England’s victorious Lionesses returned residence at present to witness the scenes of celebrations sweeping the nation for themselves.
Last evening’s nail-biting 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over Spain in Basel meant Sarina Wiegman’s facet efficiently defended the European Championship trophy they received three years in the past – and, within the course of, grew to become the primary senior England facet, male or feminine, to win a serious competitors on overseas soil.
After an evening of partying, the aircraft carrying the gamers and employees landed again at Southend Airport shortly after 3.30pm UK time to the cheers of a whole bunch of followers who had defied requests to not collect outdoors and as an alternative lauded captain Leah Williamson and the remainder of the squad with banners and chants of ‘it’s coming residence’.
They have been then whisked off to Downing Street for a reception with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor, who was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer who was attending a gathering with US president Donald Trump in Scotland.
The buildings round No.10 have been adorned with St George’s flags and bunting to rejoice the homecoming with the group then pictured having fun with drinks with Raynor within the gardens.
The occasion continues tomorrow with an open-top bus parade by central London that culminates with a ceremony on the Queen Victoria Memorial hosted by former England worldwide Alex Scott.
England on a roll
The Lionesses’ success continues their outstanding run having received the Euros in 2022 after which reached the World Cup remaining 12 months later the place they misplaced to Spain in Sydney.
The FA’s director of ladies’s soccer Sue Day informed BBC News: “What an unbelievable efficiency. I believe it’s straightforward to forgot how troublesome it’s to succeed in main finals. This group has change into so constant, so good at doing it, so good at placing performances collectively, main remaining after main remaining after main remaining.
“They’ve received this Euros after successful the final Euros and that’s probably the most phenomenal achievement. Never been achieved earlier than by a group on this nation so we’re so happy with them, that incredible bunch of ladies and so happy with the group of women and men behind them too.
“It’s years and years of planning and preparation and funding. It’s the group behind the group, growing the gamers, placing the suitable pathways in place, figuring out gamers younger, growing coaches. It’s an entire system that sits behind these superb gamers that brings them to that fruits level once they make a serious remaining.”
Wiegman nets a hat-trick
It was the third time on the trot that Wiegman had led a group to Euros success after additionally reaching the feat together with her native Netherlands in 2017.
Day added: “Sarina Wiegman has had probably the most superb affect on the group and soccer on this nation. The group has had probably the most superb affect. We noticed from the final Euros that participation in ladies and women doubled to nearly 2.5 million due to that Euros.
“What that’s telling women is you may play soccer, there’s a spot for you in soccer and we’ll see that once more from this Euros and maybe extra powerfully so. It’s not simply telling women you may play soccer it’s telling them you are able to do something you set your thoughts to and if that’s the legacy these Lionesses can depart, that’s fairly priceless.”
