Heart. So much heart. The Lionesses staked their claim to be considered the greatest English sports team of all time with Chloe Kelly the hero again, converting the winner in the penalty shootout and providing the assist for England’s equaliser after they battled from behind against Spain.
Mariona Caldentey’s header had given the dominant world champions the lead, but it was cancelled out by her Arsenal teammate Alessia Russo, England’s ability to come from behind in each of their knockout games a testament to the character of a side that just never gives in.
You can’t buy what Spain have. There is no quick fix. The Spaniards have a style of play that is so embedded in them from such an early age that it is as natural as breathing – when the support around them matches that, they will be unstoppable.
England have the resource though, the support of their federation and the hearts of the nation. Critically, they also have the best manager in world football in Sarina Wiegman, who claimed her third consecutive European title, and a spirit that just cannot be shaken.
The mantra “proper England” weaved through the streets of Basel towards the stadium, big red letters on a white background at the front of the fan march, signs declaring a picky tea as better than tapas or jam roly-poly as better than churros spoke to the joviality of the occasion. It was big, it was loud. A big win for England in Switzerland coming off the pitch as well as on it.
