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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Starmer faces mounting calls for a Lionesses Bank Holiday if England women retain their Euros title after dramatic semi-final comeback
English football fans should get a day off to celebrate if the Lionesses bring it home by winning the Euros for the second time in a row, Keir Starmer has been told today. The Prime Minister is facing renewed calls for a Bank Holiday if the women's national team beat either German or Spain in Sunday's final. The Lionesses tested the nation's stress levels again last night with an incredible extra-time win over Italy in a semi-final, after scoring second from the end of normal time and extra time. Last-gasp goals by Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Smith saw them overcome Italy 2-1 in Geneva. No10 has been resisting calls to give millions of workers a day off, despite Sir Keir backing calls for a Bank Holiday when they won the Euros in 2022, when he was opposition leader. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said that it was important for the nation to mark 'the talent, success and historic achievement' of the team. 'The Lionesses can make history on Sunday and retain the Euros title they won so memorably three years ago. If they do that, the Prime Minister should give us a public holiday to honour their achievement,' he said. 'Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements. Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team. 'The Prime Minister is a football fan - we've all seen the pictures of him enjoying a kick around with his mates. 'If Wiegman's heroes deliver glory, we'll all be hoping he'll put the ball into an empty net by giving the Lionesses and the rest of us a chance to mark the occasion.' The Lionesses were on the brink of elimination by Italy when 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, drawing the sides level with an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute opener. Then, with another shootout minutes away, Beth Mead was brought down and Kelly stepped up to the spot, where she was initially denied by Laura Giuliani, but buried the rebound to complete England's second successive stunning comeback. Asked yesterday whether the PM will grant a Bank Holiday if England go on to win the whole tournament on Sunday, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'I'm not aware of any plans for that.' In 2022, the previous Tory government ruled out granting an extra Bank Holiday if England won the women's Euros. This was despite pressure from Sir Keir, the then Opposition leader, for them to do so. Ahead of that year's final, the Labour leader told the Daily Mirror that a Lionesses' victory should be 'marked with a proper day of celebration'. In 2023, when England reached the World Cup final, Sir Keir posted on social media: 'It's almost 60 years since England won the World Cup. 'I'm never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.' However, a report in 2022 said that the cost to the public finances of a single day bank holiday due to lost productivity is around £2.4billion.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Leah Williamson admits she has been ‘annoyed' by England's Euros performances before comebacks
England captain Leah Williamson admitted that she has been 'annoyed' by aspects of the Lionesses ' recent performances at Euro 2025, though added that the team 'deserve their flowers' for reaching the final. The Lionesses went 1-0 down to Italy in there first half of their Euro 2025 semi-final last night and needed a 96th-minute equaliser from 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang to save their Euros campaign, before Chloe Kelly wrapped up a dramatic comeback in extra time with a rebound after seeing her penalty saved. It marked the second knockout game in a row in which England needed to claw back a deficit, with the Lionesses having been 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning a remarkable penalty shootout. And speaking after the semi-final victory in Geneva, William said she was 'very proud', though at the same time 'annoyed that we get ourselves into certain situations'. 'Those girls deserve their flowers, and everybody just played their role,' said Williamson. 'We get ourselves into certain situations with miscommunications or not doing exactly what the plan says, but to bounce back like that, you can't take anything away from the team or those girls, it is incredible. 'It has not been smooth sailing and I feel like things haven't necessarily gone to plan,' continued Williamson, before adding that 'the level just keeps rising and there are more and more unknowns and you have to be ready for everything'. The Lionesses will face either Germany or Spain in the final in Basel on Sunday, with that game throwing together either a rematch of the Euros final in 2022 – in which England beat Germany 2-1 – or a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Sarina Wiegman's side lost 1-0 to Spain. That match will likely be the toughest challenge of the tournament so far, with world champions Spain in particular having long been the pre-tournament favourites. But Williamson further explained that she doesn't 'think it has gone smooth sailing for anybody yet, which is the point', and England just need to 'keep rising as well'. 'It makes a great tournament and it shows what is going on. We just have to keep rising as well, this new England has to find their feet quicker,' said Williamson. 'We have one more to go. I promise you we will give it everything we can,' she added. Germany face Spain in the other semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday night, before England take on the winner of that match in the final in Basel on Sunday, 27 July, with kick-off at 5pm BST.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Joseph Parker's trainer reveals what he must do to beat Oleksandr Usyk
Joseph Parker 's trainer Andy Lee has explained why his fighter can be the man to end Oleksandr Usyk 's heavyweight dominance. Usyk became undisputed champion in boxing 's blue-riband division for the second time when he dismantled Daniel Dubois inside five rounds at Wembley on Saturday night. The Ukrainian great now holds two wins each over Dubois, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and sits atop the pound-for-pound list. It is currently unclear who his next challenger will be, but it could be the WBO interim champion Parker. The New Zealander is on a stunning run of form that has seen him beat Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole. Lee believes Parker is capable of pulling off the upset if he gets his title shot and revealed what he has been working on with him in the gym to prepare him for Usyk. 'What we work on in the gym is being ready at all times and body language in the ring, and keeping your feet in a position where you're always ready to punch,' Lee said on the Ariel x Ade Show. 'If you are resting and you are taking a break, you don't show it. You look as if you are ready to attack and you're ready to punch. That's basically what we do and that's what Usyk does. 'Usyk feeds off his opponent's breaks. When they look to take that little switch, he'll attack them. He can pressure, pressure, pressure, feint with his magic wand right hand and he just burns them up. They are mentally exhausted as much as physically. And then when he wants to rest, he can move and dip and dive under the big guys' punches.' Usyk has been the considerably smaller man in his fights against Dubois, Joshua and Fury, but that would not be the case if he shared a ring with Parker. Although Parker would be the heavier of the two, they are similar heights with comparable reaches. Lee feels these physical characteristics give Parker a better chance as he will be able to keep up with Usyk and not fade away down the final stretch. Lee added: 'Joe has a similar size to him, can fight at a similar pace. He's a crafty, clever boxer, Joseph. People don't realise how clever he is and how he can adjust. 'We won't be taking breaks and we'll just have to match him. I just love the fight. I think technically it's a great fight from two really good heavyweight boxers. One of them, an all-time great, and Joseph a Hall of Famer, and possibly an all-time great if he got the win over Usyk.
