Tom HamiltonJul 28, 2025, 05:30 AM ETClose• Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018Follow on X
Tom HamiltonJul 28, 2025, 05:30 AM ET
Close• Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018Follow on X
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BASEL, Switzerland — As the celebrations began afterEngland’s penalty shootout win overSpain, right backLucy Bronzewas hopping on one leg having played the entire ofEuro 2025with a fractured tibia. But it was the other leg she hurt in extra time against in the final. As she hopped around, she was being flung sporadically into the air by teammatesLeah WilliamsonandAlex Greenwood; the crowd sungMichelle Agyemang’s name into the Basel night sky, and soon head coach Sarina Wiegman was dancing to Gala’s “Freed from Desire.”
The Lionesses were draped in gold-and-silver ticker tape, and waved to loved ones, laughed, cried and did their best to process the most remarkable, rollercoaster triumph.
As Basel danced to the echoes of 2022 and the new heroines of 2025, the Lionesses strolled into history as the first England team to win two major tournaments, and the first on foreign soil. They led their three knockout stage matches by a combined total of four minutes and 52 seconds.
We will never see another tournament win quite like this.
It made little sense as you watched it unfold in Switzerland. How do you explain how the Lionesses managed to conjure up a tournament win against the odds? We thought they had used up all nine lives after their chaotic penalty shootout win overSweden, but little did we know they would produce another pair of miracles to win the entire thing.
And all that after England were painted as being in chaos before Euro 2025 even started, with questions over what would happen to Wiegman if England were knocked out in the group stage.
England said they were going to Switzerland to win and, as defending champions, they always had a fighting chance. But no-one could have predicted this.
-England’s Euro 2025 win defies logic; Spain’s curse continues- Euro 2025 final as it happened:England repeat as champions- England player ratings:Hampton scores 10/10 in triumph- Euro 2025 Talking Points:Best match, goal, player, Team of the Tournament
Before Wiegman named her squad on June 5, the Lionesses were on both the front and back pages in the United Kingdom. On May 25, when the squad met for the first time before their matches againstPortugaland Spain in theNations League, legendary goalkeeperMary Earpstold Wiegmanshe was retiring from international duty.
The following day, she flew to St George’s Park to tell the players in person.
Wiegman was hurt and disappointed in Earps’ decision. ThoughHannah Hamptonwas set to be England’s No. 1 for the tournament, Earps’ experience would’ve been invaluable, both on and off the pitch.
Her decision to retire –which was made public on May 27– left England with Hampton preparing to play her first major tournament minutes and two uncapped goalkeepers as backup.
Key center back,Millie Brightwas also absent, as shewithdrew from selection to prioritize her own mental wellbeing. By this stage, Wiegman had held discussions with several senior players on what their likely squad status would be for the tournament — some were told they had work to do to break into the first team and were second choice.
Source: Espnsoccer
