Wiegman's speeches and Reggie the dog help drive England to Euro 2025 glory

Telegraph

28-07-2025

Sarina Wiegman defiantly declared ' there is no crisis ' as she named her Lionesses squad for Euro 2025.
After two tumultuous weeks it had seemed as though Wiegman and England were in turmoil. Mary Earps and Fran Kirby had retired and Millie Bright had withdrawn herself from selection. Three senior players rocking the boat on the eve of a tournament – hardly ideal preparation.
But in the aftermath of those turbulent weeks, Wiegman steadied the ship and guided her team away from the 'outside noise'. Somehow, after being on the brink of an early tournament exit following defeat in the opening game by France and subsequent talk over Wiegman's future, she and her players have won back-to-back European Championships.
It has been a roller-coaster of a tournament from start to finish. After their semi-final victory over Italy, Wiegman declared she felt as though she was living in a film. The plot that has unfolded is greater than anything any scriptwriter could have created.
The crisis
The trouble started in the aftermath of Arsenal's Champions League victory. Their players were still enjoying their trophy parade when news broke that Bright had withdrawn from the England squad for the Nations League fixtures with Portugal and Spain because of physical and mental fatigue.
At first, nothing appeared untoward. It had been a long season for Bright and an extended period of rest would not be a bad thing before a busy summer. But word began to spread that all was not as it seems. Telegraph Sport was told at the time that there was more to the Bright withdrawal and there was no guarantee that she would be back for the Euros.
That same day, Earps told her team-mates she was retiring from international football. As Telegraph Sport reported at the time, Earps had been told she would not be the first-choice goalkeeper at this tournament. It is understood that Bright had similar conversations with Wiegman over her starting place. Tensions were high after Earps had delivered her speech. Wiegman is understood to have been too angry and upset to speak, before sharing words of frustration to Earps and the room.
Kirby had been thinking of retiring before Earps had done so, with the forward unsure whether she was going to make Wiegman's 23-player squad. After seeking clarity, Kirby was told she was unlikely to make it and the forward made the decision to retire, announcing it after the Lionesses' game with Spain. Kirby's retirement was less disruptive than that of Earps. There was a recognition that she had given everything to try to make Wiegman's squad. The difference with Earps was that her retirement had left England with two back-up goalkeepers that were uncapped.
The day after Kirby retired, Bright released a statement saying she was withdrawing herself from selection for the squad. The defender said she could not give 100 per cent either mentally or physically.
Moving on
Bright's announcement came a day before Wiegman named her squad for the Euros. To the outside, the Lionesses were in crisis. But Wiegman did not see it that way. Importantly, neither did her players. A meeting was called among the squad to address the two retirements and withdrawal, with the key takeaway being that they could not focus on those who were not part of the squad. The message was clear: 'We're here, they're not, we move on.'
When England lost their opening game against France, it did not feel like they had. They had played poorly and had shown weaknesses in defence. That defeat meant their subsequent game with Netherlands, who had thrashed Wales 3-0, was a must-win.
Wiegman was questioned in the aftermath of the France game. Had she been too slow with her substitutions? Had she got her team selection wrong?
England had looked frantic and like a team playing with fear. Players had honest conversations with one another, with Lucy Bronze taking the lead. Bronze had been part of the 2015 World Cup squad that had lost their opening group game – also against France. In that tournament, England went on to make the semi-finals and Bronze hammered home that one game would not define their tournament.
That is where the 'Proper England' phrase appeared to stem from. When Georgia Stanway addressed the press in the build-up to the Netherlands game, the midfielder said they wanted to get back to being 'Proper England'; that it was time to stop talking and take action.
They duly obliged, thrashing Netherlands 4-0 to put qualification within their grasp. There was never any threat of them slipping up against Wales and their 5-1 victory set up a quarter-final with Sweden.
Off-field influences
The role of former international Jill Scott was key in keeping spirits high and players have spoken openly about how she has been a positive influence around the camp.
Scott was part of the content team, conducting interviews with players for the Lionesses' social media channels and was often staying at the team hotel when she was not travelling to different parts of Switzerland.
Keira Walsh said she decompressed after games by having a cup of tea with Scott on the coach back from games while Leah Williamson said she was integral to the squad harmony.
Another important figure has been their unofficial emotional support dog, Reggie, who belongs to the owner of Cheals on Wheels, a mobile barista bar that has accompanied the team throughout the tournament.
'We have a coffee dog that helps,' Walsh said. 'I think most of the girls spend their time with him.
'I don't think he realises how much he's helped us. When we won the game, he came into the meal room afterwards, and we were all so happy to see him. So I think he's definitely been helping the most, it's fair to say.'
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The team's hotel, the Dolder Grand, has been a home away from home – as was the case at Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup. Players relaxed by playing basketball and darts, while Michelle Agyemang even brought her keyboard with her. Many of the players also enjoy building Lego, with Agyemang and Bronze making a replica of Zurich's stadium, Stadion Letzigrund.
Wiegman's speeches
Wiegman reveals little about what she says to her players but she delivered a number of rousing speeches at this tournament.
'We had a good one before the Italy game the night before in the meeting, one that definitely stood out,' Ella Toone said. 'Then again before the game.
'Half-time is when it's tactics and you're talking tactics and what we can do to improve or what we're doing well. Sarina's speeches before the games have definitely got us motivated.
Even though sometimes we have gone a goal down, you still remember the words that she said before the game and it makes you want to go out and put on a performance for the second half as well.
'She's been pulling them out of the bag. No matter what Sarina says you listen because she's reached five major tournament finals so she definitely knows what she's doing.'
Williamson had praised Wiegman's speeches at Euro 2022 and the England manager gave some detail about what she had said in the build-up to this final.
She said: 'Right before we went on the pitch, the main message was enjoy it. We've got so far in this tournament. I think we created something together again. These are the moments that you dream of, some couldn't even dream it because it wasn't possible when they were little kids, so go out there and enjoy it and play your very best game.'
Beth Mead revealed that a message on Wiegman's toiletry bag actually proved inspirational, saying: 'Sarina had a certain little way of motivating us. It was great, it was funny, it was everything. She did it again tonight.
'She had a little toiletry bag that said 'B--ches get s--- done', and b-----s got s--- done today. That is it, drop the mic.'
Knock-out drama
The Lionesses had landed on the side of the draw that many viewed as easier after finishing second in the group, but their quarter- and semi-final games were anything but.
They were poor for large periods against Sweden and found themselves 2-0 down at half-time. Chloe Kelly's introduction from the bench changed the game, with the forward setting up Bronze and Agyemang for two goals in the space of 102 seconds.
The Lionesses then had to come through a chaotic penalty shoot-out, in which Sweden missed two match-winning spot kicks before Bronze scored and Smilla Holmberg fired high over the bar, giving England victory.
Their performance against Italy in the semi-final was not much better and, after Barbara Bonansea's first-half goal, once again they looked to be heading out. But a 96th-minute equaliser from Agyemang forced extra time before Kelly won it in the 119th minute.
If coming from behind twice was not enough, England did it for a third time to beat Spain in a thrilling final. Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's opener and the Lionesses then had to defend for their lives to get to extra time and penalties.
Mead and Williamson had their spot-kicks saved but Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles and Kelly all converted theirs. Hampton saved from Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, Salma Paralluelo dragged hers wide and that was enough for the Lionesses to come out on top.
From crisis to champions. Few expected the Lionesses to win this tournament and on several occasions they should have been going home. But they showed incredible determination to overcome every bump in the road – and now they will go down as the greatest England team of all time.