England\u2019s Lionesses Return To Heroes\u2019 Welcome After Euro 2025 Glory
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England\u2019s Lionesses returned to a heroes\u2019 welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their dramatic penalty-shootout victory against world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final.<\/strong><\/p>\n Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman\u2019s team successfully defended the European women\u2019s crown they won at Wembley in 2022.<\/p>\n Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend airport, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) east of London.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane, which had \u201cHome\u201d painted in red letters on its side.<\/p>\n The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from two fire engines after landing. Captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman were the first off, with the skipper proudly holding the trophy.<\/p>\n Among the waiting supporters were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re so proud. They\u2019ve won it two times in a row and they\u2019ve worked so hard for it,\u201d said Poppy. \u201cThey\u2019ve had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they\u2019ve done really well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lionesses were whisked straight to 10 Downing Street, the working home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer which was decked out in England flags.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you\u2019ve made the nation proud. History makers,\u201d Starmer wrote in a message to the Lionesses on X.<\/p>\n The team were hosted at number 10 by Deputy Prime minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock while Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n Rayner hailed the players as a \u201cshining example of talent and excitement for women\u2019s football\u201d.<\/p>\n An open-top bus parade will follow on Tuesday, culminating in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace.<\/p>\n Victory in Switzerland was sweet revenge for Wiegman\u2019s defending champions, who suffered bitter defeat against the same opponents in the World Cup final two years ago.<\/p>\n Victory in Switzerland on Sunday capped a remarkable tournament packed with late drama for England.<\/p>\n Wiegman\u2019s team were slow out of the blocks, losing their first match against France, before comfortable wins over the Netherlands and Wales in the group phase.<\/p>\n They came back from 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties, and sealed their spot in Sunday\u2019s final with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy.<\/p>\n The defending champions again fell behind against Spain on Sunday but Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey\u2019s first-half opener and the teams were still locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time.<\/p>\n Two penalty saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo\u2019s miss set the stage for Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final.<\/p>\n In total, the Lionesses led for fewer than five minutes across the entire Euros knockout stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,\u201d said Wiegman.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship crowns in a row, having led the Netherlands to victory in 2017, said she hoped England\u2019s win would boost women\u2019s football across the globe.<\/p>\n \u201cHow I\u2019ve experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that\u2019s great, and I hope that that will boost the women\u2019s game everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n AFP<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLate drama<\/h3>\n