Sarina Wiegman in line for damehood after leading England to Euro 2025 final
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Leah Williamson makes 'no fear' pledge with England's Lionesses on verge of history
Leah Williamson's message remains the same as she aims to captain England to a second straight European Championships title with victory over Spain in Basel on Sunday England captain Leah Williamson insists the Lionesses have to go into today's Euro 2025 final with no fear - just as they did when they won it all in 2022. 'There's a lovely quote that I like and it's: 'Nobody wins afraid of losing',' Williamson said in the last Euros after an 8-0 win over Norway. England took inspiration from that victory and went all the way on home soil, beating Germany in the final at Wembley, and the mentality hasn't changed as they chase back-to-back triumphs. 'That's the main thing. If you're fearful of losing, even if you win, do you enjoy that experience, do you fully take it in?' Williamson asked. 'Do you give everything that you have? Or are you expending energy in the wrong way? 'I think this team is so task-focused that whatever is in our way, we will try to overcome that together. I don't think we're a team fearful of losing. Anything can happen in football – there is so much out of your control. 'We focus on being the best people we can to each other, performing the best that we can and hopefully that gives you the result you want. But definitely not fearful of losing because you do expend energy in ways you don't want to." England already know they can beat Spain, having won 1-0 Wembley earlier in the year before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to the same opponents in June. The teams also famously met in the 2023 World Cup final, with Spain winning 1-0 on that occasion through an Olga Carmona goal. All that could make for a tight encounter, and manager Sarina Wiegman recognises her team needs to be in top gear. 'We've played each other a lot over the last couple of years. You always have learnings,' Wiegman said. 'They will have learned from us in the games we've played. [The final] is a new situation so hopefully we can exploit some of the weaknesses they have too.' It's a third straight major tournament final for England, and a fifth in a row for Wiegman including Euros and World Cup runs with the Netherlands. There has almost been an expectation that the Lionesses will be there or thereabouts, but that doesn't make this year's run any less of an achievement in Wiegman's eyes. 'I think every tournament, of course, you want to perform, and there's expectations, but you also have expectations for yourself,' the manager said. 'I just know that going into a final is already very, very special. Making the final, there's only two teams that can make the final. 'So if you talk about pressure, that's not really a pressure, it's very special. And when you go to a final, you really want to win it, too. So that's how I mean this. We're happy that we're in the final, and really want to win it and do everything to make that happen.'
Glasgow Times
26 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Lauren James will be fit for England's Euro 2025 final with Spain
The forward was forced off at half-time of the Lionesses' extra-time semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, but trained with the team in Zurich on Saturday morning before Sunday's title decider. James, like the other members of Wiegman's full 23-player squad who trained, still needs to come through recovery, but her boss is optimistic the she will be available to take on the World Cup holders. Appreciating the 23 ❤️@leahcwilliamson reflects on her #Lionesses journey and the power of the whole squad on #ThatLionessesPodcast connected by @EE. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025 Wiegman said: 'We had 23 players on the pitch today and everyone came through, so if everyone recovers well then we have 23 players available for tomorrow. 'I think we have many players that can impact, and we know that (James) can have an impact too, so that will be nice.' Captain Leah Williamson added: 'I think we have a team of talented players. Lauren brings something slightly different, just like the others, so obviously having that available is best-case scenario for us.' Leah Williamson says her ankle injury is not affecting her (Nick Potts/PA) Williamson survived her own injury scare in Switzerland when she rolled her ankle in extra time of their spectacular quarter-final, penalty-shootout comeback against Sweden, but returned for their semi-final. She said: 'I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say we will play as long as we get the green light, we would play through absolutely anything to be involved at this stage. 'My ankle is great. My mum actually rolled her ankle a couple of days ago, so she's taken all the attention away from me now. 'But no, I had a scare. Obviously I want to be involved, and I want to be available to help the team any way they need me. But obviously played that game, the semi-final and ready to go tomorrow.' Williamson missed out on the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in April 2023, and was forced to watch their loss to Spain – in England's first final at a global showpiece – from the stands. 'It was awful,' she admitted. 'I think once you're part of a team, being on the outside, and I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, how much a tournament takes out of you, and to be completely useless, that probably bothered me the most. 'But to sit with the families, knowing what they go through, that actually makes me reflect on this tournament, and we haven't been very kind to them at all. Sarina Wiegman is happy to have a full squad to choose from (Nick Potts/PA) 'But I think that feels like a really long time ago, which is probably a benefit for the whole squad. 'Anybody would give anything to be part of their team when they're going through moments like that. 'It was tough. The only plus was sitting next to Jill (Scott) I suppose, and sharing it with somebody who knew what it felt like.' Asked about the importance of having her skipper free to face Spain, Wiegman added: 'Of course, I'm very happy with that, as I am very happy that we have 23 players available tomorrow. 'And yeah, Leah has a big role in the team, so it's really nice to have her on the pitch.'
Leader Live
41 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Lauren James will be fit for England's Euro 2025 final with Spain
The forward was forced off at half-time of the Lionesses' extra-time semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, but trained with the team in Zurich on Saturday morning before Sunday's title decider. James, like the other members of Wiegman's full 23-player squad who trained, still needs to come through recovery, but her boss is optimistic the she will be available to take on the World Cup holders. Appreciating the 23 ❤️@leahcwilliamson reflects on her #Lionesses journey and the power of the whole squad on #ThatLionessesPodcast connected by @EE. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 26, 2025 Wiegman said: 'We had 23 players on the pitch today and everyone came through, so if everyone recovers well then we have 23 players available for tomorrow. 'I think we have many players that can impact, and we know that (James) can have an impact too, so that will be nice.' Captain Leah Williamson added: 'I think we have a team of talented players. Lauren brings something slightly different, just like the others, so obviously having that available is best-case scenario for us.' Williamson survived her own injury scare in Switzerland when she rolled her ankle in extra time of their spectacular quarter-final, penalty-shootout comeback against Sweden, but returned for their semi-final. She said: 'I can speak for every single member of the squad when I say we will play as long as we get the green light, we would play through absolutely anything to be involved at this stage. 'My ankle is great. My mum actually rolled her ankle a couple of days ago, so she's taken all the attention away from me now. 'But no, I had a scare. Obviously I want to be involved, and I want to be available to help the team any way they need me. But obviously played that game, the semi-final and ready to go tomorrow.' Williamson missed out on the World Cup after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in April 2023, and was forced to watch their loss to Spain – in England's first final at a global showpiece – from the stands. 'It was awful,' she admitted. 'I think once you're part of a team, being on the outside, and I know how tired you are when you get to that stage, how much a tournament takes out of you, and to be completely useless, that probably bothered me the most. 'But to sit with the families, knowing what they go through, that actually makes me reflect on this tournament, and we haven't been very kind to them at all. 'But I think that feels like a really long time ago, which is probably a benefit for the whole squad. 'Anybody would give anything to be part of their team when they're going through moments like that. 'It was tough. The only plus was sitting next to Jill (Scott) I suppose, and sharing it with somebody who knew what it felt like.' Asked about the importance of having her skipper free to face Spain, Wiegman added: 'Of course, I'm very happy with that, as I am very happy that we have 23 players available tomorrow. 'And yeah, Leah has a big role in the team, so it's really nice to have her on the pitch.'
