Lionesses were in crisis going into Euro 2025 as critics turned on Sarina Wiegman… England boss is owed an apology
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SARINA WIEGMAN 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.
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Sarina Wiegman was doubted heading into Euro 2025
Credit: Alamy
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Now the three-time Euros winner is owed an apology
Credit: Getty
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Mary Earps was ruled out of the Euros
Credit: Getty
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As was Fran Kirby
Credit: Getty
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.
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ROARING HOME Lionesses pose on red carpet outside Downing Street after lifting Euros trophy
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.
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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.
'This is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played' says Sarina Wiegman
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.
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