'Turns out we love football chaos', says England manager Wiegman after Women's Euro 2025 triumph
The 55-year-old, who is under contract with England through 2027, had already made history by becoming the first football manager to coach in five consecutive major tournament finals.
Euro 2025 proved to be a roller-coaster of emotions for Wiegman, with England fighting back to win all three knockout games in extra time or a shootout, including the final in which it beat world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
'This has been the most chaotic tournament, from the first game there was chaos … turns out we love football chaos!' a jubilant Wiegman said.
Asked how she plans to celebrate, she said: 'Maybe with some more dancing. I might have a drink, but I will not be drinking as much as the players.'
Wiegman's players had raved about her motivational speeches throughout the tournament, and she must have delivered another memorable one on Sunday.
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'The main message was enjoy it,' said Wiegman, who completed a hat-trick of Euro triumphs on Sunday, having also guided her native Netherlands to the 2017 title.
'We've got so far now in this tournament. I think we all created something again together. So these are the moments where you dream of, well some couldn't even dream of because it wasn't possible when they were little kids.
'But go out there and enjoy it and play your very best game.'
There was controversy in the weeks leading up to the tournament after Euro 2022 winning goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her international retirement. She had recently lost her starting job to Hannah Hampton.
But Hampton was brilliant in Switzerland, including in the two shootouts and was named player of the match on Sunday after saving two penalties from Spanish players and making several other key saves.
'Every player has their one story and journey, and hers has been incredible,' Wiegman said. 'Starting the tournament and losing the first game, there was so much riding on every game; we had five finals. She had to step up and I think she has been amazing.
'It's a little bit like a fairytale to stop those two penalties (during the shootout) in the final.'
England lost its opening game to France, but preached about confidence and not giving up since that night, and its tournament was a remarkable show of resilience. It led for a total of just four minutes through their three knockout matches.
'It's been incredible,' Wiegman said. 'Around in the camp, the training sessions, everything about the team was very calm.
'Just the games were chaotic and very close and tight, and we were behind in a lot of games. We lost the first game, but then afterwards it was all very calm.'
Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old who scored late goals in the quarterfinal and semifinal, won the Young Player of the Tournament award.
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Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
England's Euro winning Dutch coach once disguised as a boy to play football
England's back-to-back European Cup winning coach Sarina Wiegman had to pretend to be a boy to play football when she was a child growing up in the Dutch city of Hague in the 1980s. 'When I started playing football as a six-year-old girl we weren't allowed to play, so I played illegally,' she told The BBC. A football powerhouse and the birthplace of the most radical concept in the game, Total Football, the Dutch association had banned women playing the game in 1938. It took another 33 years to lift the ban, and another decade for it to really pick up in the country. 'It wasn't normal then and now it's just normal, whether you're a boy or a girl, you can play football and that's just great. It was actually crazy before, that you couldn't, but that's just the way it is in development I guess.' She would cut her hair short and sneak to the club with her twin brother. 'I had very short hair, looked a little bit maybe like a boy, my parents were really OK and I had a twin brother, so we just started to play and everyone said that's OK. Soon her identity was revealed but the club GSC ESDO let her train with the boys. Later, she joined the women's team of Ter Leede, where she played for nine years, helping them to win two league titles and the Dutch cup, while also earning 99 caps for her country. By then, she had swapped bowl-cut to a shock of wild blond hair. Some of her teammates recall her as a tough captain but a loving person. Jeanet van der Laan once told Daily Mail: 'She was pretty loud in the dressing room and very confident about her qualities. Sarina came to visit me because she wanted to see where I lived. I only had a washing machine and not a dryer. She asked me, 'How are you going to do this? You have to train, practise almost every day. How are you going to dry your gear?'. 'I said, 'I don't know, I don't have any money'. So, she gave me her tumble dryer. And that's something I will never forget.' The women's team had meagre wages. So he supplemented her income by working as a PE teacher at Segbroek College in The Hague, a job she kept throughout her playing career. When still working as a PE teacher, she returned to the club, Ter Leede as its coach, won a double in the first season and continued to champion for the rights of women players. When the women's league was formed, winning the double in her first season — and continued to fight for the rights of women players. When the Dutch women's league, Eredivisie, was launched in 2007, she was asked to coach a new team for Ado Den Haag on a part-time basis. She refused until they gave her a full-time job. Three years later, she joined Sparta Rotterdam, becoming the first female coach at a professional club in the country. In 2021, after five fruitful years with the Netherlands, she assumed charges of England Lioness and have steered them to successive European titles. But more than the medals, she is prouder of the change she helped bring. 'I really love the medals but what I'm proud of most is that now young girls have perspective, young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts [with players' names on]. When you go to the grocery store and people tell you, 'My daughter was wearing that shirt but my son is wearing that shirt now too', we've changed society',' she once said. A pragmatic coach, she tweaks her systems according to her resources and the opposition. But the soul of her coaching is motivating her players. Just before the semifinal against Italy, she revealed a sweary toiletry bag to motivate the players during the team talk. 'B****es get sh** done'. Forward Beth Mead revealed: '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****es get sh** done', and b****es got sh** done today. That is it, drop the mic.' She also told her players to 'enjoy the final' and make the most of an experience they 'couldn't even dream of' when they were kids. She also created a strong bond in the team and the support staff. Every single member of staff coming into this camp felt valued by her, knew exactly what their role was and how they could be part of an overall tea, Stressing that everyone is in it together is critical.' said FA CEO Mark Bullingham. To some, she is like a mother. Michelle Agyemang, only 19, said during the Euros: 'I think most people will say, when they work with Sarina, she's like a mum to us, almost. She cares about our wellbeing [and] she's ready to step in and tell us: 'That's not good enough, let's be better.' So I think she has that fine balance,' she said. 'She shows the same type of care to me, who's the youngest, to the oldest, showing the same sort of care to each and every one of us, no matter what our role is, even if we don't play, she's still willing to go and shake your hand and say 'well done', even if we didn't touch the pitch, and that shows we're valued in the squad,' she added. But even in the hour of glory, she did not forget to stress on investing more in women's football. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' Motherly and caring, but a firebrand too.
News18
10 hours ago
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Lionesses triumph: England go to Downing Street to celebrate Euro 2025 victory
London, Jul 29 (AP) After being greeted by cheering fans for their arrival on home soil, the Lionesses went to Downing Street for a celebratory reception following their Women's European Championship triumph. England successfully defended its title by beating world champion Spain in a shootout in the final in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday. Having become the first England team to win a major tournament in a foreign country, the Lionesses left their hotel in Zurich on Monday morning with captain Leah Williamson carefully escorting the trophy to the bus. On returning to England, the team travelled to Westminster, central London, for a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 Downing Street decorated for the occasion with St George's flags — also known as the flag of England — draped over windows and bunting along the railings. England head coach Sarina Wiegman told Sky Sports News the Downing Street reception was 'very, very special". 'Downing Street, you don't come there normally and it was really nice how they built it up like this," she said, gesturing towards the flags and bunting around Number 10. 'It is very special to be able to go inside and also in the garden. The people there were very nice, they also put up some pictures of what we have done at the Euros. 'It was lovely, a very warm welcome. I've felt love all over but today even more so." When asked about speculation that she could be in line for an honorary damehood, the Dutchwoman said: 'I haven't thought about that. I feel so much respect from England, the Royal Family too. 'I think the most important thing is feeling valued. It's very special to get so much respect from England." Following almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's airplane branded with the word 'home" touched down at Southend Airport in south east England on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat of the plane. Holding the trophy, Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside head coach Sarina Wiegman. Outside of the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team. On Sunday fans erupted with joy across England after Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give her team a 3-1 win on penalties, after a 1-1 draw following extra time. According to the BBC, a peak live audience of 12.2 million watched the game across its platforms, making it the most watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters. It was back-to-back European trophies for England and yet another final that Kelly had a huge impact on, after also coming on as a substitute during the Euro 2022 trophy match and scoring the winner against Germany in extra time to clinch a 2-1 victory. King Charles III said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration" following its win. 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can," he added. A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday. 'The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. 'Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement, but an inspiration for young people across the country. It stands as a testament to the determination, resilience and unity that define this outstanding team." (AP) UNG view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Lionesses' triumph: England go to Downing Street to celebrate Euro 2025 victory
LONDON (AP) — After being greeted by cheering fans for their arrival on home soil, the Lionesses went to Downing Street for a celebratory reception following their Women's European Championship triumph. HT Image England successfully defended its title by beating world champion Spain in a shootout in the final in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday. Having become the first England team to win a major tournament in a foreign country, the Lionesses left their hotel in Zurich on Monday morning with captain Leah Williamson carefully escorting the trophy to the bus. On returning to England, the team travelled to Westminster, central London, for a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 Downing Street decorated for the occasion with St George's flags — also known as the flag of England — draped over windows and bunting along the railings. England head coach Sarina Wiegman told Sky Sports News the Downing Street reception was 'very, very special'. 'Downing Street, you don't come there normally and it was really nice how they built it up like this,' she said, gesturing towards the flags and bunting around Number 10. 'It is very special to be able to go inside and also in the garden. The people there were very nice, they also put up some pictures of what we have done at the Euros. 'It was lovely, a very warm welcome. I've felt love all over but today even more so.' When asked about speculation that she could be in line for an honorary damehood, the Dutchwoman said: 'I haven't thought about that. I feel so much respect from England, the Royal Family too. 'I think the most important thing is feeling valued. It's very special to get so much respect from England.' Following almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's airplane branded with the word 'home' touched down at Southend Airport in south east England on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat of the plane. Holding the trophy, Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside head coach Sarina Wiegman. Outside of the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team. On Sunday fans erupted with joy across England after Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give her team a 3-1 win on penalties, after a 1-1 draw following extra time. According to the BBC, a peak live audience of 12.2 million watched the game across its platforms, making it the most watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters. It was back-to-back European trophies for England and yet another final that Kelly had a huge impact on, after also coming on as a substitute during the Euro 2022 trophy match and scoring the winner against Germany in extra time to clinch a 2-1 victory. King Charles III said the team had the royal family's 'warmest appreciation and admiration' following its win. 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can,' he added. A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday. 'The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation,' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. 'Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement, but an inspiration for young people across the country. It stands as a testament to the determination, resilience and unity that define this outstanding team.' ___ AP soccer:
