Lionesses captain Leah Williamson vows 'the best is yet to come' in Euros final against Spain after rollercoaster tournament
The Lionesses have had a rocky run to the final, becoming the first team in Euros history to reach both the quarter-finals and semi-finals after conceding the opening goal in each match.
They now have the chance to set the record straight, seeking revenge for their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final two years ago.
'The opportunity of what's on offer is the best thing in football,' said Williamson. 'We don't necessarily carry the weight of how much it means to people, but we're aware of it because it means the same to us.
'You grow in a tournament and we're aware of that. We have to stay in it as long as possible until we take advantage of it and hopefully the saying is true, that 'the best is yet to come.''
Williamson, who refused to label England as underdogs despite their defeat two years ago, insisted her side will play without fear.
The Lionesses have endured a rocky run to the final, becoming the first team in Euros history to reach it after coming from behind in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals
'I don't think we're a team fearful of losing. In football anything can happen and there's so much out of your control so we focus on being the best people we can to each other, performing the best that we can and hopefully that gives the result that we want.'
All 23 players trained today, including injury doubt Lauren James. England manager Sarina Wiegman confirmed that if James recovers well, she will be available.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Oasis welcome Lionesses on tour with Liam Gallagher giving very special shout out
England stars including Hannah Hampton and her teammates Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo were spotted watching Oasis play Wembley Liam Gallagher dedicated an Oasis song to the Lionesses Euros victory - as some of the squad were at Wembley to watch their latest triumphant gig. Oasis were back at Wembley on Wednesday night and in amongst the crowd were England stars including goalkeeper Hannah Hampton who was key in England winning the penalty shootout in Sunday's final. She was wearing an Oasis jacket as she posed for pics with former Spice Girl Geri Horner and teammates Alex Greenwood and Alessia Russo in a hospitality area. It comes after reports the future of 'incredible' Lionesses boss is in question after FA chief's statement. Russo later signed and Oasis football shirt for Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais and posed for photos with her too. On stage Oasis delivered another triumphant set and before performing Roll With It, Liam dedicated it to 'the actual Lionesses' to cheers from the crowd. The gig was another success for Oasis with fans loving the set and afterwards guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs wrote on social media: 'Wow, you/we did it again Wembley.' The band still have dates to play in Wembley, Edinburgh and Dublin before they head out on a US tour. And despite most of the crowd already wearing bucket hats and Adidas merch, there are even more ranges being launched, including some retro clothing based on previous tours. Amazon has launched it's own online fan store and has some new exclusive lines including reissued designs from the beloved 'North American Tour 2006" and 'Be Here Now 1997', including t-shirts (in black and white), a long sleeve shirt and a hoodie. Over coming months a number of tour-by-tour designs will be rereleased and available exclusively on Amazon. Graphics commemorating 2002's 'Heathen Chemistry' and the Wembley dates from 1997's 'All Around The World' tour, and more, will be available soon. Oasis are back at Wembley this weekend for two more shows on Saturday and Sunday night. They then head out on the run before playing two more shows at Wembley at the end of September. All dates are sold out. Other celebrities who have been to see the band at Wembley include Tom Cruise, Dua Lipa, Ricky Gervais and Lewis Capaldi
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bournemouth's perfect pre-season ended by Man Utd
Bournemouth suffered their first pre-season defeat in heavy rain and swirling wind, losing 4-1 to Manchester United in sides went into the match at Soldier Field with positive pre-season records, but Ruben Amorim's side took the convincing Semenyo had a goal ruled out for offside, with the Cherries' sole consolation coming through a Mattias de Ligt own goal in the 88th minute."The weather obviously had a big part in the game," Iraola said post-match. "It was the same for both teams, but especially in the first half the wind was against us and we were struggling to kick the ball around."It was the opposite in the second half and we didn't take that advantage, so I think they played much better than us and deserved the win."I think this game will probably serve us more than the other day [3-0 win over Everton] because we have made more mistakes and we have more things to correct."We struggled because we didn't have that collectiveness. Some players performed well but others did not, and they made everyone look worse. We need all of our players on the same page."Next, Andoni Iraola's side head to Atlanta next to face West Ham United in their final match of the tournament on Sunday, 3 August (19:00 BST).
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur signs new multi-year contract
Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari boss, Fred Vasseur, has signed a new multi-year deal with the Italian Formula One team. Vasseur's position has been under scrutiny this season with Ferrari yet to land a single win outside of Hamilton's sprint victory in China in March. Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has even been linked with the job since he was ousted earlier this month. However, in a statement released ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix – the concluding round before the summer break – Ferrari said in a statement: 'Scuderia Ferrari HP is pleased to announce that it has extended, with a multiple-year contract, its agreement with Fred Vasseur, who will continue as team principal for the coming Formula One seasons. 'Fred joined the Scuderia at the beginning of 2023, bringing with him extensive motorsport experience and a proven ability to develop talent and build competitive teams across all levels of racing. Since then, he has laid a solid foundation with the ambition of returning Ferrari to the top of Formula One. 'Renewing Fred's contract reflects Ferrari's determination to build on the foundations laid so far. His ability to lead under pressure, embrace innovation, and pursue performance aligns fully with Ferrari's values and long-term ambitions. 'Under Fred's leadership, Scuderia Ferrari HP is united, focused, and committed to continuous improvement. The trust placed in him reflects the team's confidence in its strategic direction and reinforces a shared determination to deliver the results that Ferrari's fans, drivers, and team members expect and deserve.' Since his transfer from Mercedes, Hamilton has not landed a grand prix podium in Ferrari colours – a streak of 13 races – the deepest into the season he has ever gone without a top-three finish. He is sixth in the standings, 157 points off the championship pace and 30 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari are second in the constructors' standings. Hamilton said at last week's round in Belgium that he had staged meetings with all of Ferrari's key figures – including chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna and Vasseur – and submitted two documents outlining his vision as to why the Italian giants are not up to speed. Ferrari's last world drivers' title came in 2007, with their most recent constructors' crown the following year. 'Today we want to recognise what has been built and commit to what still needs to be achieved,' said Vigna. 'It reflects our trust in Fred's leadership — a trust rooted in shared ambition, mutual expectations and clear responsibility. 'We move forward with determination and focus, united in our pursuit of the level of performance Ferrari has to aim for.' Frenchman Vassuer continued: 'I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver. 'Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together.'
