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Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
How the Lionesses and the nation celebrated Euros glory
The Lionesses' European Championship final victory over Spain in Basel was both dramatic and historic. They sealed back-to-back Euros triumphs with a penalty shoot-out win – Chloe Kelly, of course, slotting the decisive spot kick – and in doing so became the first England team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. The celebrations began as soon as Kelly's shot found the net at St Jakob-Park – in the stadium and beyond. The players Kelly was mobbed by her team-mates as soon as she had secured the trophy – three years after she had scored the winning goal at Wembley against Germany. CHLOE KELLY, SHOUT IT LOUD!!! England are EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS! 🏆 #BBCFootball #WEURO2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 27, 2025 Replacement goalkeeper Khiara Keating actually skipped the team huddle to hail the fans. Nailed it, Khiara! 😆🙌 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 Sarina Wiegman ran straight into the arms of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who had saved two penalties in the shoot-out, once Kelly had sealed the win. Sarina Wiegman jumping into Hannah Hampton's arms — Kathryn Batte (@KathrynBatte) July 27, 2025 Asked how she would celebrate, the England manager said: 'Maybe with some more dancing. I might have a drink but I will not be drinking as much as the players…' The immediate celebrations were followed by a period of relative calm leading up to the official trophy presentation – then the scenes of jubilation erupted again. This moment. Champions. AGAIN!!! 🎉🎊 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 The squad made sure to run over to the travelling England fans in the stadium to pay tribute to them after receiving their medals. Keira Walsh, Leah Williamson and Georgia Stanway led players into a dive onto the ticker tape. Oh what a night! 🤩 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 Lucy Bronze, who revealed afterwards that she had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia, captured a team selfie. WINNERS 🏅 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 Ella Toone and Keira Walsh shared a moment with former Lioness Jill Scott. Pitchside celebrations with familiar faces and loved ones! #BBCFootball #WEuro2025 — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 27, 2025 The team then headed down the tunnel to continue their celebrations in the changing rooms, singing Robyn's Dancing on my Own as they walked. 🎶 I KEEP DANCING ON MY OWN! 🎶 ICONIC. — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 Captain Williamson was certainly keen to enjoy the party, saying: 'Don't worry about if I'm having a good time. Let's put it that way. I'm going to leave the ice and the recovery for tomorrow and then take it back to England.' The Prince Prince William attended the match with his daughter Princess Charlotte and was part of the trophy presentation party. The pair were seen celebrating the shoot-out win in the stands. Then they made their way onto the pitch for the formalities, where he shared a hug with Williamson on stage. He was keen to talk to Michelle Agyemang but it is unlikely she shared details of the post-match party. 'I can't say too much about that,' she said about the celebrations afterwards. 'We're going to have a good time.' The nation The celebrations in Switzerland were mirrored across England. There was jubilation at various drinking establishments across the country. Sky Sport's cameras perfectly captured the different reactions at Spain and England fan parks during the game. Have a look at some of the scenes from the respective fan zones during the Euro 2025 final 😆🏆 — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 27, 2025 Tower Bridge was lit up in red and white to mark England's achievement. Blackpool Tower's illuminations were red and white to mark the Lionesses' win. Back-to-back European champions 👏 Huge congratulations to the @Lionesses on an incredible win in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final against Spain! Tonight, the Blackpool Tower will shine red and white in celebration. You've made England proud 🏴 📷 Sky Shots Karl Houghton… — VisitBlackpool (@visitBlackpool) July 27, 2025
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Goalie Hannah Hampton is England's penalties hero as Lionesses roar to Euros glory over Spain
GOALIE Hannah Hampton was England's penalties hero with two saves as the Lionesses roared to Euros glory over Spain last night. Hannah starred in the 3-1 shootout win after the sides drew 1-1 in Basel, Switzerland. 10 The King hailed their historic victory, three years after winning Euro 2022. He said: 'The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!' They are the first senior England football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil and the first to retain a trophy after victory in 2022. It was striker Chloe Kelly who sealed the win — repeating her feat from Wembley three years ago when she took off her jersey in celebration. She brought it home this time by scoring the crucial penalty, sparking scenes of joy in Basel, Switzerland. Manager Sarina Wiegman — winning her third consecutive Euros after victory in 2017 with the Netherlands — ran on to the pitch punching the air as she joined the mass of players and staff mobbing Kelly. The Arsenal ace was in tears as she joined thousands of delighted fans singing Sweet Caroline. Moments later, Kelly said: 'I am so proud of this team. So grateful to wear this badge. So proud to be English. I was cool, I was composed. 'I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. Unbelievable. All the staff and Sarina Wiegman — she has done it again! Unbelievable. 'It is going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and shows their love to these girls as they deserve it.' Supersub Michelle Agyemang, the breakout star of the tournament, sank to her knees and wept as Kelly's penalty went in. In the stands, Prince William and daughter Princess Charlotte roared with delight at the victory. Just before kick-off, a snap of the pair was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account with the caption: 'Let's go, Lionesses.' Jubilant Wills later greeted them, giving skipper Leah Williamson a hug, before they were presented the Euro 2025 trophy on the pitch. King Charles told the Lionesses: 'You have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration. The next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027, if you possibly can!' The team will be at a Downing Street reception today hosted by Deputy PM Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. Ms Rayner said: 'Our Lionesses are absolute champions. Not only are they bringing it home for England again, but they're inspiring the next generation of champions too.' PM Keir Starmer added: 'The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation. "Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement, but an inspiration for young people across the country.' 10 10 10 Former England striker and footie pundit Gary Lineker wrote online: 'They've done it again. She's done it again. Kelly's heroes. Fabulous.' Dutchwoman Wiegman said after the win: 'I can't believe it! We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. 'I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Spain were favourites on the back of an impressive run of ten straight victories in all competitions, scoring 38 goals in the process. But England, despite a shaky start to the tournament, were confident after seeing off Sweden in the quarters and Italy in the semi-final. A crowd of 34,203 watched as England enjoyed a bright start, with the first chance after three minutes. But as the match wore on, Spain began to dominate and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was forced into several crucial saves. Mariona Caldentey put Spain ahead on 25 minutes, with Alessia Russo heading England level on 57 minutes. Then, with neither side making a breakthrough in extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout. Hero Hampton saved twice before Kelly's trademark hop, skip and run penalty went in to secure the victory. 10 10 10
BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Fine margins: How Norris lost out to Piastri in Belgium
Oscar Piastri's victory in the Belgian Grand Prix underlined the fine margins that will likely decide the world championship battle with his team-mate Lando Australian bounced back after two consecutive victories for Norris on a weekend on which the advantage swung back and forth between the McLaren drivers almost from session to pair arrived at Spa-Francorchamps on the back of two consecutive wins for Norris, one from the front in Austria, one somewhat fortuitous after a penalty for Piastri at took a pole position each in Belgium - one for Piastri for the sprint, and one for Norris for the grand prix. And the race turned on a few key drive was from the top drawer - he took the lead from Norris at the rolling start after a few exploratory laps behind the safety car in the wet by being, by Norris' admission, a little braver through Eau Rouge on the first he managed his position with careful judgement to make his medium-compound tyres last to the end while under pressure from the closing Norris on more durable Norris may look back on a few small errors in which he could have done better. He said he "couldn't have won". He probably could not. But he could have given himself a slither of a chance, despite the difficult position he was in by leading at the start. The start Piastri had demonstrated how difficult it is for the driver on pole to lead by the end of the first lap at Spa by losing the sprint race win to Red Bull's Max Dutchman slipstreamed past Piastri up the hill to Les Combes, and then held the McLaren at bay for 15 laps, while Norris followed closely in the grand prix, it was Norris in front, with Piastri in second and Piastri had been thinking about the opportunity this presented him since losing out on pole the day team boss Andrea Stella said: "This weekend, Oscar, if anything, the only inaccuracy was in qualifying, where his laps weren't perfect."At the same time, we have to say that after the sprint qualifying, he said, 'Yeah, I'm in pole position, but maybe this is not the right place to be in pole position.'"And as a joke, after the qualifying yesterday, he said, 'That was not my best lap in Q3, but perhaps this is the best place not to have the best lap in Q3.'"Sure enough, Piastri took the lead on lap one of the grand prix, just as Verstappen had the day before."I had a good run out of Turn One," he said, "and then tried to be as brave as I could through Eau Rouge and was able to stay pretty close. After that, the slipstream did the rest for me."When I watched the onboard back, it didn't look quite as scary as it felt in the car. I knew that I had to be very committed to pull that off."But Norris could have done a better job. For a start, he failed to build himself a gap over the finish line by arguably going too early at the restart. Then he made a mistake at La Source, which allowed Piastri to be right on his tail approaching Eau Rouge."I didn't have the best Turn One," Norris said. "So it's hard to know how much that played a part. At the same time, Oscar came past me pretty easily. So even if I had a better Turn One, his run and the slipstream probably still would have got me."Stella said: "It would have always been very difficult for Lando to keep the position starting first at the safety car restart. At the same time, I think Lando didn't help himself by not having a great gap on the finish line." The pit stops The next turning point was the stops. Piastri had first choice as leader, and went for mediums with a stop on lap could have pitted Norris at the same time - the so-called double-stack - but went for another lap, and decided for hard tyres, to go to the end. Piastri was planning the same but didn't know whether the mediums would make had been just under two seconds behind when Piastri pitted, and was nine seconds back when he rejoined the seconds of that offset can be accounted for by a slower pit stop, the other five by the extra lap on worn intermediates. A double-stack would have cost less time - but then he'd have been on the mediums, and the race effectively already said: "To catch Oscar from that gap is quite an achievement. I gave it a good shot, but just not close enough."Piastri said: "It was quite a late decision to pit on the lap we did, but there's risks either way. If I was in Lando's position, I probably would have done the same thing. At that point, it seemed like the safest thing to do was go on the medium, because the hard is two steps harder here."Stella said: "We did consider double stacking. At the same time, it was possible for Lando to deviate. He opted to deviate, which would have given him the possibility to go on hard tyres, which is what he decided to do."Actually, I thought at some stage that that would have been a very good move, but I have to say that Oscar managed a very solid and strong stint on the medium tyres. Even if Lando was, on average, a little bit faster, that was not enough to attack Oscar at the end." The chase Norris now had to try to chase Piastri down. He got to within 3.4 seconds by the end of the race, but he probably lost a little more than that with three errors during his ran wide at the fast Pouhon double left-hander on lap 26, costing himself 1.3 seconds, then had lock-ups at La Source on laps 33 and 43, costing a total of just under three a perfect race might have given him a shot at Piastri on the last lap or two. But given how difficult overtaking proved at Spa in both races, the chances of him actually getting by must be considered slim in the said: "Yes, Lando had a couple of lock-ups in corner one and also a little oversteer in corner nine that cost him time. I think this, overall, prevented us from having an interesting battle, possibly, at the end."But, in fairness, even Oscar had a couple of times in corner one a little bit of a time loss."It's very difficult when you push so much in these conditions. It's very difficult to always drive within the limit of the grip, and also it's not easy to always keep the car on the racing line when you have the maximum grip, considering that, away from that, you can lose it very rapidly because of the track being still a little damp." The lessons Piastri's sixth win in 13 races extends his lead in the see-sawing battle to 15 points before the next race in Hungary this weekend, scene last year of Piastri's maiden victory, in somewhat controversial circumstances. Stella called Piastri's drive "very, very, very high quality", but added: "We have two drivers which to the standards that even myself in my career have been close to, driving with multiple World Champions, I think Lando and Oscar are operating at that level, at the level of deservedly being in contention for the drivers' world championship."This is quite the compliment considering Stella engineered both Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso during his Ferrari years earlier this said: "The difference will be made by the accuracy, the precision, the quality of the execution."The execution is what is going to make the main difference. We, as a team, we will try and make sure that from a reliability point of view, from a team operation point of view, we are as good as possible, such that it will be the drivers deciding their own outcome in terms of competing for the drivers' championship." Should the race have started earlier? The other main talking point at Spa was whether the race should have started earlier - either at the original start time, or a few minutes before it eventually Hamilton and Max Verstappen were of the view that it should have and that officials had been too said the decision "didn't make sense". He said that at the scheduled start time "it was not even raining" and added: "Of course between Turn One and five there was quite a bit of water, but two or three laps behind the safety car it would have been a lot more clear. And the rest of the track was anyway ready to go. It's a bit of a shame."Hamilton added: "I kept shouting, like, it's ready to go, it's ready to go. And they kept going around and around and around."However, both acknowledged that the decisions were made after the drivers had urged officials following the last race at Silverstone - in which one car rammed another unsighted at a restart in the rain - not to go too Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc both pointed out the extreme dangers of Spa, and referenced the two fatalities that have happened there in junior categories in recent said: "For that reason, I'd rather be safe than too early. It's a constant discussion, and we'll probably feed the people that made this decision back that maybe it was a little bit on the late side, but I wouldn't have changed anything."Piastri added: "The past few years, particularly here, we've given the FIA feedback that we would much rather be on the safe side than risk anything. I think that's what we did today."If you were to be picky, maybe we could have done one less formation lap. But in the grand scheme of things, if that's one lap too early, is it worth it? No."
