Latest news with #MichelleAgyemang
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
From piano practice to Lego castles: are wholesome hobbies the secret to the Lionesses' success?
On Sunday the Lionesses clinched a historic victory in the Euros final against Spain, becoming the first England team to win a major international tournament abroad. As a clinical psychologist who works with professional athletes and sports teams, I know that discipline and aggression will have played an important role in their victory – but that habits and hobbies off the pitch might have been just as vital. In the training camp, away from the spotlight and competition of the tournament, the Lionesses would come together in the evenings to engage in wholesome activities including building Lego, doing jigsaws and playing Monopoly. Michelle Agyemang played a piano in her room. Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy brought a sourdough starter from home for the team chef to feed. They were also encouraged to spend time with their families and to talk and journal about 'how they had made it to the Euros, their footballing journeys and the personal battles they had faced'. Mastering professional sport requires resilience, composure and an ability to navigate the highs and lows inherent in competition. Highs – such as when an important match is won and the stadium roars with approval – kick players' sympathetic nervous systems into overdrive as the neurotransmitters adrenaline and dopamine are released. In this state, returning to a hotel room to sleep and recover ahead of upcoming fixtures can feel virtually impossible. It's not uncommon for athletes to continue to seek out dopamine hits in the form of intense physical exercise, alcohol, social-media feedback, gaming or gambling – all of which can have negative outcomes. Similarly, when athletes experience a low – a day off, the off-season, an injury or retirement – their mood can plummet. Not only is there now ample time to ruminate on negative thoughts, but their brain chemistry is suddenly deprived of all that lovely pleasure-inducing dopamine as the highs of winning subside and social-media feedback wanes. All too often, the instinct is to pursue dopamine through other, potentially harmful stimuli because it feels too uncomfortable to tolerate the sense of lacking something. Little sympathy is often felt by the public towards football stars who appear seemingly reckless in their behaviours off the pitch, but in reality they are sliding down a slippery slope of addiction and are desperately fighting to get off. Managing the cognitive, emotional and neurotransmitter-fuelled rollercoaster inherent in sport is crucial for athletes if they want to avoid emotional dysregulation, depression, addiction and burnout. Here's where the Lionesses played a blinder with their choice of downtime occupations. Low-tech, slower activities such as Lego, puzzles and journalling, as well as being engaging and satisfying, provide an off-ramp for dopamine chasing. They allow players to build emotional and psychological resilience. If you've ever attempted a complex Lego build – like the forward Lauren Hemp, who reportedly built a Beauty and the Beast castle during the Euros – you'll know all too well the level of patience required. Tolerating the discomfort of a fiddly project can help build emotional regulation and resilience – vital for managing uncomfortable pressure points on the pitch. Many of the Lionesses' purported pastimes were also low- or no-tech. In choosing to play an instrument or give each other beauty treatments (defender Esme Morgan was reportedly the woman to see about lash lifts), the Lionesses were giving their sympathetic nervous systems an opportunity to switch off, allowing for faster recovery. Moreover, in doing non-football related activities together during their leisure time, the players opened up space for social and emotional connectedness – a key component of a cohesive and connected team. The type of calm, low-tech, collaborative activities practised by the Lionesses during the Euros provided balance between the rush of fast-paced highs and the discomfort of tolerating uncomfortable, slower-paced moments. It's this balance that our minds and bodies need to sustain the physical fitness and mental stamina required to meet the demands of a major tournament – and it's this balance that has been a key ingredient of England's success. We can't all be Lionesses, but we can learn from them. When the going gets tough, the tough … do jigsaws. Dr Amy Izycky is a clinical psychologist specialising in professional sport and neuropsychology working throughout the UK and internationally. She is the author of Skewed to The Right: Sport, Mental Health and Vulnerability
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Euro 2025: our writers hand out their awards from the tournament
England seemed to have lost it once, twice, three times against Sweden on a night of nail-shredding drama that sharpened the sense that destiny had rich bounty in store for Sarina Wiegman's side. It was also the first match, no doubt of many over the coming years, that made a hero of Michelle Agyemang. Nick Ames The final between England and Spain was exactly what I expected from two heavyweights of the game. It was a gladiatorial tactical battle between Spain's possession-loving football and England's defensive diligence. A fitting ending to a brilliant tournament. Sophie Downey France and Germany's quarter-final in Basel, which the Germans won 6-5 in a high-quality penalty shootout, provided compelling drama from start to finish and it was a game that had it all; a mindless red card, disallowed goals, VAR drama and the best save I can ever recall seeing live as Ann-Katrin Berger seemed to defy physics to claw the ball off the line. Ultimately it was a match that saw Germany doggedly progress despite playing 107 minutes of the game with 10 players. It was a remarkable knockout tie. Tom Garry Sweden 2-2 England. That game had just about everything. The prospect of an England comeback felt almost impossible approaching the 80th minute, but within a matter of seconds you just knew that they were going to do it. The drama! Emillia Hawkins Sweden 2-2 England. Everyone will remember the stirring England comeback and the dramatic penalty shootout but this is a game that also deserves to be remembered for Sweden's devastating opening burst, a standard of pulsating attacking football that stands with any produced at this tournament. Jonathan Liew France v Germany. This game had everything. A red card, a penalty, resolute German defending, THAT Ann-Katrin Berger save and a penalty shootout. The fact Germany were the first team at a women's Euros to progress after going down to 10 players showed just how hard they worked. Berger also put in some great saves during the shootout – goalkeeper of the tournament for me. Sarah Rendell It has to be the final doesn't it? England's rollercoaster ride of a tournament concluded in a thrilling showpiece between magical world champions Spain and the Euro holders. It was the final everyone wanted and it delivered. England were battlers, tactically astute and disciplined, Spain were Spain, master technicians on the ball. Suzanne Wrack Hannah Hampton was little known to the wider public a month ago and had replaced a national treasure in Mary Earps between the posts. She left Switzerland having earned the same status by producing exceptional performances of which multiple penalty saves were only part. Calm, composed on the ball and with cat-like reflexes, Hampton deserves every credit. NA Michelle Agyemang. What a player. The 19-year-old was given an opportunity and seized it with both hands. The way she impacted games caught the eye but equally the way she came on in high pressure situations and handled them without panic. Will surely be a star for England for years to come. SD Chloe Kelly made a gamechanging impact in all three of England's knockout ties and therefore has to win this, in my eyes, although the best technical footballer was Aitana Bonmatí. Kelly came up clutch in the big moments, whether it was with her two lethal crosses to create England's two quickfire goals in their comeback against Sweden, or her lively performance and late winner against Italy, or her assist for England's equaliser in the final followed by her nerveless, title-clinching penalty. TG Aitana Bonmatí. It's crazy to think that she was hospitalised with viral meningitis just days before Euro 2025 started. Another great tournament for the midfielder despite the penalty miss at the end. EH Patri Guijarro has been the standout player for Spain at this tournament, the one who makes everything work: absorbing pressure, providing an outlet in buildup, creating space, creating angles and snuffing out counterattacks. JL Honourable mentions must go to Klara Bühl and Iman Beney who were incredible but for me it has to be Lucy Bronze. The defender started every game and played 598 minutes for England in total and the performances, particularly her leadership and skill against Sweden, were crucial to the Lionesses retaining the trophy. The fact she did all that with a fractured tibia is unbelievable and she once again lived up to one of her middle names: 'Tough'. SR Aitana Bonmatí may have scooped player of the tournament but, for me, it was her midfield companion Patri Guijarro that deserves all the plaudits. She became the second player on record, since the 2011 World Cup, to have completed 100-plus passes and won possession more than 10 times in a knockout stage game at a major tournament – after the Denmark great Katrine Pedersen. SW We can quibble over Ann-Katrin Berger's positioning all we like, but for sheer did-she-really-try-that at such a knife-edge point in Spain's semi-final against Germany, the winner from Aitana Bonmatí stands above them all. NA Cristiana Girelli's wonder strike against Portugal. The 35-year-old always delivers for Italy and did so in spectacular fashion on this occasion. SD Clàudia Pina's curler into the top corner against Belgium takes this for me, although her near-identical finish against Switzerland in the quarter-final was almost equally worthy. We should also throw more praise at Vivianne Miedema's strike against Wales and Lauren James' superb first-half goal against the Netherlands. TG Lauren James v Netherlands. Not necessarily just because of the strike – which was great in itself – but also because of the buildup. That long pass from Hannah Hampton through to Alessia Russo in attack was absolutely exquisite. EH Vivianne Miedema v Wales. Not just the screaming finish into the top corner from distance, but the quick feet and clever body feints to create the space for herself. JL Clàudia Pina had a fine tournament and her goal against Belgium was an absolute stunner. It was similar to the rocket she scored against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. A sensational strike from outside the box. SR There may have been prettier goals this tournament but the context of Michelle Agyemang's equaliser against Italy made it all the more remarkable. At just 19 years old, with less than a minute left of added time and with England 1-0 down and facing an exit from the tournament, the coolness with which the Arsenal forward scored through the legs of both a defender and the keeper was stunning. The celebrations also birthed one of the photos of the tournament, Girls on the Ball's Rachel O'Sullivan's renaissance-painting-esque shot capturing the celebrations of the bench and players' families. SW I loved being present in Geneva, where the best and loudest atmospheres materialised, for Switzerland's dramatic draw with Finland. The roof blew off when Riola Xhemaili equalised, sending the hosts through to the last eight, and it felt like a genuinely transformational moment in the country's relationship with women's football. NA Obviously, England lifting the trophy but I feel incredibly lucky to get to work major tournaments with some of the best in the business. The way we all pulled together to help each other this last month is what it is all about. SD When Riola Xhemaili scored a 92nd-minute goal to send Switzerland into the knockout stages, I was watching the action on a screen that evidently had around a 10-second delay compared to other televisions, and therefore hearing the roar – before actually seeing the goal myself – of noise and cheers echoing all around the streets of Zurich, as an entire city was glued to the game and celebrating joyously, was a sound I'll never forget. That was the moment I fully appreciated how emotionally-invested the host nation had become into their women's football team, which was really heartening. TG Michelle Agyemang's goal v Italy. From the verge of heartbreak to absolute ecstasy. The fact a 19-year-old kept England's hopes alive on just her fourth appearance for the senior team, four years after she was a ball girl, is incredible. EH Getting recognised by Ellen White's husband at half-time during the final. Happy to report Ellen and Callum are both avid Guardian readers. JL Michelle Agyemang became a star overnight with her equaliser against Sweden but the fact she did it again against Italy was quite something. The roar when she was shown on the big screen getting ready to come on in the final shows what she already means to England fans. A special summer for a special player. SR The interaction with the players. Many of them know that some of us have been on this journey with them for a very long time. It's been an incredible privilege to tell their stories and this tournament had stories in abundance. The jokes, the looks, the interviews. They are a very likeable group. SW Resource and attention need to be concentrated on countries that risk being left behind. England, Germany, France and Spain – for all their specific local issues – are going to be just fine. It is time to make sure clubs and national teams outside the leading pack are equipped to develop in both sporting and economic terms: 'The head must not leave the body', as a number of top Uefa executives are fond of saying. NA Just more of everything. More investment, more coverage, more fans, more viewership. The sky is the limit at the moment. SD The next Euros in 2029 needs to feature larger stadiums to try to surpass a million spectators, and there are some strong contenders with Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and a joint Denmark-Sweden bid all in the running. In England, the challenge now has to be to improve the grassroots facilities for girls and women across the country and make sure the huge influx of young girls who have taken up the sport in the past few years can be retained within the sport into their teenage years and adult lives, for a long-lasting legacy. Lastly, the Women's Super League needs to capitalise on the national team's success by reversing last season's decline in average attendances. TG It's been fantastic to see how Switzerland as a nation has embraced women's football this summer. Hopefully we see the same with other nations. Given the success of the Lionesses once again this year it would also be great to see a steady increase in TV viewing figures and attendances across England. EH This is a thornier question than it appears. Huge levels of interest at big events do not necessarily translate to mass appeal at domestic or grassroots level. But as long as the funding is there (and fairly distributed), and as long as the institutional will to grow the game remains (looking at you, Jim Ratcliffe and Daniel Levy), we can anticipate another few years of cautious, optimistic growth. JL Hopefully this Euros win will see attendances in the WSL rise again and for other leagues across Europe to reap the same reward with most teams impressing one way or another at the tournament. But the next step now is to focus on and celebrate the football and the players. This Euros win for the Lionesses felt like it was all about the football rather than having to prove something to others. SR The sky's the limit. The impact of the win in 2022 was evident in the support for England this time round. That will be elevated again. This team has changed the face of women's football and society for the better. Their platform is bigger than ever and there can be little doubt that they will take full advantage of that increased authority to challenge things and fight for more for women and girls. SW
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Euro 2025: our writers hand out their awards from the tournament
England seemed to have lost it once, twice, three times against Sweden on a night of nail-shredding drama that sharpened the sense that destiny had rich bounty in store for Sarina Wiegman's side. It was also the first match, no doubt of many over the coming years, that made a hero of Michelle Agyemang. Nick Ames The final between England and Spain was exactly what I expected from two heavyweights of the game. It was a gladiatorial tactical battle between Spain's possession-loving football and England's defensive diligence. A fitting ending to a brilliant tournament. Sophie Downey France and Germany's quarter-final in Basel, which the Germans won 6-5 in a high-quality penalty shootout, provided compelling drama from start to finish and it was a game that had it all; a mindless red card, disallowed goals, VAR drama and the best save I can ever recall seeing live as Ann-Katrin Berger seemed to defy physics to claw the ball off the line. Ultimately it was a match that saw Germany doggedly progress despite playing 107 minutes of the game with 10 players. It was a remarkable knockout tie. Tom Garry Sweden 2-2 England. That game had just about everything. The prospect of an England comeback felt almost impossible approaching the 80th minute, but within a matter of seconds you just knew that they were going to do it. The drama! Emillia Hawkins Sweden 2-2 England. Everyone will remember the stirring England comeback and the dramatic penalty shootout but this is a game that also deserves to be remembered for Sweden's devastating opening burst, a standard of pulsating attacking football that stands with any produced at this tournament. Jonathan Liew France v Germany. This game had everything. A red card, a penalty, resolute German defending, THAT Ann-Katrin Berger save and a penalty shootout. The fact Germany were the first team at a women's Euros to progress after going down to 10 players showed just how hard they worked. Berger also put in some great saves during the shootout – goalkeeper of the tournament for me. Sarah Rendell It has to be the final doesn't it? England's rollercoaster ride of a tournament concluded in a thrilling showpiece between magical world champions Spain and the Euro holders. It was the final everyone wanted and it delivered. England were battlers, tactically astute and disciplined, Spain were Spain, master technicians on the ball. Suzanne Wrack Hannah Hampton was little known to the wider public a month ago and had replaced a national treasure in Mary Earps between the posts. She left Switzerland having earned the same status by producing exceptional performances of which multiple penalty saves were only part. Calm, composed on the ball and with cat-like reflexes, Hampton deserves every credit. NA Michelle Agyemang. What a player. The 19-year-old was given an opportunity and seized it with both hands. The way she impacted games caught the eye but equally the way she came on in high pressure situations and handled them without panic. Will surely be a star for England for years to come. SD Chloe Kelly made a gamechanging impact in all three of England's knockout ties and therefore has to win this, in my eyes, although the best technical footballer was Aitana Bonmatí. Kelly came up clutch in the big moments, whether it was with her two lethal crosses to create England's two quickfire goals in their comeback against Sweden, or her lively performance and late winner against Italy, or her assist for England's equaliser in the final followed by her nerveless, title-clinching penalty. TG Aitana Bonmatí. It's crazy to think that she was hospitalised with viral meningitis just days before Euro 2025 started. Another great tournament for the midfielder despite the penalty miss at the end. EH Patri Guijarro has been the standout player for Spain at this tournament, the one who makes everything work: absorbing pressure, providing an outlet in buildup, creating space, creating angles and snuffing out counterattacks. JL Honourable mentions must go to Klara Bühl and Iman Beney who were incredible but for me it has to be Lucy Bronze. The defender started every game and played 598 minutes for England in total and the performances, particularly her leadership and skill against Sweden, were crucial to the Lionesses retaining the trophy. The fact she did all that with a fractured tibia is unbelievable and she once again lived up to one of her middle names: 'Tough'. SR Aitana Bonmatí may have scooped player of the tournament but, for me, it was her midfield companion Patri Guijarro that deserves all the plaudits. She became the second player on record, since the 2011 World Cup, to have completed 100-plus passes and won possession more than 10 times in a knockout stage game at a major tournament – after the Denmark great Katrine Pedersen. SW We can quibble over Ann-Katrin Berger's positioning all we like, but for sheer did-she-really-try-that at such a knife-edge point in Spain's semi-final against Germany, the winner from Aitana Bonmatí stands above them all. NA Cristiana Girelli's wonder strike against Portugal. The 35-year-old always delivers for Italy and did so in spectacular fashion on this occasion. SD Clàudia Pina's curler into the top corner against Belgium takes this for me, although her near-identical finish against Switzerland in the quarter-final was almost equally worthy. We should also throw more praise at Vivianne Miedema's strike against Wales and Lauren James' superb first-half goal against the Netherlands. TG Lauren James v Netherlands. Not necessarily just because of the strike – which was great in itself – but also because of the buildup. That long pass from Hannah Hampton through to Alessia Russo in attack was absolutely exquisite. EH Vivianne Miedema v Wales. Not just the screaming finish into the top corner from distance, but the quick feet and clever body feints to create the space for herself. JL Clàudia Pina had a fine tournament and her goal against Belgium was an absolute stunner. It was similar to the rocket she scored against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. A sensational strike from outside the box. SR There may have been prettier goals this tournament but the context of Michelle Agyemang's equaliser against Italy made it all the more remarkable. At just 19 years old, with less than a minute left of added time and with England 1-0 down and facing an exit from the tournament, the coolness with which the Arsenal forward scored through the legs of both a defender and the keeper was stunning. The celebrations also birthed one of the photos of the tournament, Girls on the Ball's Rachel O'Sullivan's renaissance-painting-esque shot capturing the celebrations of the bench and players' families. SW I loved being present in Geneva, where the best and loudest atmospheres materialised, for Switzerland's dramatic draw with Finland. The roof blew off when Riola Xhemaili equalised, sending the hosts through to the last eight, and it felt like a genuinely transformational moment in the country's relationship with women's football. NA Obviously, England lifting the trophy but I feel incredibly lucky to get to work major tournaments with some of the best in the business. The way we all pulled together to help each other this last month is what it is all about. SD When Riola Xhemaili scored a 92nd-minute goal to send Switzerland into the knockout stages, I was watching the action on a screen that evidently had around a 10-second delay compared to other televisions, and therefore hearing the roar – before actually seeing the goal myself – of noise and cheers echoing all around the streets of Zurich, as an entire city was glued to the game and celebrating joyously, was a sound I'll never forget. That was the moment I fully appreciated how emotionally-invested the host nation had become into their women's football team, which was really heartening. TG Michelle Agyemang's goal v Italy. From the verge of heartbreak to absolute ecstasy. The fact a 19-year-old kept England's hopes alive on just her fourth appearance for the senior team, four years after she was a ball girl, is incredible. EH Getting recognised by Ellen White's husband at half-time during the final. Happy to report Ellen and Callum are both avid Guardian readers. JL Michelle Agyemang became a star overnight with her equaliser against Sweden but the fact she did it again against Italy was quite something. The roar when she was shown on the big screen getting ready to come on in the final shows what she already means to England fans. A special summer for a special player. SR The interaction with the players. Many of them know that some of us have been on this journey with them for a very long time. It's been an incredible privilege to tell their stories and this tournament had stories in abundance. The jokes, the looks, the interviews. They are a very likeable group. SW Resource and attention need to be concentrated on countries that risk being left behind. England, Germany, France and Spain – for all their specific local issues – are going to be just fine. It is time to make sure clubs and national teams outside the leading pack are equipped to develop in both sporting and economic terms: 'The head must not leave the body', as a number of top Uefa executives are fond of saying. NA Just more of everything. More investment, more coverage, more fans, more viewership. The sky is the limit at the moment. SD The next Euros in 2029 needs to feature larger stadiums to try to surpass a million spectators, and there are some strong contenders with Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and a joint Denmark-Sweden bid all in the running. In England, the challenge now has to be to improve the grassroots facilities for girls and women across the country and make sure the huge influx of young girls who have taken up the sport in the past few years can be retained within the sport into their teenage years and adult lives, for a long-lasting legacy. Lastly, the Women's Super League needs to capitalise on the national team's success by reversing last season's decline in average attendances. TG It's been fantastic to see how Switzerland as a nation has embraced women's football this summer. Hopefully we see the same with other nations. Given the success of the Lionesses once again this year it would also be great to see a steady increase in TV viewing figures and attendances across England. EH This is a thornier question than it appears. Huge levels of interest at big events do not necessarily translate to mass appeal at domestic or grassroots level. But as long as the funding is there (and fairly distributed), and as long as the institutional will to grow the game remains (looking at you, Jim Ratcliffe and Daniel Levy), we can anticipate another few years of cautious, optimistic growth. JL Hopefully this Euros win will see attendances in the WSL rise again and for other leagues across Europe to reap the same reward with most teams impressing one way or another at the tournament. But the next step now is to focus on and celebrate the football and the players. This Euros win for the Lionesses felt like it was all about the football rather than having to prove something to others. SR The sky's the limit. The impact of the win in 2022 was evident in the support for England this time round. That will be elevated again. This team has changed the face of women's football and society for the better. Their platform is bigger than ever and there can be little doubt that they will take full advantage of that increased authority to challenge things and fight for more for women and girls. SW
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Marriage of team spirit and attention to detail led to England's golden confetti moment
The gold confetti may have been swept away but it will take some time for the dust to settle on the most remarkable of tournaments. England are European champions. Again. Writing a new chapter in the history book of English football. Leah Williamson, the first England captain to lift two major trophies. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wonderkid. Jess Carter and her remarkable performance amid the most difficult of times. Hannah Hampton, defying the odds to become England's saviour on penalties, twice. Chloe Kelly almost quitting football in January and becoming a European champion for club and country by the end of July. Lucy Bronze playing with a leg fracture. Each one of the 23 has a tale to tell. The people are remarkable and their stories are remarkable. Though they were the reigning champions, this tournament was in many ways a harder European Championship to win than in 2022. Then, they had home advantage and their first-choice starting XI avoided injury and Covid at the crucial time. At the home tournament the support around the side stepped up a gear and aligned with a playing group that was a mix of the best of the preceding generation and the cream of the new crop of young professionals coming through, who had benefited from the investment in the Women's Super League and national team pathways. The water has been choppier since, as England's record became pockmarked with defeats and draws. There were setbacks for Williamson and Beth Mead, who both suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries that ruled them out of the 2023 World Cup. On the eve of that tournament came news the players were frustrated that talks over bonuses had broken down. Still, they battled on, reaching a second major final in 12 months, which they lost against Spain. The following two years would be similarly fraught, England failing to secure qualification for a Team GB side at the 2024 Olympic Games before Nations League defeats by Belgium and Spain led to many questioning the viability of their European title defence in Switzerland. The decisions this year of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby to retire from international football, and of Millie Bright to withdraw herself from selection in the space of a few days, only further fuelled the doubts. The landscape was very different going into this tournament compared to the last. Time moves fast in women's football and, as federations increasingly see the growth potential in the women's game, the rest of Europe is catching up. The English FA responded with extra investment, seen in the finer details. No expense was spared in ensuring the players were supported. That included their barista James and his dog Reggie accompanying them to Switzerland, and everything from games consoles to basketball hoops and Lioness-branded Yorkshire tea. They were also able to bring their own home comforts, Agyemang having her piano and Lauren Hemp a Lego castle. It's these fine margins that continue to be a key aspect in keeping England's noses ahead, but there are other important factors that contributed to this win. Critically, the togetherness of the team has been a feature of interviews with the players and the head coach, Sarina Wiegman. That has not been automatic, it has been carefully crafted, the players encouraged to share stories of their personal journeys for that purpose. Many of those have been publicly shared too, players keen to be ambassadors and people who fans can empathise with and connect to: Bronze spoke about her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism diagnoses, Hampton discussed an eye condition that affects her depth perception and had doctors doubting whether she'd be able to play, Williamson and Mead talked candidly about their anterior cruciate ligament recovery journeys. They bonded further through their shared anger and frustration at the racist abuse meted out to Carter online and their collective public condemnation of it. They have also been united in personal grief, with Mead and Ella Toone being consoled by teammates amid the celebrations, a poignant reminder that sometimes good times don't feel so good. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion It is these bonds that helped to fuel the 'proper England' vibe in Switzerland. These were 23 players ready to fight for each other until they had nothing left to give, Bronze – playing with a fractured tibia in one leg and picking up a knee injury on the other and still trying to stay on – epitomising that. That is a big part of why, with the pressure on following a humbling defeat by France in the opening game, England didn't collapse. Every game from then on in was a final, win or bust. A thrilling 4-0 victory against the Netherlands made it seem like the tide had turned, and the 6-1 win against Wales suggested that the Lionesses had settled into their tournament rhythm. They finished second in the group to France, opening up the kinder side of the draw, on paper. Sweden, though, have been tricky opponents for England over the years and it was no different in Zurich, the similarities in style of play between the two sides evident. A terrible first half was followed by a thrilling second as England fought back from two goals down, forced extra time, then won a ludicrous shootout, their ability to dig deep, that unity and their belief tested to the maximum. They had to come from behind in all three of their knockout games, Agyemang's late goal against Italy forcing extra time before Kelly scored the winner. In the final, Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's goal before the game ended in another shootout in which Hampton saved two and Kelly scored the decisive penalty. England led for only 4min 52sec across the quarter-final, semi-final and the final. They were aided by the depth they have in the squad, forged from investment in the WSL and in the England youth teams. And there is the flexibility in that depth, illustrated by Mead playing as a deep-lying midfielder against Sweden and then Italy, as England hurled the attacking equivalent of the kitchen sink at them. In the final they had the gameplan too, the blueprint set out by their defeat of Spain at Wembley in February and in Arsenal's underdog victory against Barcelona in the Champions League final. Near-perfect and perfect defensive displays were, respectively, required in those matches. Tellingly, neither England nor Arsenal tried to outplay Spain and Barcelona, letting them do what they do, while staying disciplined defensively and attacking their weaknesses out wide. That was what England did in Basel. Wiegman has been a significant cog. As the FA's chief executive, Mark Bullingham, said, many teams have great players but none have a manager of her quality. She is loved by her players. Her message to her 23 before the Italy game and then the final was a simple one, that spoke to her wry sense of humour and the battling spirit of the team. She brought out a 'little toiletry bag that said: 'Bitches get shit done,' and bitches got shit done today', Mead said after the final. 'That is it, drop the mic.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Marriage of team spirit and attention to detail led to England's golden confetti moment
The gold confetti may have been swept away but it will take some time for the dust to settle on the most remarkable of tournaments. England are European champions. Again. Writing a new chapter in the history book of English football. Leah Williamson, the first England captain to lift two major trophies. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wonderkid. Jess Carter and her remarkable performance amid the most difficult of times. Hannah Hampton, defying the odds to become England's saviour on penalties, twice. Chloe Kelly almost quitting football in January and becoming a European champion for club and country by the end of July. Lucy Bronze playing with a leg fracture. Each one of the 23 has a tale to tell. The people are remarkable and their stories are remarkable. Though they were the reigning champions, this tournament was in many ways a harder European Championship to win than in 2022. Then, they had home advantage and their first-choice starting XI avoided injury and Covid at the crucial time. At the home tournament the support around the side stepped up a gear and aligned with a playing group that was a mix of the best of the preceding generation and the cream of the new crop of young professionals coming through, who had benefited from the investment in the Women's Super League and national team pathways. The water has been choppier since, as England's record became pockmarked with defeats and draws. There were setbacks for Williamson and Beth Mead, who both suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries that ruled them out of the 2023 World Cup. On the eve of that tournament came news the players were frustrated that talks over bonuses had broken down. Still, they battled on, reaching a second major final in 12 months, which they lost against Spain. The following two years would be similarly fraught, England failing to secure qualification for a Team GB side at the 2024 Olympic Games before Nations League defeats by Belgium and Spain led to many questioning the viability of their European title defence in Switzerland. The decisions this year of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby to retire from international football, and of Millie Bright to withdraw herself from selection in the space of a few days, only further fuelled the doubts. The landscape was very different going into this tournament compared to the last. Time moves fast in women's football and, as federations increasingly see the growth potential in the women's game, the rest of Europe is catching up. The English FA responded with extra investment, seen in the finer details. No expense was spared in ensuring the players were supported. That included their barista James and his dog Reggie accompanying them to Switzerland, and everything from games consoles to basketball hoops and Lioness-branded Yorkshire tea. They were also able to bring their own home comforts, Agyemang having her piano and Lauren Hemp a Lego castle. It's these fine margins that continue to be a key aspect in keeping England's noses ahead, but there are other important factors that contributed to this win. Critically, the togetherness of the team has been a feature of interviews with the players and the head coach, Sarina Wiegman. That has not been automatic, it has been carefully crafted, the players encouraged to share stories of their personal journeys for that purpose. Many of those have been publicly shared too, players keen to be ambassadors and people who fans can empathise with and connect to: Bronze spoke about her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism diagnoses, Hampton discussed an eye condition that affects her depth perception and had doctors doubting whether she'd be able to play, Williamson and Mead talked candidly about their anterior cruciate ligament recovery journeys. They bonded further through their shared anger and frustration at the racist abuse meted out to Carter online and their collective public condemnation of it. They have also been united in personal grief, with Mead and Ella Toone being consoled by teammates amid the celebrations, a poignant reminder that sometimes good times don't feel so good. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion It is these bonds that helped to fuel the 'proper England' vibe in Switzerland. These were 23 players ready to fight for each other until they had nothing left to give, Bronze – playing with a fractured tibia in one leg and picking up a knee injury on the other and still trying to stay on – epitomising that. That is a big part of why, with the pressure on following a humbling defeat by France in the opening game, England didn't collapse. Every game from then on in was a final, win or bust. A thrilling 4-0 victory against the Netherlands made it seem like the tide had turned, and the 6-1 win against Wales suggested that the Lionesses had settled into their tournament rhythm. They finished second in the group to France, opening up the kinder side of the draw, on paper. Sweden, though, have been tricky opponents for England over the years and it was no different in Zurich, the similarities in style of play between the two sides evident. A terrible first half was followed by a thrilling second as England fought back from two goals down, forced extra time, then won a ludicrous shootout, their ability to dig deep, that unity and their belief tested to the maximum. They had to come from behind in all three of their knockout games, Agyemang's late goal against Italy forcing extra time before Kelly scored the winner. In the final, Alessia Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's goal before the game ended in another shootout in which Hampton saved two and Kelly scored the decisive penalty. England led for only 4min 52sec across the quarter-final, semi-final and the final. They were aided by the depth they have in the squad, forged from investment in the WSL and in the England youth teams. And there is the flexibility in that depth, illustrated by Mead playing as a deep-lying midfielder against Sweden and then Italy, as England hurled the attacking equivalent of the kitchen sink at them. In the final they had the gameplan too, the blueprint set out by their defeat of Spain at Wembley in February and in Arsenal's underdog victory against Barcelona in the Champions League final. Near-perfect and perfect defensive displays were, respectively, required in those matches. Tellingly, neither England nor Arsenal tried to outplay Spain and Barcelona, letting them do what they do, while staying disciplined defensively and attacking their weaknesses out wide. That was what England did in Basel. Wiegman has been a significant cog. As the FA's chief executive, Mark Bullingham, said, many teams have great players but none have a manager of her quality. She is loved by her players. Her message to her 23 before the Italy game and then the final was a simple one, that spoke to her wry sense of humour and the battling spirit of the team. She brought out a 'little toiletry bag that said: 'Bitches get shit done,' and bitches got shit done today', Mead said after the final. 'That is it, drop the mic.'
