The bonding of players through highly personal stories, and access to home comforts, helped power them to Euro 2025 glory
T
he gold confetti may have been swept away but it will take some time for the dust to settle on the most remarkable of tournaments. England are European champions. Again. Writing a new chapter in the history book of English football. Leah Williamson, the first England captain to lift two major trophies. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wonderkid. Jess Carter and her remarkable performance amid the most difficult of times. Hannah Hampton, defying the odds to become England’s saviour on penalties, twice. Chloe Kelly almost quitting football in January and becoming a European champion for club and country by the end of July. Lucy Bronze playing with a leg fracture.
Each one of the 23 has a tale to tell. The people are remarkable and their stories are remarkable.
Though they were the reigning champions, this tournament was in many ways a harder European Championship to win than in 2022. Then, they had home advantage and their first-choice starting XI avoided injury and Covid at the crucial time. At the home tournament the support around the side stepped up a gear and aligned with a playing group that was a mix of the best of the preceding generation and the cream of the new crop of young professionals coming through, who had benefited from the investment in the Women’s Super League and national team pathways.
