Latest news with #EuropeanTitle
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Lionesses' Euro 2025 triumph will ‘inspire people' and spark change, Wiegman says
Sarina Wiegman said England's defence of their European title 'makes change' and 'inspires people' far and wide, as the Lionesses prepare for a heroes' welcome on the Mall and in front of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. 'We're England and we want to win but there's so much more than winning a game,' the manager, who won a record third European title in a row following her Euro 2017 victory with the Netherlands and England's triumph in 2022, told Lionesses channels. 'We know winning the Euros makes change. It inspires people. Young kids, but also you see so many more people that you inspire, not just little girls but little boys and grandads and grandmas, whole families, in England but also beyond.' A peak audience of 16.2 million watched England's defeat of Spain in the Euro 2025 final on ITV and the BBC on Sunday and Wiegman took the time to praise supporters for their role, having travelled en masse and tuned in in huge numbers. 'I'm really looking forward to going back to England,' she said. 'The fans have been amazing. I think we always have very good crowds and we never, ever take that for granted. If you look at this tournament, many English fans came to the stadiums and were always in the stands in huge overload. 'It's incredible that all these people took the effort to come and watch us in Switzerland but it's also about the people at home, we've seen some things coming on the social media. It's really nice to go back to England and come together there and celebrate.' England went through three consecutive spells of extra time in the knockout stage on the way to their second major tournament trophy, and Wiegman contrasted the chaos on the pitch with the tone they had set off it. 'Three times going into extra time, that's crazy. I feel this tournament was crazy and chaotic on the pitch. I think off the pitch, everything was pretty calm. Also in the three games, we came from behind – we came from 1-0 or even 2-0 down – I think that shows the quality of the players. The team showed so much resilience but also belief, belief that we can turn things around and we can win by any means. That's the words they used. That's what we showed over and over again.' Of her own reaction after Chloe Kelly's winning penalty went in, Wiegman said: 'I think I just started running. I'd been screaming for three minutes. I just could not believe that we won it. When she went to take that penalty, it was her conviction again, she just loves these moments.' On Monday another hero of the final, the goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, paid tribute to her late grandfather, who died two days before the tournament. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'Dear Grandpa,' she wrote in a moving post on social media. 'You were one of my biggest supporters. You believed in me before I even knew what this journey would look like. You were always there – watching, encouraging, teaching. You taught me so much, not just about football, but about life. About staying grounded, working hard, being resilient and doing things the right way. 'I miss our chats. I miss you saying 'Only us athletes understand' – always with a little smirk like you were in on something special. And you were. You got it. You understood what this meant to me. You understood what it took.' Hampton saved two penalties, from the Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmatí and Arsenal's Champions League winner Mariona Caldentey, in the shootout at the end of the Euro 2025 final, and was named player of the match, her second of the tournament following her penalty heroics against Sweden. Hampton had 'Grandpa' printed on the inside of her collar throughout the tournament. 'It breaks my heart that you didn't get to see me walk out for our country at my first major tournament … something you dreamed of for me, something we talked about so many times,' she said. 'But I know, deep down, you were still there. I felt you with me. In the tunnel. On the pitch. In the tough moments. I heard you in my head when I needed strength. I hope I made you proud, Grandpa. I carried you through every minute. And I always will. I did it. WE DID IT.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hannah Hampton's parents: ‘We've always known she will be England's number one'
Hannah Hampton's parents have said they have 'always known she will be England's number one' goalkeeper as they celebrated their daughter's role in ensuring the Lionesses retained their European title. The 24-year-old from Birmingham was named player of the match after the final, where her two saves in the penalty shootout with Spain helped secure victory for England. Speaking to ITV News, Hampton's mother Laura said: 'I don't think I could put it into words how proud I am. 'She has worked hard. She deserves this. The team deserve it. The Euros needed to come home.' Her father Chris added: 'To get to the standards they're at, they've had to give up so much in their early lives. 'This is the reward that having done all that has brought them and for that, I mean, I'm so proud that she's just carried on working hard, showing the enthusiasm … always up for the challenge of trying to be her best and that's all she wants to do.' The goalkeeper announced on Monday that her grandfather had died just two days before the Lionesses' triumphant Euro 2025 campaign began. Posting to her Instagram alongside a picture of her green England shirt with 'grandpa' printed in the neckline, Hampton wrote: 'Dear Grandpa. 'Two days before the biggest tournament of my life, you left. It still doesn't feel real. I kept thinking when I'd call Nannie I'd hear your voice again – one of your jokes, or one of those little comments you'd make that somehow said everything without saying much at all. 'You were one of my biggest supporters. You believed in me before I even knew what this journey would look like.' The Chelsea stopper had usurped Euro 2022 winner Mary Earps to become Sarina Wiegman's first-choice keeper and was under enormous pressure to deliver in Switzerland. Her mother praised her daughter for her resilience, and said: 'I think we've always known Hannah will be England's number one. 'It's always been her target. She's such a hard worker. Her mantra is keep plodding on. That's what she does, and she will continue to keep plodding on. 'This isn't the end for Hannah. This is another stepping stone.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Hannah Hampton's parents: ‘We've always known she will be England's number one'
Hannah Hampton's parents have said they have 'always known she will be England's number one' goalkeeper as they celebrated their daughter's role in ensuring the Lionesses retained their European title. The 24-year-old from Birmingham was named player of the match after the final, where her two saves in the penalty shootout with Spain helped secure victory for England. Speaking to ITV News, Hampton's mother Laura said: 'I don't think I could put it into words how proud I am. 'She has worked hard. She deserves this. The team deserve it. The Euros needed to come home.' Her father Chris added: 'To get to the standards they're at, they've had to give up so much in their early lives. 'This is the reward that having done all that has brought them and for that, I mean, I'm so proud that she's just carried on working hard, showing the enthusiasm … always up for the challenge of trying to be her best and that's all she wants to do.' The goalkeeper announced on Monday that her grandfather had died just two days before the Lionesses' triumphant Euro 2025 campaign began. Posting to her Instagram alongside a picture of her green England shirt with 'grandpa' printed in the neckline, Hampton wrote: 'Dear Grandpa. 'Two days before the biggest tournament of my life, you left. It still doesn't feel real. I kept thinking when I'd call Nannie I'd hear your voice again – one of your jokes, or one of those little comments you'd make that somehow said everything without saying much at all. 'You were one of my biggest supporters. You believed in me before I even knew what this journey would look like.' The Chelsea stopper had usurped Euro 2022 winner Mary Earps to become Sarina Wiegman's first-choice keeper and was under enormous pressure to deliver in Switzerland. Her mother praised her daughter for her resilience, and said: 'I think we've always known Hannah will be England's number one. 'It's always been her target. She's such a hard worker. Her mantra is keep plodding on. That's what she does, and she will continue to keep plodding on. 'This isn't the end for Hannah. This is another stepping stone.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hereford campervan family's joy at witnessing Lionesses win
A family who watched every kick of all England's games at the UEFA Women's Euros said it was euphoric to witness the Lionesses retain their European Morris family from Hereford were at St. Jakob Park, in Switzerland, to watch Chloe Kelly score the decisive spot-kick to win after Spain had missed three in a Morris, who was with his wife, Kelly, daughter, Amelia, 16, and son, Ethan, 13, said the squad had done the nation proud."When [the goal] went in it was just euphoria, we were behind the goal with the England band to our right, and everybody just went wild," Mr Morris said. He added: "It was such an occasion to witness live and the Lionesses, yet again, they've done the nation proud."The family travelled 800 miles (1,280 km) to watch every match thanks to travelling around in their hired campervan - which had to be back in Hereford last Thursday. Mr Morris returned it to the hiring company and made his way back to a Switzerland hotel for Sunday's entire tournament fostered a "positive environment", something not as prevalent in the men's games, he said."It's really family friendly, everybody was mixing with one another. "Even the Spanish fans were with us and we just had good natured banter throughout the whole match."Striker Michelle Agyemang was named as Euro 2025's young player of the tournament."A standout moment for me was when Michelle came off the bench and really turned the game around against Sweden."Also Lucy Bronze playing with a fractured tibia is absolutely amazing to play through that pain barrier for six weeks."The whole team they've come up trumps again, battled hard, dug deep and kept going right to the end and got the rewards to be champions of Europe, again," he said. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Secrets of how England won Euro 2025: A Dutch genius who's saying goodbye to Sarina Wiegman, lucky mascot and a rousing Lucy Bronze speech that turned Lionesses' faltering campaign on its head
Chloe Kelly smashed the ball into the net to seal another European title for England – and the first person turned to in the aftermath was her trusted assistant, Arjan Veurink. Veurink has been by Wiegman's side every step of the way, the tactician helping to mastermind yet another triumph alongside his Dutch compatriot. With Veurink set to return to the Netherlands now the tournament is over, this victory served as a fitting farewell.
