England fans watch on nervously as Lionesses fall behind in final
William and Charlotte were pictured in Switzerland for the Euros final as the royal family led the nation in wishing good luck to England's Lionesses.
Shortly before kick-off, an image of the pair was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account with the caption 'let's go, Lionesses'.
As Caldentey's header found the net in the 25th minute, William and Charlotte were pictured with their heads in their hands and crowds in fanzones across England fell silent as they watched proceedings.
Before kick-off, supporters waved England flags and loudly sang the national anthem at Boxpark Croydon and star striker Michelle Agyemang's former team, Brandon Groves Community Club in Essex.
Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks.
Ahead of the game, 11-year-old Violet Ingram, a left winger for Brandon Grove Emeralds, said: 'Seeing her (Agyemang) and the team just makes me feel like I can do anything I want to do.'
The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Football Association (FA), applauded the national anthem as he stood next to Charlotte in the stadium.
In a show of support ahead of the final, the Band of the Grenadier Guards performed Three Lions on the Buckingham Palace forecourt, while the royal family's official X account posted: 'Wishing the very best of luck to the @Lionesses in the Women's Euro Final this evening.'
William posted a good luck message on Saturday which read: 'Good luck to the Lionesses tomorrow.
Let's go girls!! 💪🦁⚽️
Wishing the very best of luck to the @Lionesses in the Women's Euro Final this evening. pic.twitter.com/y1tcrm94ST
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 27, 2025
'The nation is so proud you are through to the final, after some stunning comebacks! We are all cheering you on! W.'
After England beat Italy 2-1 in the semi-final in Geneva on Tuesday evening, the King and Queen wished the team their 'warmest congratulations'.
Charles said: 'Knowing the Lionesses' fighting spirit, I suspect we are in for another thrilling encounter on Sunday.
'Your achievements continue to inspire countless girls and women across the nation, proving once again that with dedication and teamwork, anything is possible.
'Good luck, England. May you roar to victory once more. Charles R.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'Into the final and inspiring the nation. Let's bring it home.'
He said the team had 'changed the game – breaking barriers, making history and inspiring the next generation.'
'Tonight, the whole nation will be behind them. Come on England!' Sir Keir said.
The @Lionesses have changed the game — breaking barriers, making history and inspiring the next generation.
Tonight, the whole nation will be behind them.
Come on England!https://t.co/wCKlLo15KW
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 27, 2025
Meanwhile, cricketer Joe Root wished the Lionesses' the 'very best of luck' in an online message, adding: 'It's been great to watch you play throughout the tournament.'
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson said the team has 'absolutely smashed it', adding that 'everybody is so proud of you'.
Meanwhile, BBC Sport and ITV have secured the broadcasting rights for the Women's World Cup 2027, meaning the tournament will remain free-to-air for UK viewers.
England's path to the final has been marked by late drama.
They sealed their spot with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy, following a penalty shootout victory against Sweden in the quarter-finals after nearly crashing out in extra time.
The Lionesses will be looking for redemption against Spain, who edged them 1-0 in the 2023 Women's World Cup final.
England boss Sarina Wiegman said the team is 'going to do everything we can to win it' and she would prefer to avoid a 'nerve-wracking' match.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
23 minutes ago
- ITV News
Hampton and Carter: The heroic Lionesses from the Midlands
Nowhere will be prouder of the Lionesses winning the Women's Euros than the Midlands, especially because of what the Midlanders in this squad the tournament, Birmingham -born Hannah Hampton was thrown into the spotlight as fellow goalkeeper Mary Earps announced she would retire rather than be her 'fans' made it clear they didn't want Hannah. She told ITV Sport earlier in the competition about how that made her feel: "It's hard when you see English fans not want you in the team. I've not done anything to make you hate me. Yeah, your favourite player has retired but that's not my decision."Well, Hannah, they all love you stunning distribution was the first thing to catch the ey,e but then came the penalty saves that turn tournament-winning keepers into legends. In the final, she was named Player of the Match. This is all after the girl who grew up in Studley and went to school in Burntwood was told by doctors she would never play professional was born with an eye condition that means she struggles to perceive depth. She had multiple operations as a child to correct it, but some of the issues West Brom fan went on to play for Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Chelsea before playing a crucial role in the first away senior major tournament win in England's history. It is a unique sporting career that would be too far-fetched for a film other Midlander of these European Champions is Warwickshire's Jess Carter, who has shown strength in the face of disgusting racist she announced she would be stopping using social media after being targeted throughout the tournament because of her race. Her statement sparked a wave of support from teammates to the Prime was also backed by the FA and her manager, but she only played a small role off the bench in the she starts in the final. She spoke of being 'scared' to play for the first time ever ahead of this match, and yet she delivered a flawless performance in defence against the World Champions, all this, how could you not find pride that these two superwomen are from our place?
Spectator
23 minutes ago
- Spectator
Women's football is better without the politics
England did two remarkable things in Basel last night: winning an international title overseas and doing it by that most un-British method, penalties. You have to hand it to Chloe Kelly's heroes, it was quite a triumph. 'I'm proud to be English right now' said the scorer of the winning goal in successive Euros – not something you hear too often these days. The scenes at the end were glorious. It crossed my mind that Donald Trump would have loved to be in the huddle as the trophy was held aloft, as he was with Chelsea a few weeks' ago (on second thoughts, perhaps not a great idea). It was hard not to feel sorry for the Spanish, who looked utterly devastated, with insult added to injury by Queen's 'We are the Champions (of the World)' sung lustily by the Lionesses, when, as commentator Ian Wright pointed out, Spain are the champions of the world. Now, of course, comes the hype. The media will tell us that the tournament was a glorious success but as always with women's football one must resist exaggeration. Walking around London yesterday I saw virtually no evidence that the nation was about to play in a major continental final. If pubs were planning on showing the game, they weren't advertising the fact. Most were still blaring out Oasis whose Wembley residency is about halfway through. The tournament as a whole was very well-attended but tickets were available for the final right up till kick off – for £50. According to YouGov research before the tournament the popularity of women's football remains limited despite the best efforts of the marketeers and hype mongers. Only between 11 and 20 per cent across the continent said they were interested in women's football (in England it's 17 per cent). An interesting finding is that it is women who are the hardest to persuade, with almost twice as many men expressing an interest. That might tick up a tad after last night, but for those looking for parity with the men's game – a foolish, irrelevant pursuit – there is a long, long way to go. We will also be told from public broadcasters, who see the women's game as a grand social engineering project, that the real winners from this tournament were women and girls around Europe and beyond who will be inspired to live out their dreams, be their best selves etc., unhindered by tradition and patriarchal norms. Nah, no thanks, not this time. The real and welcome message of this modestly successful tournament may well be that women's football is on the up, yes, but on its own merits as an entertaining sport, and nothing else. As evidence of this, there are signs that the virtual purdah that had descended during women's major tournaments, a ban on criticism and cynicism and gentle mockery, has ended. Rod Liddle described the general quality as 'abysmal' (a tad harsh perhaps) and he wasn't castigated or cancelled for doing so. Much hilarity was had at the nine missed (out of 14) penalties in the shoot-out versus Sweden ('I've taken Monday off in case it goes to penalties' was one choice comment about yesterday's game). There was some old-fashioned mildly chauvinistic fun had at the BBC's presenting desk and its resemblance to an ironing board. It felt like we were back in the 1980s. Also welcome was the total lack of controversy when in what might once have been a major talking point – England deciding they would stop taking the knee (despite racist abuse aimed at Jess Carter). I probably wasn't alone in being astonished to hear that England were still doing this – though in my case that's because I have calibrated my football viewing to start exactly at kick off, or slightly after, to avoid all pre-match propaganda. Perhaps the greater lassitude is a result of fatigue at the relentless pushing of the women's game by the broadcasters, coupled with a general retreat in the power of identity politics. There certainly seems to be a spirit of dissent and good old-fashioned honesty in the air – witness the criticism of the women's Wimbledon final and the distinct lack of sympathy for the ludicrous equal pay demands of the chronically unpopular WNBA. Most welcome of all perhaps is that in this tournament is that the politicians largely stayed out of it. There doesn't seem to have been any government presence at the final. Lisa Nandy came closest to trying to capitalise on England's success with a piece in the Telegraph wanging on about the female empowerment angle. The backlash in the comments was withering. It is unsurprising that Labour tread cautiously. Nandy and others are on record as struggling to define what a woman actually is, and with the Supreme Court ruling that sex means biological sex and therefore only biological women should be anywhere near women's sport, the hypocrisy of trying to bask in a female sporting victory is just too glaring. Women's football minus the politics. That is real progress and definitely something to celebrate.
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
England win Euro 2025 – live: Lionesses reveal homecoming celebrations after penalty shootout victory
England women are European champions again after securing Euro 2025 glory by defeating world champions Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout in Basel. Chloe Kelly's winning spot kick and Hannah Hampton's saves proved decisive for the Lionesses in a gripping contest that ended 1-1 after extra-time. The Lionesses became the first England team in history to defend a major tournament title, but did it the hard way - as they had down throughout the tournament. will continue with a homecoming parade in London tomorrow. Sarina Wiegman paid tribute to her players to winning the most 'chaotic and ridiculous' tournament - while Lucy Bronze revealed she had played with a fractured tibia. The England players partied through the night after avenging their defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final by making more history as England players. Will England have a trophy parade after winning Euro 2025? England defeated Spain in dramatic fashion after Chloe Kelly's winning penalty secured Women's Euro 2025 glory and now they will prepare for a parade in London. The Lionesses will show off their trophy on Tuesday 29 July after leaning on goalkeeper Hannah Hampton during the shootout, with the Chelsea shot-stopper thriving to deny Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, while Salma Paralluelo missed the target completely. Will England have a trophy parade after winning Euro 2025? The Lionesses overcame world champions Spain to defend their European title after Hannah Hampton's saves and Chloe Kelly's penalty secured glory in Basel Jamie Braidwood28 July 2025 08:03 England hero Lucy Bronze reveals she played entire Euro 2025 with fractured tibia England defender Lucy Bronze revealed she played through the entirety of Euro 2025 with a fractured tibia after becoming a two-time European champion with the Lionesses. Bronze, 33, is the oldest member of England's squad and started all six games during the tournament, including their dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Spain in the final. Bronze also defied injury to play a key part in England's quarter-final comeback over Sweden. England hero Lucy Bronze reveals she played entire Euro 2025 with fractured tibia The right back revealed she had played through injury moments after becoming a two-time European champion with England Jamie Braidwood28 July 2025 08:02 Report: England only had one key trait over Spain – but it led them to Euro 2025 glory History repeated, once as another triumph, twice with force. Chloe Kelly again decided the European Championship for England, this time with a penalty of such ferocity that it fittingly reflected the fight and spirit of this team. It was proper grit, proper character… Yes, proper England, who remain European champions. Sarina Wiegman's side produced another miracle in this tournament, as she claimed a third successive winners' medal in the competition. These are all historic feats in themselves, but they are elevated by the manner of this glory, writes Miguel Delaney in Basel. England only had one key trait over Spain – but it led them to Euro 2025 glory England 1-1 Spain (England win 3-1 on pens): The Lionesses held their nerve in a shootout thanks to Hannah Hampton's two saves and Chloe Kelly's decisive spot kick in Basel Miguel Delaney28 July 2025 08:02 England wake up as Euro 2025 champions There may be some bleary eyes as England's players wake up this morning at their Zurich base - if they have even slept at all. But they are European champions again after a dramatic victory on penalties against Spain to become the first England team in history to defend a major title. Jamie Braidwood28 July 2025 08:00
