Lionesses Greeted By Jubilant England Fans On Return Home After Euro 2025 Victory

The Lionesses person been greeted by cheering crowds aft landing successful Southend airdrome connected Monday, pinch fans eager to springiness nan squad a triumphant homecoming aft their Euro 2025 victory.

The squad landed backmost successful nan UK connected Monday day aft defending their Euros title successful a punishment shootout triumph complete Spain successful Basel, Switzerland, connected Sunday. Many supporters had dressed for nan Lionesses’ return, wearing England kits and holding flags.

They erupted into cheers astatine Southend airdrome successful Essex arsenic nan level approached nan runway and again arsenic nan squad emerged from nan airdrome to locomotion on a reddish carpet waving astatine fans.

The team’s captain, Leah Williamson, led nan squad retired of nan backstage terminal conscionable earlier 5pm, carrying nan European Championship trophy. Among nan fans were nan twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, from Benfleet, Essex, who were holding a motion asking for a photograph pinch nan prima striker Alessia Russo.

England fans astatine Southend airdrome fresh to cheer their team. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Poppy said: “We’re truthful proud. They’ve won it 2 times successful a statement and they’ve worked truthful difficult for it. They’ve had a batch of injuries and setbacks but they’ve done really well.”

Daisy admitted she struggled to watch nan punishment shootout, adding: “I couldn’t watch, I was very nervous, but very happy that they won.”

In a station connected X, nan squad shared a photograph of nan Euros trophy draped successful an England emblem connected a spot connected nan plane. The squad arrived for a celebratory reception astatine Downing Street, hosted by Angela Rayner, nan lawman premier minister, and Stephanie Peacock, nan sports minister, conscionable earlier 7pm.

No 10 was dressed up for nan occasion, pinch St George’s flags draped complete windows and bunting on nan railings.

“It was amazing, I conscionable burst retired crying conscionable successful axenic emotion,” said 1 instrumentality waiting extracurricular nan achromatic gates successful beforehand of Downing Street. “Just that small woman wrong of maine watching shot erstwhile I was younger and seeing really acold nan crippled has grown since then, it each conscionable benignant of sewage to me.”

Another instrumentality waiting to get a peek of nan squad had only conscionable travel backmost from Switzerland to watch nan squad romp to a final. Izzy said seeing nan players get astatine Downing Street was an opportunity that could not beryllium missed.

“For maine location wasn’t really a uncertainty that they were going to win, but it was still really stressful,” said nan 30-year-old, who asked not to stock her surname, aft calling successful sick to activity to observe nan Lionesses’ victory.

Leah Williamson leaving nan team’s edifice successful Zurich while carrying nan trophy connected Monday. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

As a erstwhile subordinate herself, she travelled to London unsocial and is staying successful nan superior for Tuesday’s open-top autobus tour. She said nan maturation successful support since nan team’s 2022 triumph was evident by having to queue online for tickets to watch Sunday’s lucifer astatine a London screening.

“That wouldn’t person happened a fewer years ago,” she added. “It’s awesome to spot everyone supporting them.”

Despite immoderate players being lined up for MBEs aft nan victory, and congratulations from Keir Starmer and King Charles, it is understood that Downing Street has nary plans for a slope vacation to people nan Lionesses’ triumph.

“If we had a slope vacation each clip nan Lionesses win, [we] would ne'er spell to work,” nan PM’s spokesperson said connected Monday, arsenic nan premier curate met pinch Donald Trump, nan US president, successful Scotland.

Earlier connected Monday, Williamson was seen smiling and holding nan Euros trophy arsenic nan squad near their edifice successful Zurich and began their travel location successful nan rain. Other squad members, wearing their medals, smiled arsenic they high-fived supporters waiting extracurricular nan building and signed autographs.

On Tuesday nan squad will do an open-top autobus convoy on nan Mall and a ceremonial successful beforehand of Buckingham Palace.

A travel to Buckingham Palace aliases Windsor Castle whitethorn beryllium connected nan cards for nan winning squad successful autumn arsenic royal aides are understood to beryllium exploring nan anticipation of a reception astatine a royal household.