Lionesses – Euro Champions 2025 – The first senior winners on foreign soil.

A never beaten mentality. Happy Days – Congratulations. Well Done.

Before the final, my hopes were high, but my expectations were tempered, especially after watching the Lionesses’ earlier games. However, what an outcome. A truly great victory and achievement.

It was evident that there were 4 or 5 teams that could win the competition. England being one of them. However, they had not been inspiring, but they had the easier route to the final and had a never give up until it’s over mentality.

To be honest, I have been critical of SW’s team selection, set-up and substitutions. All of which I felt at times had been poor.

Her faith and loyalty to her senior players bordered on the obsessive, but she obviously knows them far better than I do. In the end, how can you criticise a manager who leads her side to retaining the trophy?

Spain was clearly the better side technically, and scored a deserved opening goal, albeit England defended it poorly. However, as at previous games, England kept going and restricted Spain to no further clear-cut chances.

Playing LJ – who was not fully fit – was a mistake, but whether SW will ever admit it, I’m unsure, but the introduction of CK proved key, and her cross led to a well-taken headed equalising goal by AR.

As the game reached the final stages, it was likely to be either a wonderful technical piece of skill or an error as legs tired, but no further clear-cut chances occurred.

I felt the referee was conned by considerable unsporting behaviour by the Spanish, who had a tendency to go down at the slightest touch. Something that has unfortunately crept into the ladies’ game. Predominately instigated by the Italians, but also to a lesser extent by the Spanish. A shame really, but I guess that shows what it means to everyone to win.

But the margins between success and failure at the pinnacle of world sport are so small, and the penalty shoot-out emphasised that.

In the end, some fine saves by HH, a crucial miss by the Spanish, and a coolly taken penalty by CK proved the difference, and England were victorious, and Spain despondent. Perhaps revenge for the World Cup defeat a couple of years ago.

The English fans have been put through the mill over the last three weeks, but what a wonderful outcome. A truly wonderful feeling to match the feat of the England U21s a few weeks ago.

There is though, no point in comparing men’s and women’s football. Physically the game can never be the same, but as with life we should marvel at our differences and what men and women offer in all sport, not just football.

Women’s football offers something the men’s game can’t provide, a clear bond and togetherness, unsurpassed by us mere men. I have appreciated the Lionesses’ team spirit, where there is also often less gamesmanship. However, let’s acknowledge that there is a world of difference between the men’s and women’s game.

The victory will remain with the players and staff for a lifetime. They should all hold their heads high in the recognition that they can look back forever at their wonderful achievement. Repeating it will be difficult, but our expectations will now remain so high.

Wonderful and historic stuff.  Hold your heads high Lionesses, your victory will be legendary.