Pizza, karaoke and Champagne: Inside England Lionesses' celebrations as stars party until 4am

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

The Lionesses partied into the early hours of the morning after overcoming Spain on penalties to defend their European Championship title in Switzerland on Sunday
The beauty of defending your title is that you already have plenty of practice at celebrating - and England put all their experience to good use on Sunday night.
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After lifting the European Championship trophy once more, the Lionesses partied deep into the night in joyous scenes in Switzerland. They did it the hard way, getting through 120 gruelling minutes against Spain before Chloe Kelly struck the winning penalty into the net.
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It wasn't long until the Lionesses' unofficial anthem, Sweet Caroline, was being blasted out of the speakers in Basel. Sarina Wiegman's side had got revenge on Spain, who beat them in the World Cup final two years ago, and having overcome a huge amount of adversity, they were ready to let their hair down.
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After collecting their winners' medals - and a young player of the tournament award in the case of Michelle Agyemang - the victorious squad set about celebrating with their family and friends.
Captain Leah Williamson gathered the squad for a selfie taken in front of their loved ones in the stands before a victory lap around St. Jakob-Park. Lucy Bronze was seen celebrating with her family, limping around to try and limit the damage to her leg, which remarkably she revealed was broken.
It wasn't long before the pizza boxes and cans of beer were summoned and, as the supporters disappeared out of the stadium, the next phase of the celebrations could start.
Asked what her plans were, Wiegman - who has now won a remarkable three straight Euros titles - said: '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."
Agyemang, who has gone from relative unknown to national hero after scoring two crucial goals off the bench in the knockout stages, wasn't giving much away when asked what the night had in store. "I can't say too much about that," the 19-year-old said. "We're going to have a good time."
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Ella Toone was a bit more forthcoming. "We're going to enjoy the night," she said. "I love a party, I'm a Tyldesley girl of course I love a party." The England midfielder certainly delivered on that statement later in the night.
The players had already begun the celebrations in earnest as they walked through the media mixed zone holding cans of beer and boxes of pizza.
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But it was once they got back to their hotel when the fun really started. Players and staff were handed a glass of bubbly upon entrance, and in hero goalkeeper Hannah Hampton's case, a dog to celebrate with.
Everything had been prepared for them, with Lionesses balloons on the walls and a room packed full of their friends and family wearing England shirts with the names of loved ones on awaiting. The players wore T-shirts emblazoned with "Champions 2025" on the front, while Agyemang sported some dark sunglasses.
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The DJ then got things going, playing Proud by Heather Small, starting the first of many, many singalongs. Freed from Desire by Gala quickly followed before Rockin' All Over the World by Status Quo, with the words changed to "England won two in a row".
After Still D.R.E. by Dr Dre, Williamson and Wiegman, arm in arm, cut a three-tiered cake. Next it was karaoke and Toone was quickly on the mic, blasting out River Deep, Mountain High by Tina Turner, dedicating it to her former team-mate Rachel Daly, who is known for her love of the tune.
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Another rendition of Sweet Caroline, Titanium by David Guetta and Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield followed. By now the clock had ticked past 4am in Switzerland, and while the dancefloor had thinned out, there were still plenty of Lionesses partying, along with Alessia Russo's brother Giorgio Russo, who has been a fixture in Switzerland since returning from Love Island.
Speaking earlier, Wiegman had struggled to put into words what the victory meant for her and the team. "You know what, I don't realise it yet," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.
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"I am still in the stage where it's 'this is unbelievable' 'did this really happen?' So I can't answer this question. Very, very happy but a little strange. Just unbelievable.'
There won't yet be time for it to sink it, with the Lionesses flying back to England on Monday before a visit to No.10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There will be a celebration reception for the squad, who will try their best not to repeat the mistakes of England men's cricketers' infamous visit after winning the 2005 Ashes.
'I don't watch movies back so often but I will probably look and see some things back," Wiegman said. "The journey has been incredible." The party wasn't bad either.