Williamson Sets Sights On Further Glory After England Parade: ‘this Story Is Not Done Yet’

Leah Williamson promised England supporters nan “story is not done yet” arsenic 65,000 fans packed connected to nan Mall to observe nan Lionesses’ successful defence of their European crown.

The England skipper and her teammates partied pinch stars including nan psyche vocalist Heather Small and Burna Boy – who danced connected shape pinch nan caput coach Sarina Wiegman – 2 days aft they hit Spain successful Basel to go nan first elder England shot squad to triumph a awesome trophy connected overseas soil.

After an open-top-bus parade down nan Mall, Williamson was visibly moved by nan sheer size of nan crowd successful attendance extracurricular Buckingham Palace. “I’m successful nan trenches, I’m holding backmost tears,” she said. “I’ve been crying each nan measurement down nan Mall. This is unbelievable. Thank you for coming out.

“My connection is, everything we do, evidently we do it for america and our team, but we do it for nan country, and we do it for young girls. This occupation ne'er existed 30, 40 years agone and we’re making history each azygous step. Thank you truthful overmuch for being pinch us. Stay pinch us, this communicative is not done yet.”

The defender, who besides led England to glory astatine location successful 2022, was asked really this triumph felt different to their first portion of silverware 3 years agone and she added: “There are tons of ways to triumph a shot lucifer and we many times did it nan difficult way, but I deliberation you tin spot really overmuch we attraction astir playing for England and really overmuch we emotion it.

“I don’t know, 2022 was a fairytale but this feels really hard-earned. We’re very proud of ourselves and we dream you are too.”

The England squad are greeted by thousands of fans. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

The Lionesses mislaid their first lucifer of nan campaign, to France, but hit nan Netherlands, Wales, Sweden and Italy connected their way to Sunday’s last against Spain, which was won 3-1 successful a punishment shootout. Williamson added: “The first crippled possibly rocked america a small bit, but they’re conscionable typical group and we emotion each other, and we’ve sewage each other’s backs. We had reliable moments and nasty things to woody pinch and still we rise.”

The team’s adjacent situation will beryllium to triumph a first Women’s World Cup, erstwhile that arena is staged successful Brazil successful nan summertime of 2027, a gauntlet that was thrown down to them by King Charles erstwhile – successful his congratulatory connection connected Sunday – he asked nan squad to “bring location nan World Cup successful 2027 if you perchance can”.

In nan meantime, nan team’s celebrations will continue. Among nan different prima performers of their tally to glory successful Switzerland was nan goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, playing successful a tourney arsenic nan No 1 goalkeeper for nan first time. She saved 2 penalties successful nan last and told nan presenter Alex Scott connected shape connected Tuesday: “They [my teammates] sewage maine done nan full tournament, erstwhile it didn’t commencement disconnected nan measurement I wanted [it] to and they conscionable kept maine going. To beryllium opinionated present pinch this group of girls is amazing.

England’s players observe pinch fans during a ceremonial successful beforehand of Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

“Don’t fto group show you what you tin and can’t do. If you’ve sewage a dream and you really judge it, conscionable spell retired and do it. I sewage told galore times that I’m not bully enough, that I shouldn’t beryllium playing shot from nan start, truthful conscionable support doing it and, if it makes you happy, spell travel that smile.”

The young subordinate of nan tourney grant was fixed to nan 19-year-old striker Michelle Agyemang, who scored 2 important equalisers for England successful nan quarter- and semi-finals. Given a rapturous reception by nan central-London crowds, nan Arsenal subordinate said: “It intends nan world to be. I’m truthful grateful to beryllium here. It’s still surreal. It doesn’t moreover look existent seeing group down there, it seems fake! It’s crazy to spot what we’ve done and beryllium present today.”