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Metro
11 minutes ago
- Metro
Why England hero Jess Carter decided to miss Euro 2025 trophy parade
Lionesses defender Jess Carter was a surprise absentee from England's Euro 2025 trophy parade. Around 65,000 fans and members of the Royal Family attended England's joyous trophy parade in London on Tuesday afternoon. The England squad, which retained their Euros title with a penalty shootout win over Spain, was taken along The Mall in an open-top bus. The players then gathered on a stage in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace where the merriment continued. All but one of England's Euro-winning squad attended the parade, with Carter a surprise absentee following her crucial performance in the final. There had been scrutiny over Carter's place in the team earlier in the tournament but she justified Sarina Wiegman's faith with an impressive performance against World Cup holders Spain. As well as missing the trophy parade in central London, Carter also missed the England squad's visit to Downing Street on Monday evening. That is because the 27-year-old immediately flew back to the United States after the Euro 2025 final to prepare for another game. Carter's club side Gotham FC return to NWSL action on Saturday with an away match against Chicago Stars. According to talkSPORT, it was Carter's decision not her club's to return straightaway, even though it meant missing two days of celebration back in the UK. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video That appears to be the case as fellow England players Esme Morgan and Anna Moorhouse, who also play club football in America, attended the parade. Carter's decision to miss the celebrations divided England fans, with many saying it was a shame she was not involved after helping the Lionesses become two-time European champions. 'Jess Carter deserves to be there,' one fan posted on X with a crying emoji, while another said: 'I so wish Jess Carter was there to feel the love too.' Others said it was an example of 'elite mentality' from Carter, though there were also complaints about the congested football calendar which gives little time for breaks, even after major tournaments. Carter revealed she would be 'taking a step back from social media' during Euro 2025 due to the racist abuse she was suffering. 'From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse,' said Carter, who is yet to post following England's Euros victory. 'While I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result, I don't agree, or think, it's OK to target someone's appearance or race. 'As a result of this I will be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with.' That abuse – plus the prospect of playing in a Euros final – left Carter 'scared' to even play in Sunday's showpiece event in Basel. 'I was super scared to play today for the first time in my life,' Carter told ITV after the match. 'But when I woke up and I saw my team, and the support I had and the belief I had from my teammates, my family and my manager, I knew I could just come out and give it my all. That's all you can do. 'To have that faith from Sarina to put me back in the squad, and that she believed I could help this team win a trophy, was amazing. It gave me a lot of confidence going into this game.' More Trending Speaking at England's trophy parade, Lionesses captain Leah Williamson said: 'I've been crying all the way down The Mall! 'This is unbelievable, probably one of the best things we've been a part of. We're making history every single step. Stay with us, this story is not done yet.' Chloe Kelly, who scored England's winning penalty against Spain, added: 'This is incredible. Pressure, what pressure? 'It is so good to stand side by side with every single one of these girls throughout the whole tournament, and the staff that you don't see behind the scenes.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'What is Sarina doing?!' – Ian Wright 'baffled' by Wiegman decision in Euro 2025 final MORE: Legendary Lioness hero 'tipped for glittering TV career' after Euros 2025 win MORE: When is the next Women's World Cup and where is it being held?
Metro
11 minutes ago
- Metro
'What is Sarina doing?' - Wright 'baffled' by Wiegman call in Euro 2025 final
Ian Wright says he 'couldn't believe' Alessia Russo was taken off after scoring against Spain and feels Sarina Wiegman was 'very fortunate' to avoid a backlash as England went on to win the Euro 2025 final on penalties. For the third match on the bounce, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind after conceding to a Mariona Caldentey header midway through the first half in Basel. Just as they had done against both Sweden and Italy, the holders dug deep and managed to wrestle the momentum back in their favour, with Russo reacting brilliantly to nod home Chloe Kelly's pinpoint cross and level in the 57th minute. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another nerve-jangling shootout, with Kelly scoring the decisive spot-kick to seal a famous 3-1 win over the world champions. The Lionesses' latest triumph – which came at the end of a rollercoaster campaign – marked the first time in history that an English team had won a major tournament on foreign soil. It also further cemented Wiegman's legendary status as an international head coach. The 55-year-old first lifted the trophy with the Netherlands in 2017 before steering England to back-to-back titles over the last three years. Dissecting the final on the Crossways podcast, Wright was somewhat reluctant to criticise Wiegman considering just how far England had come since she took over the reins from Phil Neville. However, the iconic ex-Arsenal striker believes there were a couple of key decisions which could easily have gone against the England boss on another day. 'I've got to say, the Russo substitution is the most baffling thing I'll ever see if she's not injured. I could not believe it,' Wright said. 'Michelle [Agyemang] came on and, obviously, she's amazing, Young Player of the Tournament, only coming off the bench and doing enough to win, that was amazing on her part. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'But I think she [Agyemang] needs Russo on there with her in this time. 'They would have caused Spain so many problems because Russo would have dropped off, she would have been in the box. 'What is Sarina doing taking her off?! What's she doing taking her off?! I couldn't believe it.' According to Wright, Wiegman has proven beyond doubt that she is a 'genius' and a 'legend' – but hauling Russo off with 20 minutes remaining made little sense in the context of the match. 'She was feeding off scraps,' Wright said of Russo. 'When you're playing in a game like that, all you're hoping for is one chance that you can try and take, which she did, and then you get a second wind. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'When she went off you could see it. She's so sweet and she's saying thank you to everybody but you can see it in her mind, she must be thinking, 'What the f***'s going on?! What are you taking me off for?!' 'In the end, she's very fortunate. She's obviously shown she's a great coach with three European Championships on the spin. That's legendary. 'But some of the decisions… you're thinking to yourself, 'If that's what you're doing on purpose because you see the outcome in your head then you are a genius!', but she is a genius with what she's done.' Wright was similarly taken aback that Wiegman opted to 'gamble' on Lauren James' fitness when she had a player of Kelly's quality raring to go the start. 'With Lauren James, it's a Euros final. If she thinks, 'You know what? If I can get something out of myself I might be able to do it', then you're going to play,' he continued. 'And I think it was a gamble that I don't think Sarina should have taken, especially when you've got Chloe there. Chloe is ready to go and she showed that when she came on. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'I thought it was strange. Again, you're talking about somebody who is obviously not fit enough. 'Then, we know that [Lauren] Hemp can come back and work back as well and help and you've got Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo all on that side, that's the most attacking they can be on that side, and you've got Lauren James whose natural game is not to track back and try stop those players. 'She's half fit and it just felt like, 'Oh my gosh, what's going on?!'' More Trending Given the journey Kelly had gone on following a 'dark' time in her career at the start of the year, Wright had to fight back the tears when the Arsenal forward stepped up to convert the winning penalty. 'Who in history has had the opportunity to do that? She has won us a tournament the last kick,' he went on. 'I got emotional as well when she did it. I just had a feeling and I felt like I was going to cry. 'I was just so pleased for her and I wanted it to happen and I wanted it to happen for us a country.' Did Wiegman make a mistake bringing off Russo? For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Legendary Lioness hero 'tipped for glittering TV career' after Euros 2025 win MORE: When is the next Women's World Cup and where is it being held? MORE: Lionesses trophy parade: England celebrate historic Euro 2025 victory in London
The Guardian
12 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Lionesses hear the roar': thousands of England fans celebrate Euros win in London
They came in their thousands, a sea of red and white pouring through Green Park to the Mall. Teenage boys with England flags painted on their faces, little girls in their Saturday morning club kits, veteran fans of the women's game, new fans who just wanted to savour the moment. Tens of thousands of jubilant England fans lined the Mall in central London on Tuesday to welcome home the victorious Lionesses after their Euro 2025 victory on Sunday. 'I just wanted to be part of history,' said Joanne Rumsby, 58, an England flag over her shoulders and a red and white flower garland wrapped around her head. 'I saw them win at Wembley three years ago, but to see them win again was everything. It was elation, it was pride – it was just wonderful.' The England squad, who returned from Switzerland on Monday after their victory over Spain the day before, were greeted by chants, cheers and more than a few tears. 'Lionesses hear the roar,' said the sign of one little girl. They could not fail to. From the top of the Champions-branded open-top bus they danced, waved and appeared to be having the time of their lives, before taking to the stage in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. 'I've been crying all the way down the Mall,' said the team captain, Leah Williamson, when handed a microphone by the former England player turned broadcaster Alex Scott. 'This is unbelievable.' Williamson acknowledged that the team's second major tournament trophy had been won 'the hard way' – with last-minute equalisers, three consecutive spells of extra time and a series of nail-biting penalty shootouts. 'Everything we do, obviously we do it for the team, but we do it for you, we do it for the country, we do it for young girls,' she said. 'Thank you so much for being with us. Stay with us. This story is not done yet.' Listening to the team bask in accolades with a broad grin on her face was 49-year-old Beth Magee. She said she had scaled a wall separating VIPs from the crowds below, aided by her three teenage daughters Ella, Martha and Rosie. 'I've never broken a rule in my life, but I made an exception to see this today,' she said. 'When the police tried to move us I said to my daughters, 'I'll speak to them girls, but we won't be moving'.' Pointing to the team on stage, she added: 'These women are such incredible role models – they are strong, healthy and smart and we are so proud of them.' The Lionesses have been vocal about their desire to inspire the next generation of players, and the influence of their first Euros victory in 2022 was everywhere during the victory parade. In the season following that trophy, 1,500 new teams were registered in England with the number of girls and women playing the game increasing by more than 50%. Among them was 55-year-old Vivienne Avery. 'I literally started the week after they won,' she said. 'I saw a course and I thought it's now or never. This team really have inspired all ages.' Her daughter Ruby Davies, 20, said that when she was in her early teens in Southfields, south-west London, she had struggled to find a local girls' team. 'But now there are teams everywhere,' she said. 'And winning twice – something that an England team has never done before – just means it's in everyone's faces now. The impact will be huge.' Just what it meant for the European champions was clear as they requested more songs after the end of the homecoming event. During the slightly unhinged, but entirely jubilant show – at one point Chloe Kelly caused an instant headache for live broadcasters by yelling 'It's so fucking special!' – the usually uber-controlled England manager, Sarina Wiegman, danced with her favourite singer Burna Boy, who joined the squad on stage to sing For My Hand. Asked what she thought of fans singing Tequila by the Champs, with her name replacing Mexico's most-famous export, the Lionesses head coach gave a wry smile. 'Very innovative and funny, the English,' she said. 'It's in my head all the time now so thank you.' Asked how the victory was different than in 2022, she said: 'We kept having hope. It starts with talent, the bonding in this team made the absolute difference. Everybody was ready to support each other.' Looking out across the vast swathes of fans, England's talisman Lucy Bronze said the response to the victory had been amazing. 'This moment is unbelievable,' she said, wearing her trademark skiing sunglasses and an England scarf wrapped around her head. 'Obviously we did it three years ago but to come back to this is incredible.' Asked how the party was after the final – which the England defender had played, she later revealed, with a fractured left tibia – she deadpanned: 'I don't remember.' With the show over and the final dances done, the fans started to leave past Buckingham Palace, the strains of Sweet Caroline and Daft Punk's One More Time – played as the team raised their trophy in a shower of ticker tape and red and white pyrotechnics – still ringing in their ears. 'It has made me want to play a lot more,' said nine-year-old Eva Mummery, who had travelled from Gloucestershire with her friends from the Gotherington Jaguars under-11s. 'I want to get up to a higher level of football to hopefully bring home that trophy one day with all my amazing teammates.'
