Euro 2022 LIVE: England players lauded by thousands at Trafalgar Square victory party
Thousands of fans gathered in London to celebrate after Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses end 56 years of hurt to win Euro 2022 for England
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 singing and 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 beat Germany to win Euro 2022 thanks to dramatic Chloe Kelly extra-time goal
England forced to the brink before shedding pain of the past with sweetest triumph of all
The Lionesses have put a smile on the face of a divided nation
England Euro 2022 victory parade: How to watch Lionesses celebrate victory in Trafalgar Square
Ella Toone celebrates Wembley triumph
England’s first goalscorer – and what a goal – is enjoying life as a European champion:
Alexandra Popp missed final with injury
Spare a thought for Germany striker Alexandra Popp. This was supposed to be her date with destiny after injury cruelly ruled her out of the 2013 and 2017 editions of the tournament. The 31-year-old had been the star for Germany, just months after returning after almost a year out with a knee injury, and her six goals meant it was a shootout between her and Beth Mead for the Golden Boot.
But in a cruel twist, Popp suffered yet more injury heartbreak as she sustained a muscle problem in the warm-up and had to be replaced. In a career blighted by injury, this one was probably the most painful yet.
Wiegman wins and keepers shine: what we learned from Euro 2022
After a captivating three-and-a-half weeks of action, England were crowned Euro 2022 champions after a 2-1 extra-time win over Germany in the Wembley final.
Here, we look at five things we learned from the tournament.
Wiegman keeps winning and goalkeepers shine – What we learned from Euro 2022
The tournament’s lowest-ranked sides Northern Ireland and Portugal both provided a platform to build from.
England’s Euro 2022 win is not an ending – it’s just the start
Here’s our correspondent Mark Critchley, from Wembley, on what comes next:
The morning after the historic night before, it is worth checking in on the Football Association’s eight-point Women’s & Girls’ Football Strategy, 2020-2024: Inspiring Positive Change, with particular attention paid to point six. “England: win an international tournament,” it reads. Well, there you go. Job done. A whole two years ahead of schedule as well.
Except it isn’t job done, actually. Far from it. And you could tell that much at Wembley, too.
England’s Euro 2022 win is not an ending – it’s just the start
Winning a major tournament was the easy part compared to the slow process of inspiring wider change, but this is a sport that knows where it has been and is focused on where it is going
England to take trophy on victory parade
Thousands are expected to join the players of England women’s football team to celebrate their momentous win at the Euros.
The Lionesses took home the trophy after beating Germany 2-1 in extra time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
The day after, thousands of fans are being given the opportunity to join the winning team at an event in central London.
Veteran player Alex Scott is hosting a celebration in Trafalgar Square from 11am.
Up to 7,000 supporters will be allowed to join the free event on a first-come first-serve basis.
The celebration will include live music from DJ Monki, a showing of tournament highlights and a Q&A involving the players and manager, Sarina Wiegman, before the trophy is lifted.
For those who want to watch from home, the event will be broadcast line on the BBC from 12.40pm.
The coverage - hosted by Scott - is expected to end at around 2pm.
England glory will 'turbo-charge’ women’s game
Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham insists England’s Euro 2022 success will “turbo charge” the women’s game in this country.
Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 victory as the Lionesses claimed the first major trophy in their history and the first for a senior England side since the 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.
“The last few years have been incredible. We have invested really heavily and the Lionesses have taken their opportunity and they have produced something incredible. It’s been an amazing month and an amazing day yesterday,” Bullingham told BBC Breakfast.
“I think it will really turbo charge everything we have been doing in the women’s game.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t have the same number of girls playing as boys and it will inspire a whole new generation of players.”
Bullingham continued: “We have worked incredibly hard to make a lot of new opportunities for girls and to make sure clubs and schools are embracing opportunities and schools are using football in the curriculum and for them to see it as normal for girls to play football like boys do.
“We have been preparing for this moment for years. We have got clubs throughout the country ready to take girls on, we have been investing in schools, we have created opportunities for girls to come forward and we are ready and willing to do that.”
England players gatecrash Sarina Wiegman’s press conference
England coach Sarina Wiegman’s news conference after their Women’s European Championship win on Sunday was interrupted by her celebrating players, who danced into the room belting out a rendition of the “Three Lionesses” anthem.
Wiegman had just finished answering a question about tactics and where the game was won and lost when the players made their surprise entrance, with goalkeeper Mary Earps leaping onto the table and being joined by defender Lucy Bronze.
“We haven’t sung this at all, this is something from English culture,” Dutchwoman Wiegman told reporters after the interruption.
“I think we won the Cup. I don’t think this is the home of the Cup, that’s in Switzerland somewhere with UEFA but we won it and we’re really happy.”
The “Three Lions” song by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and band The Lightning Seeds was originally written for the men’s Euro ‘96 tournament which England hosted, and has since been rewritten for the women’s team.
Baddiel retweeted a clip of the England players’ celebrations, writing: “This makes me very proud. Thanks again Lionesses.”
England win Euro 2022
England are champions of Europe after beating Germany at Wembley to be crowned Euro 2022 champions.
Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 victory as the Lionesses claimed the first major trophy in their history and the first for a senior England side since the 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.
Kelly prodded past Merle Frohms in the 110th minute to restore the tournament hosts’ lead after fellow substitute Ella Toone’s wonderful lobbed opener just after the hour mark was cancelled out by Lina Magull with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.
The dramatic contest was watched by a crowd of 87,192 at the national stadium - the biggest-ever attendance for any Euros game, men’s or women’s.
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