Lionesses were in crisis going into Euro 2025 as critics turned on Sarina Wiegman… England boss is owed an apology
By any and all who doubted her ahead of this, a third straight women's Euros triumph for the 55-year-old.
5
5
5
Wiegman, cemented now as one of the greatest managers in the history of women's football, described Euro 2025 as the most chaotic tournament she had ever experienced.
But even before England arrived in Switzerland to defend their title, the Dutchwoman was facing intense scrutiny.
After the influential duo of Mary Earps and Millie Bright ruled themselves out just weeks before the tournament and Fran Kirby retired from international football after being told she would not go to the Euros, faith in Wiegman was on the wane.
Crisis had struck and many questioned if the woman in charge could handle the fallout and whether she had caused it.
Had she lost her touch? Was she too direct or brutally honest with her players?
Those questions looked foolish as the Lionesses flew back home yesterday, trophy in hand for a second time.
Wiegman's players were in awe of her in Switzerland, a manager who kept her cool with the team on the brink more than once.
The ex-Netherlands boss told the squad they had almost killed her twice, with last-gasp comebacks against Sweden and Italy in the quarter-final and semi-final.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Wiegman had to stand and watch three spells of extra-time — the first time any side has gone the distance in three games at a women's Euros.
She also had to endure two penalty shootouts, which both swung dramatically from one side to the other.
Wiegman insisted there was no lack of belief during those nervy knockout ties — but the manager did admit there were brief moments when she thought they were going home.
While there was a calm exterior throughout every close call, she was 'having a heart attack' inside.
Despite that, she always found the right words for the moment. Delivering emotional and inspirational speeches when they were needed most. Those messages all had an edge.
The Lionesses boss said she could not repeat some of the language from her team-talks, while sales of the 'b**tches get s*** done' washbags will surely skyrocket.
Having kept her cool throughout, the moment Chloe Kelly fired home the winning shootout penalty against Spain in the final, things finally cracked.
Wiegman said: 'I just started running. I'd been screaming for three minutes. I just could not believe that we won it.
'When she went to take that penalty, her conviction again — and she just loves these moments.'
Players were shown clips of their finest moments out here, one last confidence boost to get over the line when hope appeared lost.
Wiegman showed faith in the likes of teenage striker Michelle Agyemang unknown to all but the most ardent Women's Super League fans before this tournament.
She's bloody amazing. She's an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful for.
Chloe Kelly on Sarina Wiegman
Agyemang, 19, is a new favourite, scoring the leveller against Sweden after England were 2-0 down, before the most dramatic of injury-time equalisers to set up the semi-final win against Italy in extra-time.
But the resolve and determination which has defined England's heroines all stems from their coach, also a Euros winner with her native Holland in 2017, and her staff.
There are so many of this squad who have faced adversity, did not think they would be here or had struggles throughout the tournament.
Kelly, England's finals icon, feared she would not even make the squad after falling out of favour at Manchester City earlier in the season.
But Wiegman stuck with her. A loan move to Arsenal followed, where she won the Champions League with victory over Barcelona — before scoring or assisting in every Euros knockout game and hitting the winning spot-kick.
Kelly said of the Lionesses boss: 'She's bloody amazing. She's an incredible woman. What she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful for.
'What she's done for me individually, she gave me hope when I probably didn't have any.
'She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.
'What she's done for the women's game, not just in England, in the Netherlands she's done it, she's taken it to a whole other level.
'Are you sure?'
'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff behind her, they're incredible people.'
Jess Carter was dropped for the semi-final against Italy after some shaky performances.
And the Chelsea defender's misery was compounded by some horrific racist abuse from online trolls.
But Wiegman showed the faith to restore her in Basel — and Carter delivered the performance of a lifetime against Spain.
The centre-back, 27, said: 'We went into training and she sat me down and said, 'I'm thinking of starting you on Sunday'. I said, 'OK, thanks'.
'After, I was thinking, 'Are you sure?' To have that faith from Sarina to put me back in the squad and that she believed I could help this team to a trophy was amazing.
'It gave me a lot of confidence going into this game.'
Wiegman revealed ahead of the final that she had fallen in love with England.
There can be few who will argue the feeling is not mutual.
5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
35 minutes ago
- The Guardian
England and India ready for cliffhanger on final day in dramatic fifth Test
First came bad light, then a burst of rain, and with it the penultimate day of this epic Test series ended with the ultimate cliffhanger overnight. England had seemingly been cruising to their target of 374 and a 3‑1 series victory, driven by sparkling centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root. But India roared back after tea to leave the hosts six wickets down, still 35 runs short, when the players and umpires walked off to a chorus of jeers. So despite looking like a memorable fourth day would bring finality to the contest, the deciding fifth Test now heads into a fifth day with everything still on the line. England will resume in the morning hoping that Jamie Smith, last of the top seven, guides them home after a night's rest and Chris Woakes, his dislocated left shoulder still in a sling, is not required to bat. India can still level the series at 2-2 – a share of the Anderson‑Tendulkar Trophy – and, having floundered slightly during a 195-run fifth‑wicket stand between Brook and Root, they had perhaps cause to feel most aggrieved when proceedings were paused at 5.30pm. The force was very much with the tourists at this stage; England were scrapping for their lives. Brook's thrilling 10th Test century had been terminated on 111 from 98 balls before tea – bat flying out of his hand when top-edging Akash Deep into the ring – while Jacob Bethell lost his middle stump for five trying to break free from the shackles. But it was Root's removal for 105 to an edge off Prasidh Krishna that truly set alarm bells ringing among the home support. It had been coming, in fairness, with the old ball belatedly starting to move for India's quicks and forcing a succession of lbw appeals. From 337 for six, Smith and Jamie Overton continued the theme, playing out 20 balls of paralysis in which they either beat the bat or squirted off the inside edge. Just two singles were added and both were cheered like boundaries. Most galling of all was that 30 minutes after play was called off at 6pm, the Oval was drenched in sunshine and the last remaining spectators were shouting words like 'disgrace'. If nothing else, the overnight pause handed Smith and the tail time to reset, even if this also meant they would be facing a refreshed Indian attack with the second new ball just 3.4 overs away. While the verbals that have been traded regularly during this series died down after a chirpy start, the battle out in the middle was no less intense, and not least during India's late surge. Krishna and Mohammed Siraj whipped up the Tamasha, with the latter somehow still hitting 87mph on the speed gun in his fifth successive Test. What a cricketer. Up to that point it had chiefly been about the audacity of Brook, plus the 39th entry into Root's catalogue of Test centuries. Hitting 14 fours and two sixes overall – one of which we will get to – Brook initially burst out of the traps. But he then smartly started to roll his wrists on his pull shots when Shubman Gill spread the field to all corners. Control, precision and typical brute strength placed this 91-ball century among his very best. Root, by contrast, was scratchy at first and fortunate to survive a tight lbw shout from Krishna on three in which he was saved by umpire's call. Soon enough, though, he was in his groove, smiling at his opponents after some rare snarl on day two and caressing 12 gorgeous fours. Since Bazball began in 2022, the 34‑year‑old averages a remarkable 82 in the fourth innings. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion There was little doubt as to the moment that changed the day though; a moment that Siraj, much like Trent Boult after the 2019 World Cup final, will replay in his mind over and again should India go on to lose. In a sport that has disappointment baked into it, holding a catch in the deep but carrying the ball over the boundary for six must rank among the worst feelings. Brook was on 19 at the time, England 137 for three, when he hooked Krishna from outside off and sent a high catch to long leg. Siraj snaffled it but planted his heel on the rope simultaneously, before stumbling over completely in full knowledge of the error. A number of India's players were already celebrating, only to spot Siraj with his head in his hands. India had enjoyed a positive start to the day too, even if there were signs of the pitch having lost some of its seam movement. The dangerous Ben Duckett had edged a smart full ball from Krishna behind on 54, while Ollie Pope fell lbw for 27 to a ball that nipped back from Siraj. It completed what has become his standard one century, 30-something average series for Pope. Brook's reprieve changed the mood of a morning in which England reached lunch on 164 for three, before he and Root then dominated the afternoon. Expect the fired up and indefatigable Siraj to come charging in on Monday morning, desperate to ensure his footfault becomes a mere footnote.
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bedford gets first padel courts after £300k sport investment
A £300,000 investment will give a town its first padel facility will be built at Mowsbury Golf and Squash Complex in Bedford after it was approved by Conservative mayor Tom project, part of Bedford Borough Council's sports facilities strategic review, is expected to generate an annual net income of £40,000 for the complex through increased usage, according to Local Democracy Reporting report to the mayor said there was currently no provision in the borough for padel, a fast-growing racquet sport in Europe. It added the Mowsbury site was chosen due to its complementary sporting offer, central location, and access from rural areas.A four-week public consultation held in May and June 2025 found strong support for the proposal as 82% of respondents said improvements would encourage them to use the facility new padel courts, which look similar to tennis courts but are a third of a the size, will be located within the existing car park decision can be implemented on 11 August if it is not called in for debate by completed on schedule, the courts are expected to open by next March. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newport 'working on' more potential signings
Newport County are "working on" bringing further players into the club says manager David Exiles drew 1-1 with Notts County in their opening game of the League Two season at Rodney Parade on has already signed goalkeepers Nik Tzanev and Jordan Wright, centre-back Lee Jenkins, Wales midfielder Matt Smith and striker Ged Garner – who scored against United defender Habeeb Ogunneye and Cardiff City striker Michael Reindorf have joined on loan."It's not easy. There's a number of factors, obviously a number of clubs who will be looking at individuals as well," Hughes said."So we are looking to add some further numbers and not just numbers, but they've got to be quality."The conversations we've had with the chairman have always been positive."
