England 'rode Luck But Not Lucky' - Williamson

England won Euro 2025 aft each 3 knockout matches went to other time, 2 of them to penalties - but skipper Leah Williamson says they were not "lucky".

The Lionesses retained nan European title they won connected location ungraded successful 2022 by beating world champions Spain 3-1 connected penalties successful Basel, nan crippled finishing 1-1 aft other time.

They go nan first federation to clasp nan women's Euros since Germany won six successful a statement from 1995 to 2013.

It came aft they besides required penalties to beat Sweden successful nan quarter-finals, past won precocious successful other clip against Italy successful nan semis.

"You cognize what? I don't realise it yet. I americium still successful nan shape wherever it's 'this is unbelievable', 'did this really happen?'" head Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Very, very happy but a small strange. Just unbelievable."

But while Williamson said location had been a changeable of bully luck successful England's tally to glory astatine Euro 2025, she added they were not fortunate champions, but deserving ones.

"We person ridden our luck, but I don't deliberation we were lucky," she told nan BBC amid a statement ambiance connected nan transportation astatine St Jakob-Park.

"Total disbelief, but astatine nan aforesaid clip I knew it was going to happen. There's ever a infinitesimal erstwhile I deliberation 'right girls, let's move it on'. The measurement we defended arsenic a team, thing came done us. It felt for illustration it was going to beryllium our day."

They led for conscionable 4 minutes and 52 seconds successful nan knockout shape of nan tourney - each of those coming aft Chloe Kelly's precocious victor against Italy.

All 3 of England's knockout games went to 120 minutes - which has ne'er happened successful a awesome women's tournament.

And Spain's players and head felt that luck was not connected their broadside successful a last wherever they had 22 shots and astir 65% possession.

"We tried everything, each nan different ways, and past nan penalties didn't spell our way," Spain skipper Irene Paredes told TVE. "I thought we deserved it much but successful nan extremity it is not astir who deserves it.

"It is astir having that spot of luck and England had that passim nan full tournament. We thought we could flooded that but we weren't capable to.

"I deliberation we had much power of nan crippled than they did, we created much clear chances, we had much possession. But yeah, thing else."

Yet stats tin beryllium misleading. While location was immoderate luck successful Sweden and Spain being mediocre from nan spot, and successful Laura Giuliani spilling nan shot astatine Michelle Agyemang's feet aft 95 minutes of nan semi-final, England ever had a plan.

"I americium beautiful calm during nan games," Wiegman said. "This tourney each azygous crippled has challenged us. We took those connected committee and really nan squad recovered from immoderate setbacks, again today. That's nan astir important thing."

England looked to triumph games precocious acknowledgment to firepower disconnected nan bench. Kelly's assistance against Spain meant England had 10 extremity involvements by substitutes astatine Euro 2025 - 5 goals, 5 assists - retired of nan 16 they scored.

And if they cannot triumph it successful unfastened play, they person won each 4 punishment shootouts nether Wiegman.

"I didn't uncertainty we would triumph nan shootout," defender Jess Carter told nan BBC. "I would person been next, and I don't cognize if my nerves would person taken it. But I afloat believed this squad would person won it."

The joyousness connected nan transportation astatine St Jakob-Park was amplified by nan unorthodox travel taken by England to retaining their Euros crown - which started pinch a limp 2-1 nonaccomplishment to France successful their opening group game.

Wiegman stuck to her guns, resisting nan impulse to deploy super-subs Kelly and Agyemang from nan commencement successful nan final, alternatively trusting them to make nan effect erstwhile it counted.

"It was truthful difficult coming from a nonaccomplishment successful nan first crippled to this," Agyemang told nan BBC. "Everything happens for a reason."

"Relentless - we person players who perfectly emotion it," added Williamson. "It's conscionable unbelievable to do it again.

"And aft that first game, no-one thought we would - and adjacent enough! But thing has changed."

Carter, meanwhile, had her ain singular travel astatine Euro 2025.

She struggled successful that opening crippled against France, torn isolated astatine left-back by Delphine Cascarino and was moved to cardinal defence - but she was exposed successful gait and possession against Sweden successful nan 2 early goals conceded.

She past suffered racist abuse pursuing nan quarter-final, and was taken retired of nan firing statement by starting nan Italy lucifer connected nan substitutes' bench.

But she past returned to nan starting XI for nan last - and produced a superb performance.

"I conscionable couldn't beryllium prouder," Carter said. "I'm speechless, relieved, excited.

"I want to opportunity a monolithic convey you to our fans, my family who person been incredible, and everyone other who has doubted america and maine personally - we person shown what we are tin of.

"It's been crazy for me. I was disappointed pinch really I played done nan tourney - but now I couldn't springiness a damn. Figuring retired really to triumph games is what we do arsenic England."

For Ella Toone and Beth Mead their medals meant acold much than conscionable footballing glory - they were ways of celebrating loved ones mislaid since nan 2022 triumph astatine Wembley.

Mead's mother passed distant successful 2023, while Toone's begetter died past year.

Toone posted an affectional Instagram communicative alongside Mead, captioned: "We did it for our angels successful nan sky. Forever pinch america and everlastingly proud."

She besides revealed her mother had an quiet spot adjacent to her successful nan stands astatine St Jakob-Park.

"If that's not a sign, I don't cognize what is," said Toone. "I cognize you were location dad."

After nan memories came nan party. Mead strode done nan media mixed area post-match holding a tin of lager and pulling a boombox playing Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

"There were times erstwhile group thought we were down and retired but we ne'er did," Toone told BBC Sport while eating a portion of celebratory pizza.

"We had that belief successful nan squad that we were going to travel retired and win. That's nan quiet assurance we person successful ourselves.

"We're going to bask nan night. I emotion a party."

Even nan leader will subordinate in.

"I'll do immoderate much dancing," Wiegman said. "I'll person a portion but I don't deliberation I'll portion arsenic overmuch arsenic nan players will do."