Keir Starmer mocked for cringe call with hero Lionesses from Scotland as squad crowd around phone at No10 reception
Sarina Wiegman's side retained their title as European champions on Sunday after Chloe Kelly coolly dispatched the decisive spot-kick in a penalty shootout following a tense 1-1 draw with Spain.
7
7
7
7
The newly-crowned winners arrived for a celebratory reception at Downing Street on Monday evening, hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock.
Number 10 was decorated for the occasion, with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings.
But Sir Keir was not in attendance due to meeting with US President Donald Trump in Scotland.
The President welcomed the PM and his wife Victoria to his golf course at Turnberry this afternoon for wide-ranging talks.
However, Starmer did manage a phone call to the Lionesses while they were at the Downing Street garden to celebrate their Euros victory.
A post shared on Sir Keir's social media showed the moment Sarina Wiegman and some of the Lionesses received a video call from the PM.
He said: "Fantastic to see you all and welcome to Downing Street. I just wanted to say a huge congratulations to you and the whole team."
The video-call lasted about five minutes and Wiegman could be heard saying "hello Keir, nice to see you", adding "it's lovely here".
She then thanked him for calling and for supporting the team throughout the tournament.
But trolls were quick to hit out against Sir Keir's phone call with some branding it "awkward" for the heroic Lionesses.
Another said on X, formerly Twitter: "Why does Keir have that uncanny valley AI feel in this video?
"It just gives off such weird vibes man."
England's Lionesses return home to heroes' welcome with EURO 2025 trophy
Meanwhile, a third laughed: "They couldn't wait to get you off the phone."
"All feels so fake," said another of Starmer's attempt at conversation during the phone call.
The PM's post was captioned: "Back-to-back tournament wins. Inspiring the next generation. History makers.
"On behalf of the entire nation — congratulations Lionesses."
Sarina Wiegman's troops secured a sensational second straight Women's European Championship title last Sunday with a penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel.
England bested the Spaniards 3-1 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time on Sunday.
Chloe Kelly slammed home the winning penalty to send the nation into a state of pandemonium.
7
7
7
Kelly and her team-mates partied into small hours of the morning after their historic achievement.
And they were greeted by a chorus of cheers as they touched down in Old Blighty on Monday afternoon.
Scores of footie fans waited for their heroines outside the terminal after getting wind of their arrival and erupted in cheers at Southend Airport in Essex.
Tuesday will see the team enjoy an open-top bus procession along The Mall and a ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace.
However, the Government won't commemorate the Lionesses' latest trophy haul with a Bank Holiday.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
The Lionesses had a bumpy ride in Switzerland, but always managed to come up with the goods in the big moments.
Sarina Wiegman 's side produced several Houdini acts before triumphing on penalties against world champions Spain in the final.
England got off to a poor start as Beth Mead missed the first pen of the shootout
But Hampton saved twice - including one from Caldentey and another from superstar Aitana Bonmati before Salma Paralluelo shanked her effort wide.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Almost 900 migrants cross the Channel in one day alone
The number of migrants crossing the English Channel into the UK has exceeded 25,000 in record time this year. Home Office figures indicate that 898 people arrived in 13 boats on Wednesday, bringing the total for 2025 to 25,436. This year marks the earliest point since data collection began in 2018 that the 25,000 milestone has been reached. The current total is 51 per cent higher than at the same point in 2024 and 73 per cent higher than in 2023. The latest figures present a setback for Sir Keir Starmer, who has vowed to tackle small boat crossings by "smashing the gangs".
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Viktor Gyokeres' underwhelming debut shows why Arsenal need him so much
A debut defeat and an outing that was underwhelming but left the sense he was underused may matter little. When it comes to competitive games, Viktor Gyokeres ' Arsenal bow will come at Old Trafford against Manchester United on 17 August. But as he donned their No 14 shirt for the first time in a game, Arsenal at least showed the need for Gyokeres, for a forward who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP. The first North London derby staged outside the United Kingdom yielded a 1-0 loss to Tottenham, with Arsenal registering a lone shot on target, which Kai Havertz directed at Guglielmo Vicario. Gyokeres was limited to the last 20 minutes, including stoppage time, as Arsenal were largely toothless. The argument that they needed a specialist goalscorer is scarcely new, but perhaps it was underlined when they spent an initial £55m to acquire one. Arsenal had been waiting for Gyokeres: for a year, some might say, given the desire of many fans to buy a professional predator last summer. For weeks, definitely, given the hope they would have sprung into action the instant the transfer window opened, rather than signing him on 26 July. They had to wait a further 77 minutes, Mikel Arteta waiting before bringing on the buy who – one way or another – is likely to define the summer spending spree. He got a rapturous reception from the Hong Kong public who may have envisaged seeing him sooner. 'It was a short one but at least that one is over now,' said Arteta. He had brought on Gyokeres along with a lower-profile recruit, in defender Cristhian Mosquera, and added: 'I'm really happy to have them here. I think they are going to add a lot of value. You see straight away the energy and the quality they are going to bring.' Arteta had started with Havertz, just as the German has represented Plan A for much of his two seasons at the Emirates Stadium. A sign that Havertz is the man in possession or simply that, with Gyokeres only linking up with his new teammates this week and only having one full training session, he is the fitter, the better prepared. But Arsenal drew a blank. They did too often last season. In his 20 minutes, the arrival from Sporting CP was a presence in the penalty box, albeit one Arsenal struggled to pick out. Gyokeres' best touch was to set up Martin Zubimendi for the second of his long-range shots; the first, landing on the roof of the net seconds after his arrival, was the more threatening. The Spaniard was not supposed to be the summer signing who delivered the goal threat. Arsenal may hope there is a role reversal in more meaningful matches, the defensive midfielder passing to the centre-forward. When Gyokeres joined, he got a welcoming letter from Martin Odegaard, offering to do anything he could to help the newcomer settle. Some assists would be appreciated, the Swede smiled. Odegaard was at least on the pitch during Gyokeres' cameo. He may not expect to spend his time on the pitch being flanked by Reiss Nelson and Max Dowman. The 15-year-old at least sparkled in his own substitute appearance. He looks a precocious talent whereas Gyokeres, at 27, was bought to be the finished article. He was given the ultimate Arsenal goalscorer's shirt, the 14 made special by Thierry Henry. Perhaps his first goal in it will come at the Emirates Stadium: Arsenal have further friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao on home soil. Arteta promised Gyokeres a longer outing then. He also said that Leandro Trossard came off after Spurs after tweaking a muscle but that Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes, who did not feature, should be fit for the start of the Premier League season. In their absence, Arsenal ended their Asian tour on a relative low. After beating AC Milan and Newcastle, they lost to Thomas Frank 's Tottenham. It amounted to an encouraging outing for the new manager. Even before Spurs scored, Pedro Porro and Wilson Odobert struck the same post, the full-back with a corner, the winger with a low shot. They won courtesy of a spectacular goal, Pape Matar Sarr lobbing David Raya from 50 yards after Myles Lewis-Skelly had lost the ball. The goalkeeper's presence nearer the half-way line than his own box was because of his role in the build-up, but it was not the only time Raya's positioning felt faulty. Arsenal will trust that, when the serious business starts, Gyokeres will be found in the right place at the right time and it leads to goals.
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ella Toone reveals her grandmother died on morning of Euro 2025 final
Ella Toone has revealed her grandmother died on the morning of England's Euro 2025 final victory over Spain. The 25-year-old played the opening 87 minutes of Sunday's match in Basel as the Lionesses retained their title thanks to a penalty shoot-out win following a 1-1 draw. Manchester United midfielder Toone lost her father Nick to prostate cancer last September. 'Even in the highest of highs life can hit you with the lowest of lows,' she posted on Instagram. 'My Nana Maz took her last breath on the morning of our Euro final. I have comfort in knowing she got to watch from the best seat in the house with Dad, her favourite person.' Toone, who helped England win Euro 2022 and finish runners-up to Spain at the 2023 World Cup, started five of her country's six games in Switzerland. 'I'll miss you forever nan but I'll cherish the special memories we made, there isn't enough words I can possibly say to sum up the person you were, but I'm grateful you were my nanna. My football loving, crazy, funny Nan,' her post continued. 'All those years ago when you put a bet on at the bookies that I would play for England one day & on the day you leave us we bring it home again. You always knew it.'
