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Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Women's Euros: Calls for extra bank holiday as Lionesses successfully defend their title
The prime minister's being urged to declare a bank holiday after England successfully defended the Women's Euros title with a dramatic win over Spain. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has said an additional day off would be a fitting way of honouring a "stunning achievement" by the Lionesses. But with estimates suggesting an extra bank holiday would cost the economy £2.4bn, it's understood such a move isn't being planned by Downing Street. England fans were left in a state of euphoria after watching Sarina Wiegman's side become back-to-back champions following a nail-biting match. Alessia Russo had managed to score an equaliser in the 57th minute, leading to a penalty shootout after neither team managed to pull ahead in extra time. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, resulting in a 3-1 win on penalties. Although a bank holiday might not be on the cards, there are plans to celebrate the squad's triumphant homecoming from Switzerland. An open-top bus parade will be held in London tomorrow lunchtime along The Mall - culminating in a ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Fans can attend for free, and Sky News will broadcast it live. 1:25 PM: 'You've made the nation proud' Sir Keir Starmer was among the millions cheering on the Lionesses, and congratulated the team for their second consecutive win at the Euros. "What a team. What a game. What drama," he said. "You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers." Prince William and Princess Charlotte, who attended the final at St Jakob-Park in Basel, added: "What a game! "Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn't be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England." King Charles also shared his "most heartfelt congratulations" on the Royal Family's official X account. He wrote: "For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant 'football's coming home'. "As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true. "For this, you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration. More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms." The King went on to set a fresh mission for the Lionesses, writing: "The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!" Fans, players (and managers!) celebrate In pubs and living rooms across the country, supporters stood on tables, waved flags and threw their drinks in the air - revelling in the fact that football is staying home. Tower Bridge was lit up in red and white, and at a presentation ceremony, star striker Michelle Agyemang was named young player of the tournament. The 19-year-old had just one England cap before the Euros, and scored crucial equalisers as the Lionesses came from behind in the quarter-final and semi-final. Victory for the Lionesses is also a huge achievement for Sarina Wiegman, who has now led squads to the Euros trophy three times: The Netherlands once, and England twice. The Dutchwoman admitted that no tournament had been more "chaotic" and "ridiculous" than this one - and revealed her plans to celebrate at a post-match news conference. "I'll do some more dancing," said Wiegman. "And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players."
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
England started the Euros being doubted - but showed resolve, resilience and relentlessness
Being with the Lionesses before they boarded their bus - for a late night of partying - was to intrude in celebrations but glimpse into the mindset of champions. How such resolve, resilience and relentlessness can be mustered by a group of players who have given so much, been through so much over the last month in Switzerland. They leave as back-to-back European champions after conquering the world champions on penalties. Avenging the World Cup final defeat to Spain two years ago. 1:45 And yet they started the Euros being doubted - the first reigning champions to make a losing start. Twice they came close to elimination; saved both times by Michelle Agyemang. They led for less than five minutes in the knockout stage. But all that matters is the name engraved on the trophy - even if they took the scenic rather than the smooth route to glory. They showed how to fight back. How to win on penalties - twice. And above all, how to confront the most painful and challenging of situations. How many of those who posted racist abuse to Jess Carter are now celebrating the dogged defending that prevented Spain running away with last night's final? 2:57 And after the final, Carter opened up to Sky News about how close she came to leaving this tournament - a week after revealing the scale of the racist abuse face. I'd just informed her about fans singing her name in Basel. "It's incredible - I'm disappointed as to why it's come around and that's obviously really sad," Carter said in our post-match interview. "I can't thank them enough. Because honestly without my fans, family and my teammates I'm not sure I'd ever have the courage to go back on the pitch and play again. "I'm not really someone who struggles with the hate they receive because everyone has their opinion. "But this tournament has been really tough and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to come back on the pitch and be me." How grateful England are that she did stay. And how much appreciation for Lucy Bronze? Only after the final did the defender reveal she had been playing with a fractured tibia in all six matches here. "I've not been training all the time," she said. "But just played the games and fought for my team." Including when scoring England's final spot-kick against Sweden in the quarter-finals. And that shootout managed to feel even more dramatic and nervy - thanks to the four England misses - than the one that sealed victory over Spain. Because England had Chloe Kelly to turn to. Just as they did three years ago in extra time of the final, scoring the winner against Germany at Wembley. But football came to losing Kelly in January. After accusing Manchester City of trying to "assassinate my character", she nearly packed up her boots for good. Arsenal restored her belief and ensured she came to Switzerland a Champions League winner, confidence back, ready to complete the job for England again. "Thank you everyone who wrote me off, I'm grateful," Kelly said after scoring England's fifth and final penalty after Hannah Hampton's goalkeeping heroics. "There were a lot of tears at full time especially when I saw my family. Those are the people that got me through dark moments." But there will be so many moments of joy to take from these Euros, memories to bottle up, new superstars to embrace. 2:46 Because if it was not for Michelle Agyemang, England might not even have made it to the final. So while Kelly takes the plaudits as the match winner again, just remember how the striker came to England's rescue. Not once - with the equaliser against Sweden from 2-0 down - but again to level in the 96th minute against Italy in the semi-final. And just remember how Agyemang is only 19, leaving her first tournament a champion. As the Lionesses arrived back at their Euros base in Zurich early this morning, to party into the early hours, Heather Small's Proud was playing. The players who made their triple European champion manager Sarina Wiegman proud - and the nation so proud, once again. "We've shown resilience, we've shown character," forward Beth Mead said. "And we've smashed it and won."
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Emotional moment Lucy Bronze consoles close friend and Spain star Ona Batlle following Euros final - after inseparable pair holidayed together before tournament
This is the emotional moment Lucy Bronze consoled her close friend Ona Batlle after England came from behind to beat Spain and retain their Women's Euros crown. Bronze started every game of the tournament but was forced off in extra-time before the Lionesses went on to win 3-1 in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout. At 33 years, eight months and 30 days, Bronze was her side's oldest player at the tournament and she was again front and centre of a record-setting triumph. Chloe Kelly proved herself the hero for her country again by slotting home the winning spot-kick after Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati saw their efforts saved by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, while Salma Paralluelo skewed off target. Jubilant celebrations saw Kelly's team-mates flood onto the pitch to begin the party, but Bronze took a moment to escape the hubbub and made a beeline for Batlle. Inseparable on and off the pitch, the two friends high-fived before sitting down on the pitch, seemingly discussing the pulsating showdown that had played out in Basel. Once the madness had died down, Bronze, kitted out with her gold winner's medal around her neck, took a stroll with Batlle, who had changed into her tracksuit. The roles were reversed back in 2023 after Spain got the better of England in the World Cup final, when Batlle consoled a tearful Bronze after full-time. The duo were all-conquering team-mates in the 2023-24 season when they were at Barcelona, and they struck up a blossoming friendship, too. They also won the Champions League, Liga F, the Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup together. Bronze then completed a move back to England with Chelsea last summer. Bronze, 33, and Batlle, 26, enjoyed a holiday together ahead of Euro 2025 in Switzerland, sharing photos of the trip across their social media profiles. It appeared the duo were celebrating Batlle's birthday, with the Spaniard's caption on Instagram reading: 'Bday week.' One photo shared online showed them enjoying an ice cream in the sun, while another saw them relaxing on a lilo together in the sea. Bronze and Batlle also took a boat trip on their vacation and spent time together in a private pool. Their holiday this summer was by no means their first. Last Christmas, Batlle posted snaps of the two at Disneyland Paris, with the caption: 'What a magical place'. Bronze tends to keep her personal life very private. Hailing from Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, she was brought up bilingual thanks to her Portuguese father and was exposed to football from a very early age by her older brother, Jorge. Incredibly, she revealed she had played all of Euro 2025 with a fractured tibia. 'I've actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia but no one knew,' she said after the game. 'Then I've just hurt my knee today on the other leg. 'I think that's why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game because I've been in a lot of pain, but that's what it takes to play for England. 'That's what I'll do. They know that, I think we inspire each other by playing through things like that, and they got us to the end of them in the end. It was very painful but I'm gonna party and gonna enjoy it, that's it.' Head coach Sarina Wiegman paid tribute to Bronze, saying: 'Her mentality, the whole team has an incredible mentality, but she has a crazy mentality, it's unbelievable.'
