Latest news with #SarinaWeigman
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Fired-up England fans pack out fan zones as they get ready to roar Lionesses onto Euros victory in final
FIRED-UP England supporters have packed out fan zones in Basel today, as they gear up to roar on the Lionesses from abroad. The Lionesses are set to face Spain in the European Championship final in just hours when it kicks off in Switzerland tonight. 11 11 11 Kick off will be at 5pm UK time, with fans due to flock to pubs across the country to cheer their team on. The game will be broadcast on BBC One and ITV1 for fans at home. And with pub licenses being extended until 1am, fans are hopeful that the Lionesses will bring it home. Tonight's match takes place in Basel, Switzerland, with fans kitted out in merch as they await kick off in fan zones nearby. Fan zones are decked out with flags and merch supporting the team. Those eagerly awaiting kick off could be seen donning England tops as they waved flags. Others had brought cardboard cutouts and posters for their favourite players. One fan could be seen carrying a cutout of team manager Sarina Weigman, while another carried Jill Scott. Wrapped in St George's flag, some fans have even painted the flag on their faces. Prince William, the patron of the Football Association, is set to be in Switzerland to cheer the team on. In a message on Saturday, the Prince of Wales said: "Good luck to the Lionesses tomorrow. "The nation is so proud you are through to the final, after some stunning comebacks! We are all cheering you on! W." Tensions are building as the team previously lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2023 World Cup Final. However, the England team have demonstrated a strong winning streak throughout the tournament. In a tense game against Italy, they clawed back a 1-0 losing streak, to go on to win 2-1 in the final minutes of the match. It cemented 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang as England's breakout star of the tournament. The Lionesses have shown their prowess on the field, as the team prepare for tonight's all-important game. Speaking to PA news agency, captain Leah Williamson said that the team were refusing to let fear dictate their approach to football. She said: "If you're fearful of losing, then even if you do win, do you enjoy that experience. Do you fully take it in?" Wiliamson added: "I think this team is so task-focused. Whatever is in our way, we'll try and overcome that together. I don't think we're a team fearful of losing." Spain are currently the favourites to win after claiming the Nations League title in 2024. It would be the first time the Spanish women's team win a European title, and would make them the first national side in history to possess every UEFA trophy on offer. However, England fans are ready to cheer on their team in the hopes that they come out on top. Speaking about tonight's game, Williamson said: "Hopefully the best is yet to come." It comes after the Home Office confirmed that licensing hours would be extended across England and Wales, allowing pubs to stay open until 1m. Pub licensing hours can be relaxed for events of "exceptional national significance" with both the semi-final and final of the Euros included under this umbrella term. The same extension was allowed earlier this week when the Lionesses played Italy in the semi-final on Tuesday. 11 11 11 It gave Brits plenty of time to celebrate after the team won 2-1 during extra time. In an exhilarating final few minutes, the team clawed back from a 1-0 loss after Michelle Agyemang scored in the 96th minute, leading England to win 2-1 during extra time. The British Beer and Pub Association has estimated that pub-goers will buy a million extra pints during the final, which could boost the economy by £5 million. Announcing the news, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "I want to wish the best of luck to (manager) Sarina Weigman and the England squad, who we hope will bring it home once again and continue on as champions of Europe." 11 11 11 11
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Pubs to stay open late AGAIN tomorrow in huge boost for Brits cheering on Lionesses to victory in Euros final
PUBS in England and Wales are going to stay open late tomorrow as fans cheer on the Lionesses in the Euro final. Tomorrow night pubs are set to stay open for an extra two hours as England compete against Spain in the European Championship final. 3 3 3 The Home Office confirmed on Friday that licensing hours would be extended across England and Wales. It means that pubs will be able to stay open until 1am, long after the game kicks off at 5pm. Earlier this year, the government announced the measure that said if either England or Wales made it into the semi-finals, pubs across the country could open late. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said at the time that venues "stand to benefit" from later closing times. Pub licensing hours can be relaxed for events of "exceptional national significance" with both the semi-final and final of the Euros included under this umbrella term. Tomorrow's match will take place at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland. Earlier this week, the same extension on opening times was allowed during Tuesday's semi final match with Italy. It gave Brits plenty of time to celebrate after the team beat Italy 2-1 during extra time. The British Beer and Pub Association has estimated that pub-goers will buy a million extra pints during the final, which could boost the economy by £5 million. Announcing the news, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "I want to wish the best of luck to (manager) Sarina Weigman and the England squad, who we hope will bring it home once again and continue on as champions of Europe." Despite spending much of the match losing 1-0 to Italy on Tuesday, the Lionesses managed to secure a win in an exhilarating end to the match. During the 96th minute, 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang scored, as England went on to win during extra time. It followed their 3-2 quarter-final win against Sweden. The tense match lasted an extra 30 minutes, with the team going on to beat Sweden during the penalty shootout. Fourteen spot-kicks were taken during the tense showdown between England and Sweden. Only five of these were scored, six saved and three missed for a conversion rate of just 35.7 per cent. The Lionesses won the Euros in 2022, beating rivals Germany 2-1, and hope to do the same this year. Their 2022 victory was hailed as "inspiring" with the team bringing football home in front of a sold out Wembley Stadium. Despite the increased custom the championship could bring pubs, some landlords have said they're struggling to cope with increased costs. In addition to the increase in minimum wage, the BBPA said that English pubs are unfairly taxed compared to those in Europe.
ITV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
England fans gear up for Lionesses' Euros final clash with Spain
• Sarina Weigman's England are facing Spain in the final of the European Championships in Switzerland. Fans and players alike are preparing for Sunday's match.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will there be an extra bank holiday if England's Lionesses win the Euros?
The England Lionesses have progressed to the Euros final after a 2-1 defeat over Italy on July 22. Sarina Weigman's side, who are the defending champions, saw a late equaliser from 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang hit the back of the net, and then it was Chloe Kelly's extra-time rebound from her penalty kick that secured their place in the final. You might be wondering if we'll have an extra bank holiday to celebrate if the Lionesses bring it home – here's what we know. Will England get an extra bank holiday if Lionesses win Euros? It's unlikely England will have an extra bank holiday added to the calendar as it wasn't something that happened when the Lionesses won the Euros last time, in 2022. The team beat Germany's side 2-1 in the final and could face the team again, depending on how the match plays out on July 23 between Germany and Spain. No bank holiday has been confirmed if England's Lionesses win the Euros again. When is the Women's Euro final 2025? The final will take place on Sunday, July 27 at 5pm, but the team England will face is yet to be decided. Coverage of the match starts at 4pm on ITV1 with kick-off being 5pm. Lucy Bronze insisted England had nothing to prove after booking their place in the Euro 2025 final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Italy in Geneva. 'I think people from the outside think teams have to win every single game,' defender Bronze said. 'I think people talk about consistency with this England team, we've done six consecutive semi-finals, three consecutive finals, who else has done that? Nobody. 'You know, Spain and Germany are fantastic teams, even they haven't managed that feat. Recommended reading: How to watch Women's Euro final as England secures place after dramatic comeback Who is the manager of England's Lionesses? 5 things to know about Sarina Wiegman 'Warm and witty' football icon set to join BBC's Match of the Day as new pundit 'It's hard to stay at the top in international football, so many teams, they have performances, then it's up and down, they develop, but this team just keeps fighting until the end. 'I feel like we didn't have anything to prove because we've been there, we've done it many, many times. 'It's just the fact that the game's getting better, international football's not as easy as it used to be. Everybody's fighting and everyone wants to win and everyone feels like they can win.'
Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
England vs Netherlands Euro 2025 — as it happened
Thank you for following the game with us. We will be back for England's match against Wales on Sunday, which kicks off at 8pm. Crisis averted, and then some. Knowing anything less than a win would leave their Euros title defence all but over, England thrashed the Netherlands to regain control of their destiny. Read Kit Shepard's report in full here. What were we worried about? This was a fantastic display from Sarina Weigman's side who put their fate in their own hands with this result. Beat Wales in their next game and England will be through to the quarter-finals. Alessia Russo has put in a great shift, even if she doesn't have any goals to show for it. The striker is replaced by Aggie Beever-Jones, while Lucy Bronze also gets a rest with Niamh Charles coming on. Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp have come off, with Beth Mead and Grace Clinton getting the final 15 minutes. A job well done for Lauren James. The scorer of England's first and third goals is replaced by Chloe Kelly for the final 22 minutes. A long ball forward from Jess Carter finds Alessia Russo in the inside left channel. She tees up Ella Toone, who fires home. Sarina Wiegman's change to the starting team is well and truly justified. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Lauren James scores again! Ella Toone's shot is deflected into the path of James, who tucks it away calmly. Surely this wraps up all three points for England? Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. With the second half only just under way, Alessia Russo has the ball in the next after a great cross from Alex Greenwood — but it is ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Lineth Beerensteyn has come on for the Netherlands, replacing Jill Roord. The Wolfsburg forward has shades of the livewire France forwards that confounded England on Saturday, and she scored twice against the Lionesses at Wembley in December 2023. Keep an eye on her. She is one of three Dutch half-time changes. Andries Jonker is clearly not happy with his team. This is much more like it from the Lionesses. Goals from Lauren James and Georgia Stanway have put them in control. They have created lots of other chances too. Georgia Stanway has doubled the lead with a powerful shot from outside the area. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Alessia Russo has had a couple of chances in the space of a few minutes but each time she hasn't been able to get her headers on target. England are posing an aerial threat, though. Keira Walsh's cross from the right is met by Lauren Hemp at the far post but her header is just over the bar. A great pass from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton puts Russo on the attack. She cuts the ball back to Lauren James, who thumps home from the edge of the box. What a strike. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Lauren Hemp sends a great cross into the area but Alessia Russo's header goes just wide. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. The big revelation at kick-off: Alex Greenwood is at left back for England, with Jess Carter at centre back. The pair were the other way round against France — and were run ragged. Greenwood started her career at left back, while Carter has played well for Gotham FC at centre back this season. The most recent time they played in these positions for England, the Lionesses kept a clean sheet against the USA last November. Will Wiegman's tweak pay off here? The match has kicked off. Despite their party in the centre of Zurich today, the Dutch fans appear outnumbered by their English counterparts. But they do stand out in that orange. Prince William is also in attendance. Arjan Veurink, Sarina Weigman's assistant, will be taking charge of the Netherlands after this tournament. But it looks like some supporters would be happy for Weigman to return… So crucial is England's game against the Netherlands on Wednesday that the myriad subplots are footnotes (Kit Shepard writes). Of course, Sarina Wiegman's nationality, the teams' imminent trading of coaches and the battle of a high-profile couple have been part of the build-up. However, England are preoccupied with a simple equation — beat the Dutch, or they will be all but out of Euro 2025. The Lionesses knew that they were in a brutal group going into the tournament, and last Saturday's galling loss to France reinforced its might. Wiegman, their Dutch head coach, insisted England 'don't talk about consequences', but the stakes are unavoidable. Read the full match preview here. We're told the Dutch bought 15,000 tickets for Euro 2025, compared to 41,000 purchased in the UK (Kit Shepard writes). However, the Netherlands fans are making all the noise in Zurich's city centre. Don't know if it's the bright orange, choreographed march or open-top bus, but it feels like they are outnumbering England supporters significantly at the moment. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Andries Jonker, 62, rarely minces his words, and he was at his outspoken best in the build-up to the Wales game (Kit Shepard writes). His contract expires after the Euros and it will not be renewed, leaving Jonker unhappy. In an episode published last Thursday, he told the NOS Football Podcast he considered quitting before the Euros. Then on Friday, in the press conference before the Wales game, he responded to an accusation that he was creating a 'puppet show' by questioning the journalist's commitment to covering his team. The frosty atmosphere did not distract the Netherlands enough to cause a slip-up against Wales, but it could debilitate them against tougher opponents. Jonker once coached Sarina Wiegman and he has a warm relationship with the England head coach. He took charge of the Netherlands in 2022, a year after after Wiegman ended her five-year stint as the Netherlands's permanent head coach. • Read more: Who will the Lionesses play next? Your guide to the Netherlands Sarina Wiegman has resisted drastic selection measures (Kit Shepard writes). Ella Toone has replaced Beth Mead in England's starting XI, but the rest of the team is unchanged. The inclusion of Toone, the Manchester United midfielder, means Lauren James will move to the right-wing position vacated by Mead. Toone will play in the No10 role James occupied in the 2-1 loss to France last Saturday. This line-up will, in theory, give England's midfield more balance. James prefers to drift forward and has only played 90 minutes of football since early April owing to a hamstring injury, meaning she struggled in a taxing role last Saturday. England's midfield was overwhelmed by France and Toone, a more natural midfielder than James, should help avoid a repeat scenario against the Netherlands. Playing James in the front line should also maximise her roaming attacking threat. Otherwise, Sarina Wiegman has persisted with the same XI that started against France. The back four of Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter struggled on Saturday but has been preserved. Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway will continue as a midfield duo, supported by Toone. Hannah Hampton retains her place in goal. As a result, there is no place in the line-up for the likes of Grace Clinton or Michelle Agyemang, who both caught the eye off the bench against France. The Netherlands also make one change. Chasity Grant, of Aston Villa, comes into the midfield in place of Jackie Groenen. For what it's worth, Grant gave Bronze plenty of problems down Chelsea's right flank on the opening day of the 2024-25 Women's Super League season. England need to treat Saturday's loss to France like a splash of cold water in the face (Izzy Christiansen, former England midfielder writes). France looked sharper, won the midfield battle and bullied Sarina Wiegman's side. The Netherlands are another dangerous opponent. They are ranked 11th in the world (France are tenth), won Euro 2017 and will have a little swagger after easing past Wales 3-0 in their opening game. How can England beat them? Adopt France's approach from Saturday. In Jill Roord, Danielle van de Donk and Victoria Pelova, the Netherlands have lots of superb technical players who thrive with time on the ball, but they can struggle against aggressive, high pressing. I would therefore bring Grace Clinton into the starting XI. The midfielder played purposefully against France after coming on in the 77th minute and, although she is only 22 and in her first major tournament, looked comfortable with the occasion's intensity. • Read more: England must start Grace Clinton in midfield to avoid being bullied again If you haven't already, make sure you listen to the latest episode of The Game. Former England international Izzy Christiansen and Kit Shepard the women's football reporter for the Times and Sunday Times join Tom Clarke to assess England's poor start to the defence of their European title. Where did it go wrong against France? Was it selection, tactics, substitutions? The team look at where England can improve how they might react to being under pressure this early in the tournament. Lastly they and look ahead to the who they would pick to face the Netherlands in a must win game on Wednesday. This game is full of subplots, from Sarina Wiegman taking on her homeland to a match-up involving one of the highest-profile couples in women's football (Kit Shepard writes). Much like France, the Netherlands are a title contender, possess some world-class players, and put off-field turbulence behind them by starting their campaign with a win. If England are to stay in the tournament, they must be at the top of their game. Nevertheless, the Netherlands arrived in Switzerland in uninspiring form. They only just managed to qualify automatically for the Euros despite having a relatively undaunting group, while their two most recent competitive matches before the tournament were a 1-1 draw at home to Scotland and a 4-0 defeat by Germany. World ranking 11Best Euros result Winners (2017) • Read more: Who will the Lionesses play next? Your guide to the Netherlands England's opening-round loss means it's time for football's favourite P-word: permutations (Kit Shephard writes). If England lose this evening, then they will be out if France at least draw with Wales. Given the Netherlands romped past Wales 3-0 last Saturday, England cannot rely on a favour from their neighbours. If England draw they will stay alive mathematically. However, assuming France beat Wales, England would need to beat Wales and hope France defeat the Netherlands on the final match day on Sunday to stand a chance of progressing on goal difference. Considering France would already be through and the Netherlands have it all to play for in this scenario, banking on help from the French also feels naïve. More positively, if England win by two or more this evening, then qualification is back in their hands. If they win by one, defeat Wales while the Netherlands beat France, then three teams will finish on six points and we will be into a complex goal-difference battle. Good afternoon and welcome to The Times' live coverage of England vs Netherlands as Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses look to salvage their Euros title defence after a disappointing defeat by France in their opening game. England take on the group D leaders in a crunch game knowing that only a win will keep them in control of their own fate in the tournament. With kick off from Zurich at 5pm, stay tuned for live updates and analysis from Kit Shepard at the Stadion Letzigrund throughout the afternoon.
