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South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Lauren Hemp praises 'unbelievable' support for Lionesses
The 24-year-old was ever-present in Sarina Wiegman's line-ups for the tournament and was able to soak in the support as England drove up to Buckingham Palace in their open-top bus. With performances from Burna Boy and Heather Small, the party did not stop for the back-to-back European Championship winners who brought the celebrations, and football, home with them. 'We hope we made so many more fans proud of us. We know the support's been incredible,' said Hemp. 'As a group we all realise the difference it made to England and to football when we won the Euros in 2022. We hope for the same to happen again. 'I've had so many messages that my phone just keeps pinging. Thank you to everyone, I'll get back to you at some point.' And just as the atmosphere on The Mall showed the support for the Lionesses back home, they had also enjoyed immense travelling support across Switzerland. In Basel for England's penalty shootout victory over Spain, thousands flocked to be part of an hour-long fan walk that snaked through the city before witnessing the Lionesses lift the Euro 2025 final. '[The support at the final] was incredible. Every time we went forward, you could hear the crowd and it was such a good atmosphere,' added Hemp. 'I couldn't even hear my teammates next to me, so it was unbelievable.' That support and the resilience of the England team helped Hemp and her teammates over the line in a closely-matched final. Spain had taken the lead through Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey in the 25th minute before Alessia Russo levelled after half-time. With neither team able to find a breakthrough, it was to penalties once more for the Lionesses who had made a habit of leaving things late and putting fans through the ringer. But despite the occasion, Hemp assured that the belief never wavered within the squad. 'The fight this team has shown from minute one of the tournament to now, it's incredible and it's nothing short of what this group deserves,' she said post-match. 'The grit, the determination we showed, it's not luck. It doesn't happen once, twice or three times for it to be luck. This is pure determination from this group. 'Whoever stepped up, we knew was going to score, but especially when Chloe stepped up for that fifth penalty, I knew it was going in and yeah, damn it did.' Returning to London, Hemp was able to celebrate the history of an England team who have become the first senior team to win a major tournament on foreign soil. And as Heather Small's rendition of 'Proud' rang out from in front of the Victoria Memorial, there could not be a better representation of the feelings at full-time in Basel. 'I was so speechless,' said Hemp. 'It's incredible and like I said, it's what this team deserves. 'We deserve to be winning all the time and it's incredible that it's not only happened once, it's happened twice and it's staying home and hopefully long may it continue.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Bryan Mbeumo relishing chance to play with Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United
Cameroon winger Mbeumo, who scored 20 goals and provided seven assists for Brentford in the Premier League last season, signed a five-year contract last week to become United's third summer signing. When asked on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast who he was most looking forward to playing alongside, Mbeumo told the former United defender: 'Of course, Bruno. Of course, yeah. 'Everyone sees in the past years. He can shoot, he can cross, he can do crazy ball. Yeah, for a striker, you just enjoy that.' Mbeumo is hoping to nurture a chemistry on and off the training pitch with United's Portuguese talisman before the club launch the 2025-26 campaign at home against Arsenal on August 17. 'I think it's a little bit of everything. You earn experience from everyone. So it's always good to speak to someone like this,' Mbeumo said. 'But at the end, I think on the pitch, when you're smart like he is, I think you don't even need to think a lot. You just need to make the run and he's going to play you in the right space every time. 'But of course, you can have a little discussion to make him know how I prefer the balls and how I'm feeling the best to have the ball. The wait is over. — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 21, 2025 'But at a certain point, there is only one way, even if it's not the one you like, you have to do the run and he's going to put the ball in a good position.' Mbeumo's arrival at Old Trafford follows the signings of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and Paraguay left-back Diego Leon, from Cerro Porteno. United have recently been linked with Ollie Watkins – RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is also a reported target – and Mbeumo described his former Brentford team-mate as the 'complete striker'. Mbeumo said of Watkins: 'I think he's really complete. He's like a complete striker. He can do a lot of things. 'He can drop with the set or going in behind. And I think this is really good for me or for a winger because you can use his space to fit in there. And he can combine as well. So, I think it's really good.'
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
As queer women, we couldn't be more proud of the ‘Lesbian-esses'
I've never been into football. At school, only boys were allowed to play, while girls were sent to the netball court. And as I got older, I just associated it with rowdy men — like the friend of a friend I watched the 2021 Men's Euros final with, who got so annoyed when England lost he threatened to throw her TV out of the window. As a queer woman, I've never felt encouraged to get involved, and I didn't see anyone like me on the pitch. But then came the Women's Euros this summer. At first, I wasn't particularly engaged with it, but when the invite to watch it at the pub dropped in the lesbian group chat, I thought, why not? And I'm glad I went. When Chloe Kelly's winning pentaly hit the back of the net, lesbian couples kissed, women embraced, and queer friends jumped up and down. I wasn't in an LGBTQ+ pub, but there was community everywhere. This wasn't just a win for women. It was a win for the queer community. Across all the teams that played in the Euros, there are reportedly 78 openly LGBTQ+ players and coaches. In the 2022 Men's World Cup, there were none. Even now, not one player in the Premier League is publicly out. Lionesses, past and present, like Jill Scott, Beth Mead and Jess Carter, have spoken publicly about their queer sexualities. And while other players have chosen not to label themselves in the media, many are rumoured to be dating women. The team has even been dubbed 'The Lesbianesses'. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! It all feels especially meaningful, particularly after rainbow armbands were banned at the men's World Cup in Qatar 2022 — and just months after FIFA confirmed the 2034 men's tournament would be hosted in Saudi Arabia, a country where LGBTQ+ rights are non-existent. Women's football is leading the way. Not just on the pitch, but in the community it creates, and it's having a real impact on women like me. Despite never being a huge fan of football culture, Mia Walters, 24, from Manchester, started watching the women's World Cup and was 'hooked from there'. 'I grew up in a family of football fans, but I never really felt like that was the space for me,' she tells Metro. 'As a queer woman, it doesn't always feel like there's a big space for us within society, like there is for queer men.' However, when watching women's football, she says 'the energy could just not be more different.' 'The Lioness games really provided that safe space. It feels like it's tailored for women and queer women.' She even travelled to Switzerland to watch the final. 'Seeing families, female couples and groups of friends meant it was so easy to feel integrated. 'I've been out for five years but I still don't always feel 100% comfortable being openly gay in public with my girlfriend. The matches have been the only places I 100% didn't worry about holding my girlfriend's hand or kissing in public.' Metro Lifestyle reporter Eleanor Noyce agrees the community around the Lionesses is buzzing with pride. Eleanor, who is bisexual, she says: 'Some might say as long as they're bringing it home, it doesn't matter how the Lionesses identify — but it means the world to me. 'I'm a life-long Arsenal fan, and while I'm a massive supporter of the mens' team, I feel more at home and accepted at Arsenal women's games. To watch England and know that many of the players on the pitch are part of the LGBTQ+ community is everything. It's not just about the sport, but the representation too. 'Other queer women get excited about couples within teams — there's fan accounts dedicated to the likes of Beth Mead and Vivienne Miedema. Society has sexualised queer women for such a long time, but now we're celebrating queer love on our own terms.' Eleanor, who also watched the Lionesses in Sweden, watched Sunday's final at the pub. She adds: 'It was a rare occasion when I was sat in an average pub in South London, surrounded by queer women. 'When Chloe Kelly scored the winning penalty, a couple in front of me kissed, with a Pride Progress flag pinned behind them. It just felt normal, and I've never experienced that before.' Eve Kirman, from Norwich, plays grassroots five and seven-a-side football in London. She grew up playing in boys' teams and later for Norwich United. While playing football was one of her 'biggest passions', she ultimately gave it up, as it didn't seem like a viable career choice for women. Today though, Eve still plays in local teams, where she says there is 'a level of openness' about queer identity. 'That trickles down from the Lionesses,' Eve, who is lesbian, tells Metro. 'They've created a really accepting, amazing vibe. We joke about bringing our WAGs to the sidelines of games to support us. 'When players are open about being queer, it sends a message without needing to say anything. More Trending 'There's just a real sense of joy that comes with being unapologetically yourself, having fun and doing something that you love.' However, Eve adds that there's still a way to go in terms of inclusivity. 'We have to reflect on who is being left out,' she says. 'The FA recently decided to ban trans women from playing in women's football. There's definitely more that can be done.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Readers dispute Barton's claim that England Lionesses aren't 'worthy of equal pay' MORE: 'I am a Lioness super fan, and I'm getting tattoos of seven players on my calf' MORE: Why Lionesses hero Jess Carter missed England's Euro 2025 trophy parade
