'The story's not done yet': England celebrate Euro 2025 win with London parade

LONDON -- The 2 double-decker buses had already been down The Mall, the helicopters were inactive circling, the thousands of fans had got a glimpse of their heroes, England skipper Leah Williamson had talked done tears, and manager Sarina Wiegman had danced with Burna Boy erstwhile Euro 2025 last match-winner Chloe Kelly summed up what everyone was thinking. "It's truthful f---ing special," she said.

The archetypal tents popped up for Tuesday's triumph parade astatine 2 a.m. on the streets of the capital. By 9 a.m., small much than 36 hours aft Kelly scored the last spot footwear of the shootout win implicit Spain successful Basel, Switzerland, the spot was packed. Supporters climbed up the partition splitting St. James' Park from the Queen Victoria Memorial to get a amended view, but arsenic acold arsenic you could see, determination was a throng of adoration for the Lionesses. There were young fans, older supporters, caller converts and those who had followed women's shot each the mode done to this fantastic moment.

Talking to those who'd been determination since the aboriginal hours to invited location the repetition Euro winners, who won the rematch of the 2023 World Cup last aft losing that crippled successful Sydney, determination were 2 words often mentioned for wherefore this state has fallen successful emotion with the Lionesses each implicit again: "grit" and "determination."

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One young instrumentality from North London spoke of however she adored them arsenic relation models -- her relative successful the England under-17 women's team. "They conscionable ne'er springiness up," she said.

Amelie came from Brighton, inspired by the people of 2022, and is present playing for Withdean Galaxy -- a nine that has grown from six girls to 300 successful the past six years. She loves Chloe Kelly. Father and girl Paul and Orla from Norwich adore Lucy Bronze. "No 1 thought they could triumph it aft the archetypal game, but they amusement you that you should ne'er springiness up," Orla, 11, said.

Two 18-year-olds from London were enamored by the Lionesses aft their Euro 2022 triumph and began supporting England and Arsenal arsenic it gave them "a consciousness of community."

It was determination successful the signs, too: "In Sarina, We Trust," "I privation to beryllium a Lioness," "Bronze = Pure Gold."

They were each determination to observe the astir chaotic, singular tourney for England which ended with that punishment shootout, and Kelly striding guardant with her consummate authorization to wrapper up yet different monumental feat for this group. But it wasn't ever guaranteed -- England had to travel from down successful each 3 of their knockout matches -- and the roller-coaster thrust meant determination were respective times Wiegman thought the imagination had ended.

Behind the scenes, the English Football Association (FA) was readying this full procession conscionable successful lawsuit the Lionesses pulled it off. The FA learnt its acquisition from 2022 erstwhile things were a small much scrambled aft the triumph connected location soil, with Trafalgar Square past the venue. They needed a bigger signifier this clip around, truthful it was against the backdrop of The Mall and Buckingham Palace that the Lionesses were welcomed home. A root told ESPN that the preparations for the parade started during the radical signifier astatine Euro 2025. There were frantic calls toward the extremity of the semifinal against Italy to spot whether it was imaginable to cancel plans, but past came Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute equalizer, and 30 oregon truthful minutes later, Kelly's tap-in nonstop them into the final. The parade was backmost on.

As the buses turned the country onto The Mall, the players looked genuinely stunned. The prima came retired for the archetypal clip that day. Midfielder Georgia Stanway was astatine the beforehand of 1 autobus and repeatedly turned astir to her arsenic awestruck teammates arsenic they took successful the country unfolding successful beforehand of them: a partition of reddish and white. Some had brought their dogs along, 1 instrumentality brought on a life-size cutout of Williamson instead.

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Leah Williamson holds backmost tears astatine England parade

England skipper Leah Williamson couldn't fell her emotions erstwhile asked astir the Lionesses Euro 2025 triumph.

By the clip the squad reached the signifier -- led by the set from Royal Marines Portsmouth -- fans had already enjoyed a show by vocalist Katy B. It was Williamson who spoke first, but you could perceive her dependable often cracking with emotion arsenic she addressed the crowd.

"I've been crying each the mode down The Mall, it's 1 of the champion things I've ever been portion of," she said. "2022 seemed similar a fairy tale, but we're truthful arrogant of ourselves and we anticipation you are too.

"My connection is everything we do, we bash it for us, but we bash it for our country, and young girls. We're making past each azygous step, truthful enactment with us. The story's not done yet."

They had their friends and household successful the country straight successful beforehand of the stage. A small mode down were the VIPs, including UK lawman premier curate Angela Rayner, YouTube prima Amelia Dimoldenberg and Lioness fable Karen Carney. According to the FA, 65,000 fans were flooded successful beforehand of Buckingham Palace where, up connected stage, it was Wiegman's crook to consciousness the love.

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Burna Boy surprises Sarina Wiegmann and Lionesses

England's Lionesses were near stunned aft a astonishment show from Burna Boy during their homecoming parade.

Having paid tribute to the "talent" successful the squad and mentioned the "chaos" of the past 5 weeks, determination came a infinitesimal that volition enactment with each Lionesses instrumentality who has followed the team. A shocked grin dispersed crossed Wiegman's look arsenic she threw her hands to her caput successful axenic daze and joyousness erstwhile Burna Boy walked out. She had admitted successful a quality league 2 years agone that helium was her favourite artist, and it was axenic elation arsenic she embraced the Nigerian performer and began a duet. She, of course, knew each connection and proceeded to march down the steps of the stage, limb successful arm, yelling to the assemblage to "come on" and sing along.

Wiegman is 1 of the calmest heads successful the game, idiosyncratic who seldom shows her emotion. But she had promised to "do immoderate much dancing" aft winning her 3rd successive Euros. Midfielder Keira Walsh had revealed that the Dutch manager celebrates much than she did erstwhile her tenure began successful 2021, but this was apt the archetypal clip that those beyond the closed quarters of her players and backroom unit person seen this broadside of the manager.

The 55-year-old was beaming erstwhile goalkeeper Khiara Keating, having the clip of her beingness connected the stage, began starring the players successful a chant of "Tequila," changing the celebrated opus to outcry "Sarina." It had go an anthem for the fans successful Switzerland during the summertime and present was a mode that everyone could amusement their appreciation for the champion manager that England's nationalist teams person ever had. "It's successful my caput each the time, truthful convey you," she joked.

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'Pressure? What pressure?' - Chloe Kelly reacts to Women's Euros victory

Chloe Kelly speaks astatine England's trophy parade for their Women's Euros victory.

Kelly was adjacent up, and with the players inactive laughing down her aft Wiegman's dancing turn, she said: "Pressure? What pressure?"

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton delivered a connection to the crowd, saying: "Don't fto radical archer you what you tin and can't do. I got told galore times I wasn't bully enough, conscionable support doing it and if it makes you happy, spell travel that smile."

A intelligibly overwhelmed Agyemang -- doubly England's savior successful Switzerland -- said: "I emotion you all, convey you to my family." And past she turned to the squad: "You guys are each amazing, I emotion you each -- it's truthful surreal. ... It seems fake, but it's crazy."

Then came Bronze, who looked amazingly unchangeable for a subordinate who has been celebrating for 2 days straight, battled done the full tourney with a fractured tibia and could hardly locomotion during the celebrations astatine afloat clip connected Sunday, but she insisted she has nary volition of retiring anytime soon. Her haul of 140 caps puts her level with Alex Scott, who was presenting the full shebang. The Chelsea close backmost received arguably the loudest cheer retired of immoderate of the players and with a scarf tied astir her head, and sunglasses on, she kept it brief. She admitted she can't retrieve overmuch of the enactment but said, "This infinitesimal is unbelievable."

Ella Toone revealed during campy that a caller favourite opus successful the dressing country was Heather Small's "Proud." Naturally, the FA organized a astonishment show from the English singer.

Toone, who had led galore of the songs during the past celebrations, was poised with a microphone, alongside Esme Morgan, acceptable to loop their hearts out. Though Small was reluctant to stock the spotlight, the duo made precise awesome backup singers, with the remainder of the squad limb successful limb successful celebration. Their faces said it all. This was 1 of the proudest moments of their lives, if not the proudest.

As the ceremonial came to an end, determination was 1 past accidental for Williamson to assistance the trophy, and the entity was filled with and reddish smoke. They'd brought it home, again.

The players stayed connected signifier arsenic the fans started walking disconnected into the afternoon. Williamson had already told the fans to instrumentality with them, arsenic the communicative wasn't done. The World Cup successful Brazil is successful 2027, aft all. As the media began to record retired of their area, a information defender smiled and said: "See you successful 2 years' time."