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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Grit, broken bones and goosebumps - My month with the inspirational Lionesses
The Lionesses have brought football home again after winning their second successive Euros, and it was a triumph against the odds during a remarkable campaign in Switzerland When the chorus of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline rang around Basel's St Jakob Park on Sunday night, I had goosebumps. I'd heard this song blasted across stadium speakers countless times over the last four weeks. But this moment was different. With her signature bunny hop run, Chloe Kelly had just scored the winner - a rocket shot penalty against Spain. It was an outcome fans could have only dreamed of at the start of this tournament, and one many secretly feared too good to be true. Ahead of their Euros campaign, the Lionesses were blighted with major losses to their squad just days before it was announced. Former captain Millie Bright stepped down from the running on account of prioritising her mental health. While Mary Earps, who won the Golden Glove for her performance at the Australian World Cup, and Fran Kirby, who helped make history at Euro 2022, both retired from international duty. All of this cast a shadow of doubt over the team, who just three years ago had enjoyed a historic 2-1 victory over Germany at Wembley in the last Euro final. But now they faced a whole new challenge; to do it on foreign soil. Things looked bleak when their opening game against France saw England lose 2-1. It must have prompted a war cry from boss Sarina Wiegman, whose players were so galvanised by the loss that they could barely wait for the next game. I'll never forget the brutal honesty from Georgia Stanway who candidly told reporters she didn't want to do a press conference because she was "fed up of talking" and wanted to "put things right on the pitch". The Lionesses went on to thrash the Netherlands (4-0) and Wales (6-1), after promising to deliver some 'proper English' football. And if the group stages alone weren't enough of a sensational comeback, nothing could prepare us for the drama the squad had stored up their sleeves. With a few rest days ahead of our quarter-final match against Sweden, we decided to visit the women in yellow and blue to see what they were made of. We drove from our hotel in Zurich to the Swedish base 30 minutes away in Cham. As they walked out onto the training pitch and began pelting footballs around, I gulped - 'they're huge', I thought. Sweden were the first ever team to win the Women's Euros. They beat England 4-3 on penalties in its debut year of 1984, but have never been able to win back the title since. The match is legendary in their country, it was a mud bath that became known as 'The Battle of Kenilworth Bog' due to the state of the pitch in Luton. But after England knocked Sweden from a place in the Euro final in 2022, the Swedes felt it was time for revenge this year. And when the Lionesses were still 2-0 down against them at 79 minutes, I thought 'they're finally going to get it'. The next 103 seconds will go down in footballing history. In less than two minutes, the Lionesses' oldest and youngest players; Lucy Bronze, 33, had both scored sending the fans into a frenzy. Even Sarina Wiegman admitted the subsequent penalty shootout was 'hard to watch', with several missed chances on both sides. When England won, Zurich's Stadium Letzigrund erupted. The was relief and disbelief was palpable. Even in the media room, everyone still seemed to be buzzing with adrenaline. By the time the semi-final with Italy arrived, fans, players and their families alike were desperate for a straightforward win in 90 minutes. No-one wanted to spend another 120 minutes with their hearts in their mouths. But it would be another last-gasp victory for the Lionesses, who won in the 119th minute inside a packed out Stade de Geneva. And then the scene for the last act was set; England would face Spain, who had clinched the World Cup from them in such heartbreaking style just two years ago. Fans began texting me from back home to see if I could help them secure tickets for the final. Stories of people being forced off overbooked planes and fans scrambling to Switzerland on four-day coach journeys began streaming in. The Lionesses had sent the nation wild with their rollercoaster ride and everyone wanted to watch the last chapter unfold. On the day of the final the atmosphere in Basel was a heady mix of excitement and nerves. Despite the magic we had all witnessed from this England team, every fan knew the pain Spain could cause if the red waves were allowed near our net. I had been in the stands covering the World Cup final and watched, devastated, as the tearful Lionesses fell to the floor in defeat. So when Mariona Caldentey scored in the 25th minute my head fell into my hands. It felt all too familiar. But if this team had proved anything, it was that England is never done. Alessia Russo's 57th minute goal settled the score, and when extra time couldn't find a goal it was time for another penalty shootout. My chest was tight, I held my breath. But after two shocking misses from Spain, a big grin stretched across my face. Cool, confident, Chloe Kelly walked up for her spot kick. I thought 'there's no way she's missing this'. A euphoric roar ripped through the stands, everyone was on their feet. The 27-year-old who just six months ago admitted she considered quitting football had scored the winner in a Euros final again. Silver and gold confetti rained from the sky, fireworks blasted from the pitch and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I started thinking about all the fans I've met at these major tournaments, who have spent thousands to be here for this moment. The mums and daughters, fathers and sons, the ladies in their 60s and 70s who never could have dreamed of a sold out women's final like this in front of 34,000 fans. My five-year-old niece watching back home, who is obsessed with princesses and now Lionesses too. And just when I thought they couldn't show more grit, resilience and determination; the news breaks that my favourite player, Lucy Bronze, has played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia in secret. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside Lionesses' boozy Euro 2025 celebrations as stars sing karaoke until 4am after pizza and beers with loved ones
ENGLAND'S proud Lionesses partied hard after they made history with their sensationally dramatic Euro 2025 victory. England retained their title as European champions after Chloe Kelly cooly dispatched the decisive spot-kick in a penalty shootout following a tense 1-1 draw with Spain. 22 22 22 22 22 The nation watched on from behind the sofa, but Kelly showed supreme confidence to smash home from 12 yards and earn England a second Euros title. And the Lionesses made sure to celebrate their victory in style after doing the nation proud and making history as the first England side to ever win a major tournament on foreign soil. The team wasted no time getting the party started, with beers and pizza coming out on to the pitch in the aftermath of the trophy lift. While family and friends watched on in tears as the girls proudly lifted the European Championship trophy for a second time. Penalty hero Kelly even joked to the cameras: "The first time was so nice we had to do it twice". Choruses of Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline' and 'Dancing on My Own' by Robyn were belted out by the players on the pitch, with the crowd in Basel signing every word right back at their heroes. The players later returned to the playing surface with their winners medals draped around their necks to celebrate even more with their families and loved ones. Some of the Lionesses even jumped into the stands to share emotional hugs and words with their family. 22 22 22 22 22 22 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Lauren James posted a photo with her family in the crowd, including Chelsea star brother Reece James, who had made the journey out to Switzerland to watch his sister play. Lucy Bronze shared snaps alongside her nephew, Freddie, and niece, Alzira, soaking it all in while laying in the golden confetti on the pitch. Chloe Kelly completes Lionesses' greatest comeback yet to retain Euros title And Beth Mead posed for a picture with girlfriend and Manchester City star Vivianne Miedema. Miedema, who represented Holland at the tournament before their group stage exit as part of England's group, even wore an England shirt to support her girlfriend from the stands. Mead and Ella Toone also took a moment to remember those who couldn't be there, with both stars losing parents in recent years. Toone shared a selfie of the pair with the caption: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us & forever proud". The Man Utd star, whose dad died last year, also shared a photo of an empty seat next to her mum at the game with the words: "Spare seat next to my mum tonight. "If that's not a sign I don't know what is. I know you were there Dad. Love you cock!" Following the on-pitch celebrations, the Lionesses had even more beer and singing in the dressing room. While they continued the party as they returned to their team hotel. Friends, family, staff and loved ones all awaited the Lionesses as they flooded through the doors wearing their "CHAMPIONS 25" shirts. 22 22 22 22 22 Drinks were flowing as everyone made sure that the victory was a night to remember. Even boss Sarina Wiegman was enjoying some drinks, but made sure to keep things professional. Speaking after the game, she joked: "I'll do some more dancing. "I'll have a drink but I don't think I'll drink as much as the players will do." Players got hold of the mic to belt out some late night karaoke as celebrations went on UNTIL 4AM. While captain Leah Williamson and boss Wiegman even cut a custom-made football cake that had been brought in for the team to celebrate. Chloe Kelly hoped that the celebrations were going to echo around England, telling the BBC at full-time: "The celebrations are going to be crazy. "I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and shows the love to all these girls, because they deserve it." Kelly will get her wish tomorrow, when the players and staff will embark on an open-top bus parade and a huge homecoming party in central London. Starting at 12.10pm, the bus will drive past fans along The Mall before ending with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace at around 12.30pm. 22 22 22 22
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Does a song conjure painful memories? Try to rehabilitate it, say scientists
When Bonnie hears the opening bars of the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, she is transported back to 1997. But it isn't a joyful memory that comes to mind; it is the painful recollection of driving home from school and seeing the sheriff changing a lock on her house. Then a teenager, Bonnie and her family were about to be evicted. And the Verve's song was everywhere. 'It was a big hit at the time, and it just seemed to be playing all the time, in takeaway shops and shopping centres, on the radio in the car. I just couldn't get away from this song,' she says. To this day the 46-year-old who lives in Canberra, Australia, says she will change the radio or leave the location where the song is playing to avoid hearing it. 'The lyrics of this song too closely described our situation,' she says. Indeed, many people avoid particular tunes because they are attached to the memory of an event that was either upsetting, or was once pleasant but has since become painful to recall. For Matt, 52, an engineer in the north of England, the entire oeuvre of Neil Diamond is to be avoided after a partner with a love of the singer confessed to having lied about the nature of a relationship with a colleague. 'We used to like Friday night kitchen discos. We used to listen to all kinds, and usually Neil Diamond would be on,' Matt says, adding his former partner had been to several Neil Diamond concerts, including one with her boss before she met Matt. The colleague, the woman insisted, had just been a friend. But after three years in a relationship with Matt, she confessed she had had an affair with her boss while she was married to her former husband and still had feelings for the colleague. Now, says Matt, when a Neil Diamond song comes on the radio, he has to skip the track. 'If I go into my local pub and it's on the jukebox I'll go into the other room or go outside,' he says. According to Ilja Salakka, a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, the relationship between music and memories is linked to emotions. 'Emotions play a key role in long-lasting memories generally, and since music can evoke strong emotions, it is likely that music can enhance the memory related to an event,' he said. 'Of course, this can also work in reverse: an event itself may be emotional and strengthen the memory of a situation that involves music.' Dr Stephanie Leal, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkley, said that when emotionally arousing music occurs, or is paired with, an emotional experience, it can be difficult to pin down which is causing the emotions that help instil the memory. 'The type of emotional response can really dictate what we're holding on to in our memories,' she said. In one study, Leal and colleagues found when people listened to music that induced either very strong or very weak emotions they were better able to remember the gist of an event, whereas they were better able to remember details when they had a more moderate emotional response. Salakka added that typically it is music from a listener's teenage years or early adulthood that evokes most memories. '[The] majority of memories attached to music tend to be positive in nature,' he added. But that is not always the case. 'Positive music-related memories are often more general in nature, whereas negative memories tend to be related to more specific events,' he said. As Matt's experience shows, however, the emotions attached to a song, and its associated memory, can change. 'Now it's drawing up negative memories in that [it's] stirring up new emotions that weren't originally there,' said Leal. While that may seem like the perfect reason to avoid a song, perhaps it could also bring hope. Although experts say there is a dearth of research in the area, they say it could be that listening to a painful song in new, happier contexts could rehabilitate it. 'If it's a very, very negative association with that song, maybe you'll never get over it,' said Leal. 'But the way to try is repeating it with new events that do make you happy and to hope that it overpowers and kind of reconnects your brain and rewires it to this new association.' Prof Renee Timmers of the University of Sheffield added that these new associations must involve strong emotions, ideally occur in a social context, and be meaningful. But Timmers also suggested another potential approach. 'Rather than seeing the music as something that is there, you can't do anything with it, and you are the victim of it, you can actually actively engage,' she said, adding that could involving humming along or even improvising on the music. 'Then the music becomes the active thing that you're engaging with, rather than the memory.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Four fun ideas for watching the Lionesses in the Euros Final at home
Scroll down to find out how to get tickets to Legoland Windsor for up to half price off SUN SAVERS Four fun ideas for watching the Lionesses in the Euros Final at home Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPPORT the Lionesses as you gather at home with friends tonight to roar on the England ladies football team. Set up a large screen or projector, arrange comfy seating and crank up your speakers for the European Championships final against Spain Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Then kick off the fun with these ideas . . . SNACK ATTACK: For nibbles, anything goes, as long as you can still leap up and celebrate the goals. Mini sliders, hot dogs and pizza slices will all be wolfed down, along with crisps, dips and popcorn. Enjoy the football fun with ball-shaped nibbles. Dough balls and cheese ball crisps will get your crowd going. Children will want a slice of the action with the Top Of The League football cake from Sainsbury's, £11. SING WHEN THEY'RE WINNING: Turn up those football tunes to get the crowd in the mood. Find the perfect playlists on Spotify with songs including Freed From Desire by Gala, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond and World In Motion by New Order. Search 'Women's Euros playlist' or 'Lionesses' to get lists of kicking tunes. KICK THOSE NERVES: Feeling jittery? Channel those pre-match nerves into some games. Draw a circle on an outside wall with chalk and let the kids use it for target practice with a ball. I coached Chloe Kelly as a kid and have now spent £3,000 building my own pub to watch her at Euro 2025 For a party game, play 'put the ball in the net'. Like stick the tail on the donkey, players are blindfolded and have to stick a picture of a ball on to a picture of a football pitch. The one who gets nearest the net lifts the trophy. CELEBRATE THE WIN: Win or lose, the best tribute to the Lionesses is to get everyone enjoying football. Kellogg's has been offering 30,000 free football camp places to young fans this summer. Use the QR code on promotional packs to sign up. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability 7 Support the Lionesses as you roar them on at home with friends Credit: Getty Deal of the day 7 Save on this Blooma Jarvis square gazebo Credit: supplied GET ready for any kind of weather with the Blooma Jarvis square gazebo from B&Q, down from £115 to £55. SAVE: £60 Cheap treat 7 Del Monte peach slices in juice are down to £1 Credit: supplied TUCK into a tasty pud, with Del Monte peach slices in juice, down to £1 from £1.20 with a Tesco Clubcard. Serve with vanilla ice cream. SAVE: 20p What's new? JET2HOLIDAYS has added more FREE child places for the summer holidays, including extending free places for children up to 17 on villa holidays with Jet2Villas. But hurry – once the free spaces are gone, they're gone. Top swap 7 Grab this BlissHome octopus serving bowl for £77 at John Lewis Credit: supplied 7 Or try the Hestia oval octopus serving plate for less from Dunelm Credit: supplied SERVE up some summer sizzlers in the BlissHome octopus serving bowl, £77 at John Lewis. Or make the Hestia oval octopus serving plate, £22 from Dunelm, the dish of the day. SAVE: £55 Little helper SKY customers can buy tickets to Legoland Windsor for £17.50 – which is up to half price off. Visit the Sky VIP section of the My Sky app to redeem a code, valid for six tickets. Get them before they're gone. Shop & save 7 Relais Du Roi Principaute d'Orange Rouge is down to £6 at Morrisons Credit: supplied FILL your glass with Relais Du Roi Principaute d'Orange Rouge, a red wine from the Rhone Valley, down from £13 to £6 for Morrisons More card holders. SAVE: £7 Hot right now TODAY is the last day to save 25 per cent on school uniform at Tesco. Use your Clubcard to get the deal. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Does a song conjure painful memories? Try to rehabilitate it, say scientists
When Bonnie hears the opening bars of the Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, she is transported back to 1997. But it isn't a joyful memory that comes to mind; it is the painful recollection of driving home from school and seeing the sheriff changing a lock on her house. Then a teenager, Bonnie and her family were about to be evicted. And the Verve's song was everywhere. 'It was a big hit at the time, and it just seemed to be playing all the time, in takeaway shops and shopping centres, on the radio in the car. I just couldn't get away from this song,' she says. To this day the 46-year-old who lives in Canberra, Australia, says she will change the radio or leave the location where the song is playing to avoid hearing it. 'The lyrics of this song too closely described our situation,' she says. Indeed many people avoid particular tunes because they are attached to the memory of an event that was either upsetting, or was once pleasant but has since become painful to recall. For Matt, 52, an engineer in the north of England, the entire oeuvre of Neil Diamond is to be avoided after a partner with a love of the singer confessed to having lied about the nature of a relationship with a colleague. 'We used to like Friday night kitchen discos. We used to listen to all kinds, and usually Neil Diamond would be on,' Matt says, adding his former partner had been to several Neil Diamond concerts, including one with her boss before she met Matt. The colleague, the woman insisted, had just been a friend. But after three years in a relationship with Matt, she confessed she had had an affair with her boss while she was married to her former husband and still had feelings for the colleague. Now, says Matt, when a Neil Diamond song comes on the radio, he has to skip the track. 'If I go into my local pub and it's on the jukebox I'll go into the other room or go outside,' he says. According to Ilja Salakka, a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, the relationship between music and memories is linked to emotions. 'Emotions play a key role in long-lasting memories generally, and since music can evoke strong emotions, it is likely that music can enhance the memory related to an event,' he said. 'Of course, this can also work in reverse: an event itself may be emotional and strengthen the memory of a situation that involves music.' Dr Stephanie Leal, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkley, said that when emotionally arousing music occurs, or is paired with, an emotional experience, it can be difficult to pin down which is causing the emotions that help instil the memory. 'The type of emotional response can really dictate what we're holding on to in our memories,' she said. In one study, Leal and colleagues found when people listened to music that induced either very strong or very weak emotions they were better able to remember the gist of an event, whereas they were better able to remember details when they had a more moderate emotional response. Salakka added that typically it is music from a listener's teenage years or early adulthood that evokes most memories. '[The] majority of memories attached to music tend to be positive in nature,' he added. But that is not always the case. 'Positive music-related memories are often more general in nature, whereas negative memories tend to be related to more specific events,' he said. As Matt's experience shows, however, the emotions attached to a song, and its associated memory, can change. 'Now it's drawing up negative memories in that [it's] stirring up new emotions that weren't originally there,' said Leal. While that may seem like the perfect reason to avoid a song, perhaps it could also bring hope. Although experts say there is a dearth of research in the area, they say it could be that listening to a painful song in new, happier contexts could rehabilitate it. 'If it's a very, very negative association with that song, maybe you'll never get over it,' said Leal. 'But the way to try is repeating it with new events that do make you happy and to hope that it overpowers and kind of reconnects your brain and rewires it to this new association.' Prof Renee Timmers of the University of Sheffield added that these new associations must involve strong emotions, ideally occur in a social context, and be meaningful. But Timmers also suggested another potential approach. 'Rather than seeing the music as something that is there, you can't do anything with it, and you are the victim of it, you can actually actively engage,' she said, adding that could involving humming along or even improvising on the music. 'Then the music becomes the active thing that you're engaging with, rather than the memory.'
