on Soho for another night out. After a whirlwind 48 hours, the squad poured out of their taxis and straight into Little Italy in central London. All of the squad seemed to be in high spirits, laughing and linking arms as they made their way into the lively late-night spot, sporting their third outfit change of the day. Fans can attend the victory parade today for free and it will also be broadcast live on BBC, ITV, and Sky. Outside of football, Toone has set up her own brand, ET7, which includes a football academy for young girls, and she has set up a creative agency to help female athletes maximise commercial opportunities. Her sponsors include make-up brand Charlotte Tilbury, orthodontic firm Invisalign and McDonald's. Russo is now on £500,000 a year just for playing football – but off-the-field deals are understood to bring in much more.
