Euro 2022 LIVE: England players lauded by thousands at Trafalgar Square victory party

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‘It’s coming home’: Singing Lionesses gatecrash post-match press conference

England hosted a victory party at Trafalgar Square on Monday afternoon, after the Lionesses defeated Germany 2-1 in the Euro 2022 final to claim their first ever major title in front of a record 87,192 crowd on home soil.

The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and the sides could not be separated until 110th minute when England substitute Chloe Kelly reacted quickest to a loose ball from a corner and poked in the winner. England confidently held out for the final 10 minutes of the game as euphoria and relief rang out around Wembley – and the nation – as the magnitude of what they’d just achieved hit home. Sarina Wiegman’s victory press conference was interrupted by jublient players and singing dancing on the tables, the start of celebrations which ran long into the night.

The players and manager were all awarded the freedom of the city of London following the triumph, which was England’s first major tournament victory since the men won the World Cup in 1966. Thousands were in Trafalgar Square for the celebration of the team’s achievement, which was shown live on the BBC.

Follow all the reaction and latest updates following England’s success at Euro 2022:

England win Euro 2022Show latest update 1659363037Summary: England celebrate Euro 2022 success in Trafalgar Square

Williamson said she hoped the tournament could lead to lasting change for the game across the world.

“I think the legacy of the tournament was already made before that final game, the young girls and the women who can look up and aspire to be us,” she said.

“We’ve changed the game, hopefully in this country and across the world.”

England men’s captain Harry Kane had tweeted to Toone on Sunday: “Take a bow for that finish”.

Asked about that onstage, Toone joked: “Yeah, I taught him that.”

Kelly, referring to her ecstatic celebrations after her winning goal, said: “The shirt’s staying on!”

Confetti cannons and giant sparklers greeted England once again lifting the trophy, with Wiegman then encouraged to lift it by herself to more acclaim.

The squad sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Freed From Desire’ – repackaged as “Beth Mead’s on fire” – before before Rachel Daly grabbed the mic to lead a chorus of ‘River Deep, Mountain High’.

England players sing Sweet Caroline on stage during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 triumph in Trafalgar Square, London (James Manning/PA)

(PA Wire)

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 15:10

1659362567Summary: England celebrate Euro 2022 success in Trafalgar Square

England players celebrated their Euro 2022 success in front of a packed Trafalgar Square on Monday.

Sarina Wiegman’s side beat Germany 2-1 after extra-time at a sold-out Wembley on Sunday to win the first major trophy in their history and the first for a senior England side since the 1966 World Cup.

Celebrations had gone on throughout the night and continued the next day with a special event in central London in front of thousands of fans.

Former England international and BBC Pundit Alex Scott introduced the players on to the stage shortly after 12.30pm and started a rendition of ‘Football’s coming home’.

Fans who could not get into Trafalgar Square gathered on the steps of the National Gallery just to get a vantage point.

Manager Wiegman, captain Leah Williamson and goalscorers Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly led the squad on to the stage to raucous cheers.

Asked how she was feeling, Wiegman deadpanned: “Pretty good. Nice that you’re all here, thank you for coming,” while Williamson said: “I think we’ve partied more than we’ve played football in the last 24 hours!”

Leah Williamson addresses the crowd at Trafalgar Square

(REUTERS)

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 15:02

1659360775Minister rejects calls for bank holiday to celebrate England Euros win

Despite the excitement, it looks like we won’t be getting a bank holiday out of the achievement.

A government minister has poured cold water on hopes of a bank holiday to mark Englands’ Euro 2020 triumph, saying people “can find their own ways to celebrate” the win.

Therese Coffey, the work and pension secretary, said supporters “don’t need an extra holiday” to honor the Lionesses historic victory over Germany at Wembley on Sunday.

England’s 2-1 extra time win has fueled calls for a national holiday.

But Ms Coffey, who reportedly attended the match with Liz Truss, said there were “no plans” to give people a day off.

“I think that people can find their own ways to celebrate and don’t need an extra holiday to do that,” Ms Coffey told LBC Radio.

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 14:32

1659359856England celebrate Euro 2022 win at victory party

Jill Scott interviews the European Championship trophy:

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 14:17

1659359556’It’s home!’: Newspapers react to England’s Euro 2022 victory

The national newspapers anticipated further celebration by fans after England defeated Germany in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium.

An “honorary damehood” for victorious coach Sarina Wiegmann is proposed by one, while another admires the side’s “unbridled enthusiasm and dignity”.

“The Lionyesses” are praised for “making herstory” as The Sun dedicates its first five pages to coverage of the match.

Inside, the paper’s editorial says there is only one word for the moment when substitute Chloe Kelly wildly celebrated her late goal to break German hearts and inspire a new generation of players – “Wunderbar!”

The Times also fills its first five pages with the match, which it said kicked off “jubilant scenes in the land of hope and (finally) glory”.

‘It’s home!’: Newspapers react to England’s Euro 2022 victory

The Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 after extra time in front of 87,000 supporters on Sunday

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 14:12

1659358836Ian Wright says Lionesses are ‘getting what they deserve’ after Euro triumph

Ian Wright believes England reaped the rewards for all their hard work after the Lionesses became European champions at Wembley.

Sarina Wiegman’s side beat Germany 2-1 after extra-time, Chloe Kelly scoring the winner after Ella Toone’s wonderful lobbed opener had been canceled out by Lina Magull with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.

“I can’t even put into words the amount of work that’s gone into this and they’re getting what they deserve,” Wright said in his role as a summariser for the BBC.

Ian Wright says Lionesses ‘getting what they deserve’ after Euro triumph

The former England striker was thrilled with England’s 2-1 extra-time win over Germany in the Euro 2022 Wembley final

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 14:00

1659358356How Sarina Wiegman cut through the noise to end England’s 56 years of hurt

Our reporter Jamie Braidwood was at Wembley:

Deep underneath Wembley and away from where England’s party was really beginning to kick off, Sarina Wiegman seemed to lean in as she shared one of the secrets behind their historic success. A manager who has made not only a transformative effect on this team but English football as a whole by guiding the Lionesses to their first major international title, did so while naming the same starting line-up throughout Euro 2022, and she was about to reveal how.

Firstly, there are reasons this had never been done before in the history of the European Championships, and why a manager may choose to change one of their starting 11 at least once when there are another 12 waiting, hungry and desperate, for the same opportunity . Although out of a manager’s control, fitness and injuries are a key reason, and it’s certainly an area where England had good fortune compared to other countries at Euro 2022.

It spoke of Wiegman’s vision and the respect she has earned throughout her squad, however, that she could name an unchanged team for six matches in a row without there being disharmony in the England camp, or a repeat of the same sort of dissatisfaction that may have derailed previous team’s bids in the past 56 years.

How Sarina Wiegman cut through the noise to end England’s 56 years of hurt

The England manager would make her own history at the Euros and it spoke of the genius of her calm yet ruthless leadership

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 13:52

1659357936Emma Hayes on Sarina Wiegman

Hayes admitted to having “about five hours’ sleep” after the final before donning her tracksuit and running a coaching session with children as part of her support for McDonald’s Fun Football.

“I think I have been crying the whole morning. I don’t think I can take it in,” she added.

“Everybody in this country has worked so hard for a number of years to get to this point, and the fact that team did what they did on home soil in front of a crowd packed at Wembley, it is what dreams are made of.

“They have inspired a nation. Everyone is in love with that team for the right reasons. They are winners, and they are so deserving of everything that is going to come their way.

“It is important for them to enjoy it today, this week, the next few weeks, because what they have done deserves a celebration of this magnitude.

“I think everybody in the women’s game knew it was now or never, so they have delivered what a lot of people had worked towards for a number of years.

“It is a talented group, it always has been, but they needed the magic of Sarina to help the team get over the line.”

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 13:45

1659357396Emma Hayes on Sarina Wiegman

“I think some of the opinions in and around whether women could do that job are absolute nonsense. Of course she could do the job.

“I think it is time for a lot of things to be on more of an equal footing.

“Whether it is my niece only being able to play one football session in school, whereas the boys play three, or girls who are playing at the same level as the men on a fraction of their pay.

“For me, there has to be an increase in investment across the game, and when it comes to coaching into the men’s game it has to be a pre-requisite for successful teams.

“I think it is time for those changes to happen.

“You’ve got to invest in not only free access for the kids, but also coaching, because seeing Sarina on the touchline last night I think is immense for any young girl who aspires to grow up being a coach. We need to invest in female coaches as well.

“I am super proud of Sarina. She is an immense human being who carries the pressure so well and delivers in so many different ways.

“I’m sure for her winning the title with her home nation was massive, but she realised last night how massive football is in this country.

“She is so humble, she is knowledgeable, she is wise and she is experienced, and most importantly, she is a fantastic person.”

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 13:36

1659356950Emma Hayes: Sarina Wiegman can coach men’s football

Emma Hayes has no doubt that England boss Sarina Wiegman could “do the job” as a head coach in men’s professional football.

And Chelsea manager Hayes says it is “time for a lot of things to be on more of an equal footing” following England’s stunning Euro 2022 triumph.

Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Germany at Wembley. It was the Lionesses’ first major trophy, and the first for a senior England side since the 1966 World Cup.

At the heart of it all was 52-year-old Wiegman, who only took charge last September, and claimed a second consecutive Euro trophy, having guided her native Netherlands to glory in 2017.

As a result, debate will inevitably intensify about the day when a female head coach carries out a similar role in men’s football.

“She is an amazing manager. It’s the same sport, she just manages women rather than men at an extremely high level,” Hayes told the PA news agency.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Lawrence Ostlere1 August 2022 13:29

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