It's a sight now we have by no means seen, a senior England soccer workforce hoisting a serious trophy in abroad air, an unparalleled away-from-home achievement, historical past made in Basel. After which there was the blissful soundtrack that accompanied it. That candy, superb sound of We Are The Champions being sung overseas by England and their supporters, Sarina Wiegman conducting everybody along with her waving arms, and each England participant and employees member belting out Queen's phrases.
Wiegman is that this sport's undisputed queen of teaching, profitable this silverware thrice in a row, and now the primary England supervisor to efficiently defend a trophy. The Dutchwoman is the best signing the Soccer Affiliation has made. What this win was outlined by, although, was a “workforce”, and on Sunday they produced the last word workforce efficiency to beat the world's finest.
The phrase these Lionesses gamers have been repeating since February, to explain the way in which they need to play, is “correct England”. You might be forgiven for questioning: “What does that imply?” Possibly all of them love Yorkshire puddings, chips with curry sauce. Or possibly they're all actually affected person when queueing. Possibly they'd a character-building night collectively ready for a delayed prepare from Euston station. What they do imply by that phrase will be summed up by their unwavering, never-say-die perspective, their refusal to offer in, their endeavour. It's their banter, too. It's Ella Toone joking on Friday concerning the probabilities of Michelle Agyemang getting “papped whereas consuming a pasty”. Soccer-wise, it's their capability to execute a gameplan to perfection.
Even when the shootout had gone Spain's manner, there would have been so many features to this England efficiency for the nation to be happy with. Jess Carter, introduced again into the beginning XI per week after revealing she had been racially abused, was immense, profitable duel after duel, brave like no different, demonstrating her energy of character in addition to the energy of her defending.
Alongside her, Leah Williamson produced her finest show of the event. This was the Williamson we had seen within the Champions League last, blocking cross after cross, timing her tackles nicely and studying the sport to perfection along with her positioning. With out the ball, the entire workforce labored tirelessly.
For a short time, there was an comprehensible fear it could be in useless. At half-time, England followers who watch males's and ladies's soccer could have feared they have been about to endure a close to‑similar summer time to that of 2024; watching a workforce saved by late targets within the knockout rounds, who typically couldn't click on into gear however have been boosted by game-changing substitutes who propelled them to the ultimate, who would in the end be crushed by a Spain aspect that have been merely higher. Not this time. This isn't the identical workforce. These are the Lionesses. These are – as Williamson advised in a workforce assembly in 2019 – “badass girls”. This can be a group of born winners who refuse to lose.
They discover a manner. They at all times discover a manner. Chloe Kelly at all times finds a solution to produce the inch-perfect cross. Alessia Russo who – like Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Beth Mead and Kelly, is now a membership and European champion in the identical summer time – discovered the stylish headed end her wonderful season for membership and nation had merited. Up in opposition to essentially the most gifted set of gamers on the planet, England required such intense ranges of focus defensively, for 120 minutes, and for all however one first-half second, they discovered it. Alex Greenwood stood as much as Vicky López. Lauren Hemp fought, terrier-like, on the wing. Georgia Stanway's tackles got here crunching in. Spain simply saved coming. The ball got here again and again however England fought. Hannah Hampton's sturdy fingers saved Clàudia Pina at bay.
Importantly, it was the roles Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse, Maya Le Tissier and Wubben-Moy – none of whom performed a minute of soccer on this event – that epitomised the unity on this workforce. None of them complaining, none of them inflicting any rifts within the camp. Le Tissier popped as much as give Grace Clinton an power gel earlier than she went on in additional time. This can be a actual workforce. That spirit reveals by way of the buddies and households of the gamers, too, sitting immediately behind the dugout, with Lucy Bronze's brother Jorge standing to induce the England followers to make extra noise in additional time. The sensation was there in Agyemang, battling to win a late throw-in. It was Kelly's nerveless spot-kick that struck the online. Because the music stated: “We'll carry on combating ‘til the tip.”
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The lyrics now we have not heard a lot, on this fabulously well-run event in Switzerland, are “soccer's coming house” by Three Lions.
It has not been performed by way of the stadium audio system after victories right here. Maybe that's becoming; it's too melancholy a tune for this workforce of winners. This workforce are rewriting how we understand English soccer success. This trophy shouldn't be coming house, it's staying house.
