Lauren James will be fit for England's Euro 2025 final with Spain
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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Roar to victory: what the papers say about the Lionesses Euro win
On Sunday the Lionesses staked their claim to be considered the greatest English sports team of all time in Basel, battling back from trailing Spain to win a thrilling penalty shootout in the Euros. The UK papers captured the joy across their front pages on Monday. 'Queens of Europe. England make history with Euro 2025 victory,' was front page news at the Guardian. The Mirror dedicated its front and back pages to the win, hailing the 'LionYESes' on the front and the 'Queens of hearts' on the back. Monday's front and back pages are dedicated to the Lionesses - history makers and champions again 🏴 🏆 #TomorrowsPapersToday The Telegraph celebrated 'England's roar of victory' on its front page. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:England's roar of victory#TomorrowsPapersToday The i praised the team with the splash: 'Queens of Europe! England are champions again – in incredible show of defiance.' Monday's front page: Queens of Europe! England are champions again - in incredible show of defiance#TomorrowsPapersToday 'Golden girl Chloe fires Lionesses to Euros glory … next, a trip to the Palace,' wrote the Daily Mail on its front page. #TomorrowsPapersTodayDaily Mail: Golden girl Chloe fires Lionesses to Euros glory... next, a trip to the Palace. NOW SHUT MIGRANT PROTEST HOTEL. By Martin Beckford and Isaac more at 'Lionesses win Euros … again! Goalie is hero in thrilling penalty shootout,' was the lead story over at the Sun. After the nerve-racking penalty shootout, the paper celebrated goalie Hannah Hampton, with the headline 'The Hann of God', on its front page. #TomorrowsPapersTodayThe Sun: Lionesses win Goalie is hero in thrilling penalty shootout. THE HANN OF GOD. By ROBIN more at The Metro led with the headline: 'You've done us proud! Lionesses take Euros Final to Penalties – 'You were roarsome!' #TomorrowsPapersTodayMETRO: You've done us proud! Lionesses take Euros Final to Penalties – "You were roarsome!"Read more at Meanwhile the Times said: 'Lionesses rise to penalties drama and bring Euros title home.' #TomorrowsPapersTodayThe Times: Lionesses rise to penalties drama and bring Euros title home. Starmer to press Trump on more at
Leader Live
38 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Williamson believes England's 'vulnerability' aided Euro 2025 victory
The Lionesses came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with world champions Spain at St. Jakob Park, before defeating them 3-1 on penalties. It saw Williamson lift her second European title as England captain, becoming the only senior England captain to do so on foreign soil. But while buzzwords like resilience and a never-say-die attitude have followed their tournament trajectory, the 28-year-old suggests it was the willingness of her side to open themselves up to a belief in their own ability that proved the real key to success. 'You can have all of those words, and sport has all of those words circulating all the time and then you have people that are brave and put that into action and decide that you're going to go for it,' Williamson explained. 'You leave yourself vulnerable and all of those things. If you really, really try hard and it's not quite enough, that's an awful feeling. 'To put yourself out there like that, the reward is so great and we were brave enough to do it. I think that's the key to the team. 'Sarina [Wiegman] believes in us so much, it's hard not to believe that yourself. She said the same thing as she said before, 'We don't have to win, we want to win, and we're capable of winning so it's up to you girls,' and we did it.' Unbreakable. ✊ England had made a habit of coming back from behind, closing a two-goal deficit against Sweden in the quarter-finals before coming back from 1-0 down against both Italy and Spain. But having lost their opening match against France, England had played must-win football all from the outset and while it may not always have been pretty, they became accustomed to getting the job done. 'It was a hard-fought tournament and after our first game we looked ourselves in the mirror, we knew what we had to do, and we did it, repeatedly,' said Williamson. 'And now we're back-to-back champions and that feels good. 'Thank you to those of you who stuck with us. We'll party for you tonight if you've got work tomorrow and if not, go and enjoy yourselves.' It was club team-mate Alessia Russo who had headed England level, after Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead after 25 minutes. A resolute defensive display from Williamson and co kept the scores level and as neither team could find a breakthrough, with Salma Paralluelo's profligacy in front of goal at times England's saving grace, it was to penalties once more. The Lionesses had found their route to success from a shootout against Sweden and would do so again, despite not having favoured penalty takers Russo or Georgia Stanway on the pitch. Instead captain Williamson was one of those to step up, and while she saw her penalty saved by Cata Coll, Chloe Kelly did the bidding to make England Euro 2025 champions. 'I said, 'Really?! I made the cut?'' said Williamson on being picked to take a penalty. 'I struggled the back end of the tournament with an injury and I was very grateful to get through the game. I didn't think it was going to carry me that far, and it did. 'I hit it a little bit too low, I would have gone higher if I could do it again. But on the way back, Chloe said to me, 'Don't worry about it.' If anybody is going to tell me that in a penalty shootout, I'll take it off her.'
South Wales Argus
38 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Williamson believes England's 'vulnerability' aided Euro 2025 victory
The Lionesses came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with world champions Spain at St. Jakob Park, before defeating them 3-1 on penalties. It saw Williamson lift her second European title as England captain, becoming the only senior England captain to do so on foreign soil. But while buzzwords like resilience and a never-say-die attitude have followed their tournament trajectory, the 28-year-old suggests it was the willingness of her side to open themselves up to a belief in their own ability that proved the real key to success. 'You can have all of those words, and sport has all of those words circulating all the time and then you have people that are brave and put that into action and decide that you're going to go for it,' Williamson explained. 'You leave yourself vulnerable and all of those things. If you really, really try hard and it's not quite enough, that's an awful feeling. 'To put yourself out there like that, the reward is so great and we were brave enough to do it. I think that's the key to the team. 'Sarina [Wiegman] believes in us so much, it's hard not to believe that yourself. She said the same thing as she said before, 'We don't have to win, we want to win, and we're capable of winning so it's up to you girls,' and we did it.' England had made a habit of coming back from behind, closing a two-goal deficit against Sweden in the quarter-finals before coming back from 1-0 down against both Italy and Spain. But having lost their opening match against France, England had played must-win football all from the outset and while it may not always have been pretty, they became accustomed to getting the job done. 'It was a hard-fought tournament and after our first game we looked ourselves in the mirror, we knew what we had to do, and we did it, repeatedly,' said Williamson. 'And now we're back-to-back champions and that feels good. 'Thank you to those of you who stuck with us. We'll party for you tonight if you've got work tomorrow and if not, go and enjoy yourselves.' It was club team-mate Alessia Russo who had headed England level, after Mariona Caldentey gave Spain the lead after 25 minutes. A resolute defensive display from Williamson and co kept the scores level and as neither team could find a breakthrough, with Salma Paralluelo's profligacy in front of goal at times England's saving grace, it was to penalties once more. The Lionesses had found their route to success from a shootout against Sweden and would do so again, despite not having favoured penalty takers Russo or Georgia Stanway on the pitch. Instead captain Williamson was one of those to step up, and while she saw her penalty saved by Cata Coll, Chloe Kelly did the bidding to make England Euro 2025 champions. 'I said, 'Really?! I made the cut?'' said Williamson on being picked to take a penalty. 'I struggled the back end of the tournament with an injury and I was very grateful to get through the game. I didn't think it was going to carry me that far, and it did. 'I hit it a little bit too low, I would have gone higher if I could do it again. But on the way back, Chloe said to me, 'Don't worry about it.' If anybody is going to tell me that in a penalty shootout, I'll take it off her.'
