'greatest Achievement In English Football History'

"This twelvemonth it was meant for England."

Lucy Bronze, England's astir dressed up footballer, nan 1 subordinate who epitomises what it is to beryllium a Lioness, conscionable had a emotion each along.

Even pinch a fractured tibia passim nan tournament, Bronze would not springiness up. She would not miss this moment, arsenic her broadside defended their European title and overcame nan world champions connected overseas soil.

The 33-year-old much than played her part. She only came disconnected erstwhile she could nary longer tally done nan pain, tears forming successful her eyes, arsenic she yet allowed personification to return her spot successful other clip of England's penalty-shootout victory complete Spain successful nan Euro 2025 final.

Sarina Wiegman's broadside defied nan odds, silenced nan doubters, came backmost from nan brink complete and complete and complete again.

They simply won astatine immoderate cost.

At nan extremity of it location tin beryllium nary doubts. This was nan top accomplishment successful nan history of English football.

It is nan first clip an England squad person won a awesome trophy connected overseas ungraded aft Wiegman's broadside delivered astatine location successful 2022, and nan men's 1966 World Cup triumph took spot astatine Wembley Stadium.

The Lionesses besides became nan first English broadside to take sides their title - and they did it by coming from down astatine half clip - nan first clip that had been done earlier successful nan women's Euros.

It cemented head Wiegman's position arsenic 1 of nan world's top pinch her 3rd successive European title - achieved pinch 2 countries.

It was her 5th awesome last successful a statement and Wiegman has won 3 of them, a simply singular feat.

She could hardly judge it arsenic she danced, arm-in-arm pinch skipper Leah Williamson, allowing nan disguise to gaffe arsenic England's understated and composed leader.

"I really can't judge it myself. I was for illustration 'how tin this happen?' But it happened. I'm truthful incredibly proud of nan team. I'm truthful happy," she said afterwards.

Wiegman's watch notification during hew news convention reminded her of a workout she was owed to have. "I won't beryllium doing that anymore," she joked. And you tin understand why.

She had already exhausted herself, going done each emotion imaginable successful what she described arsenic nan "most ridiculous and chaotic" tourney of her career.

The players had not made it easy for themselves, acknowledging nan accent they had put their families nether and really they "almost killed" Wiegman disconnected - astatine slightest twice.

England led for conscionable 4 minutes and 52 seconds successful nan knockout shape of nan tourney and yet someway had their hands connected nan trophy successful Basel, surrounded by golden confetti, pinch nan soundtrack of Queen's 'We Are The Champions' playing successful nan background.

Before kick-off, England were written off.

In fact, they were written disconnected earlier Euro 2025 started erstwhile Mary Earps and Fran Kirby retired retired of nan bluish and World Cup skipper Millie Bright withdrew from selection.

Surely that would beryllium unsettling? Their mediocre conclusion by France successful nan opening crippled only strengthend that narrative.

But England bounced back. They comfortably hit nan Netherlands and Wales to scope nan knockout stages.

They were 2-0 down to Sweden successful nan quarter-finals and came back. Sweden only scored 2 of their 7 penalties, truthful moreover erstwhile goalkeeper Jennifer Falk saved 4 of England's, it was not enough. Luck was connected England's side.

That was nan infinitesimal Wiegman admitted nan thought: 'hmm, we mightiness beryllium going location tomorrow' had crossed her mind.

They were 1-0 down again to Italy successful nan semi-finals earlier teen Michelle Agyemang scored a 96th-minute equaliser and Kelly netted nan victor successful nan 119th infinitesimal of other time.

Spain had not mislaid successful 10 games, they were nan world champions and they were nan pre-tournament favourites.

When they went 1-0 up successful nan final, England were connected nan ropes. They looked down and out. But that was not really nan book had been written. England had decided that.

So calm was Wiegman, that arsenic her players looked astir St Jakob-Park earlier kick-off, nan Dutchwoman waved to members of nan media successful nan stands.

She strolled astir pinch her hands successful her pockets. She had been present before, England had been present earlier and they had an unwavering belief.

Spanish journalists were affirmative astir nan Lionesses chances' astatine half-time - "England tin travel backmost from 1-0 down", "Michelle Agyemang will travel on" - but uncertainty lingered.

The 'super subs' had done nan occupation successful 2022. Kelly, Alessia Russo and Ella Toone each shone successful their roles arsenic Wiegman stuck pinch nan aforesaid starting XI passim and trusted those coming connected disconnected nan chair to make an impact.

It proved to beryllium a winning look she did not waiver from successful 2025, alternatively renaming nan substitutes arsenic 'finishers' and entrusting them pinch nan aforesaid responsibility.

The togetherness of nan squad was apparent. Bronze's willingness to play done pain, nan players' guidance to team-mate Jess Carter receiving group maltreatment was impactful and Williamson's enactment of pushing Agyemang towards fans to person adulation pursuing their semi-final triumph was deliberate.

"It is ridiculous. Every clip we came backmost from behind. Of people we person players that person talent. But nan togetherness of this squad is incredible," said Wiegman.

"Also, nan belief that we tin travel back. The players opportunity they tin travel backmost by immoderate intends and they conscionable ne'er springiness up.

"Every subordinate is fresh to travel onto nan transportation and show up consecutive away. That is not easy. I'm conscionable really grateful that I'm portion of this team."

The magnitude of what nan Lionesses were connected nan cusp of achieving was clear earlier kick-off arsenic cameras turned to constituent to nan faces successful nan top-tier stands.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William pinch Princess Charlotte, on pinch Spain's Princess Leonor and Uefa president Alexander Ceferin were each watching on.

Footballing stars from different nations had travel to watch 2 of nan world's heavyweights spell to battle, including Switzerland's Lia Walti and nan USA's Catarina Macario, supporting their Arsenal and Chelsea team-mates successful white.

England men's world Reece James flew retired to support his sister Lauren and Football Association main Mark Bullingham was pinch them passim their travel successful Switzerland.

Bullingham has already made it emphatically clear that Wiegman, who is nether statement until nan 2027 World Cup, is "not for waste astatine immoderate price" and you tin understand why.

With this procreation of players, immoderate who were connected nan fringes successful 2022, and others much experienced, specified arsenic Bronze and Alex Greenwood, Wiegman has turned nan Lionesses into a squad that is feared successful awesome tournaments and person go serial winners.

Where different teams successful England's history person faltered astatine nan last hurdle, this squad proved they could do it again, moreover erstwhile galore thought they could not.

"From nan first crippled it was chaos. Losing your first crippled and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos," Wiegman said to BBC Sport's TV cameras while Bronze was being piggy-backed by goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse successful nan background, celebrating pinch fans.

Bronze knew what England were tin of. Now everybody other knows.