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The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
Why Sarina Wiegman is the best manager in the world
And Sarina dancing, two stars on the shirt. Yes, it's a predictable line, but it is said with all the more meaning given how fans sang "Three Lions" after a sensational and utterly unpredictable Euro 2025 victory for England. 'I kept asking myself, 'how can this happen?' Sarina Wiegman herself said, with the immediate payoff: 'But it happened.' 'The most chaotic, ridiculous tournament I have played.' No wonder she was dancing at the end, and then laughing that the image had already been projected to the world before she even arrived at her press conference. The victorious England manager was still, of course, utterly composed. She naturally knew exactly what to say, just like before the game. 'Enjoy it,' was the main message as the players left the dressing room. They can certainly enjoy it now and relish every moment. Wiegman admitted it will be a rare match she watches back for reasons other than tactical analysis. Before the final - and even during it - enjoying it might have seemed a dubious prospect, especially when Spain seek to exhaust and exasperate you with possession for so long. And yet it again brought out something Wiegman and her players very much enjoyed. Digging in. Showing grit. Pride. 'Proper England,' as repeatedly rang out during this tournament, especially at the end. The defining and decisive images of these games - almost as much as Alessia Russo's header or Chloe Kelly 's penalty - were blocks, tackles, players still putting it in when they had so little left to give. Wiegman admitted that was what stood out for her. 'The fight,' she said. 'We said it a couple of times, the players said 'proper England'. Today we also had to defend very well. They were challenging us. But you see how we give everything to defend the goal. I do enjoy that, because that says something about the team and the togetherness and the will to really want to win.' There's more to these words than Wiegman just enjoying that togetherness. She ensures togetherness. Wiegman talks about 'the most chaotic, ridiculous tournament,' and she can speak from more experience than anyone, given that this is her third successive Euros victory. That is a record that shouldn't really be possible, but she's managed it. She only fortifies her claim to be the best coach in the women's game. 'She's bloody amazing,' tournament-winner Chloe Kelly beamed. 'She's an incredible woman, what she's done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. 'What she's done for the women's game, not just in England, in the Netherlands she's done it, she's taken it to a whole other level. The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff behind her, they're incredible people and I'm so grateful to have worked with such amazing staff members.' As if it needs to be said, Wiegman knows how to win tournaments. Even her sole recent 'failures', in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, were narrow defeats in finals. Getting that far twice still displayed her aptitude for this, for driving a team through knock-outs. It comes from creating the right team culture. Gareth Southgate got that and got England's men further than anyone else. Wiegman gets it, but has even more. There are, of course, bigger debates to be had about the performances, how the best team only occasionally wins tournaments, and even football identity and tactical ideology. But those are debates for the Football Association and Dan Ashworth. Wiegman can only manage what she is given, and it clearly works in terms of maximising it all for results. It may not always be pretty - England again came back into a game by going direct. It may not even maximise performance given how close England repeatedly came to going out. This was the fifth different rescue act they needed, having survived multiple times more scares. But Wiegman ensures they know how to get there. They squeeze the most out of their talent in a different way than coming together as a collective in a tactical sense like Spain have shown repeatedly. "We have players that have talent, and the togetherness of this team is really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back,' Wiegman said. "The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up. Today of course, we had moments where we really had to fight, but I thought we also had some very good moments in the game.' In response to a question about the player of the match, Hannah Hampton, whose entire tournament vindicated yet another Wiegman decision, the manager was tactful. Mary Earps and Millie Bright, of course, weren't mentioned in any of this. "Every player has their one story and journey and hers has been incredible. 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 in the final.' She's right as regards individual stories, though. Lucy Bronze had her energy, and that willingness to play through pain. Jess Carter had far more serious issues, and saved her best display for the final and the toughest challenge. Michelle Agyemang had her impact, and now her award for young player of the tournament. Kelly, then, evidently had points to prove. Her year had started with a struggle for minutes at Manchester City, and so much doubt. It culminates with… well, she can describe it herself. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family, because those are the people that got me through those dark moments. I'm so grateful to be out the back end but if that's the story to tell someone experiencing something the same, that sometimes it doesn't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final - won that - and now a Euros final - won that. 'So, thank you, everyone who wrote me off.' That could be said of England as a whole, given how this tournament went, but they ended it still as European champions. Kelly ultimately puts that down to one person. 'What she's done for me individually, she gave me hope when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again. I knew that I had to get game time and representing England is never a given.' Neither is tournament victory. Wiegman has made it as close to a guarantee as you can get. So, how will she actually enjoy herself? She's already put two stars on their shirts.
Daily Mirror
a minute ago
- Daily Mirror
Pizza, karaoke and Champagne: Inside England Lionesses' celebrations as stars party until 4am
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. 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. 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. 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. "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.
BBC News
a minute ago
- BBC News
'Gutted he's leaving' or 'a great deal for all parties'?
We asked for your views on Luis Diaz's imminent departure from Liverpool to Bayern are some of your comments:Phil: Gutted that Luis is leaving us. He was great to watch, wonderful skill on the ball and a great eye for goal. I'm worried about the impact of his loss. I love Cody Gakpo but Luis is a better carrier and more progressive with the ball. Shame he wants to leave but wishing him, and us, the Diaz to Bayern is a great deal for all parties involved. He gets a bumper contract and Liverpool get some more spending power to continue our mental transfer window. Win-win all It's not ideal, a workhorse of a player that has flair and an eye for a goal. Signing Alexander Isak would soften the blow From a financial perspective, it makes good sense but his energy and commitment on the pitch will be missed. Good luck to the lad!Ash: He wanted to leave so let him go, and now use the money to get a centre-back. We have enough going forward - although Isak and Rodrygo would be nice too - but prioritise a Bad decision to let him go. He has worked his socks off for us and scored some wonderful goals. Will be very sorry to see him A real shame to see Diaz leave. He is a fantastic player but with Gakpo, Wirtz and now the emergence of Rio Ngumoha as options on the left, I don't think we need to replace him. I suspect either Darwin Nunez or Harvey Elliott will also leave. Maybe both if we're serious about getting how you're feeling about Diaz leaving here
