If England could have changed anything about this summer, Sarina Wiegman joked that she would have liked for it to be a little less “chaotic”. Her side have nevertheless cheered and inspired millions, however they went about it.
As a squad, the Lionesses are always adamant that every single player has a role to play regardless of how many minutes they get – so here is a life lesson from each one.
Hannah Hampton
Answering the haters. Before the tournament, Hampton felt fans “didn’t want her in goal” after Mary Earps’ shock retirement. Then she won them the quarter-final with her penalty saves against Sweden before doing it all again in the final. Named in the Team of the Tournament.
Khiara Keating
Sharing the limelight. Nobody was a bigger advocate of Hampton than her back-up goalkeeper, Keating, who was at the heart of the celebrations even as she waits for her first international cap.
Anna Moorhouse
It is never too late. Moorhouse is 30 but didn’t receive her first international call-up until last summer. Now she is a European champion.
Lucy Bronze
Resilience. Never mind persevering after plenty had written her off in the opening defeat to France – Bronze played the entire tournament with a broken tibia. As Beth Mead put it: “She’s just a nutter.”
Maya Le Tissier
Patience. Le Tissier is Manchester United captain and a centre-back by trade, but she is having to wait for her England breakthrough as Wiegman sees her as a right-back and potential long-term successor to Bronze.
Leah Williamson
Leadership. Quietly understated but inspirational, her team talks and organisation led England to a second successive trophy and their first overseas. And for an added bonus – taking time to rest. Williamson loves a matchday nap.
Alex Greenwood
Stepping up. Helped Jess Carter by switching with her to left-back, which instantly improved England defensively. Greenwood won her 100th cap.
Jess Carter
Speaking up. Carter led the way in calling for social media companies to be held accountable after revealing she had been the victim of online racism. Went on to make two incredible, last-ditch blocks in the final after admitting she was initially “scared” to play again.
Esme Morgan
Being ready. Morgan has had to wait in line to make an impact at centre-backs but coped brilliantly after coming on against Sweden, also featuring in the semi-final against Italy.
Lotte Wubben-Moy
Fighting for equality. Wubben-Moy has led England’s campaign to improve girls’ access to football in schools, meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the tournament kicked off to help kickstart new initiatives.
Niamh Charles
Taking a chance. Charles has often been in and out of the England side despite being part of such a dominant Chelsea side domestically. Used at left-back and right-back when needed and scoring her penalty in the final shootout.
Keira Walsh
Turning it around. Walsh struggled in the first half of the final up against the world’s best midfield – Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Patri Guijarro – but came out swinging in the second.
Grace Clinton
Keep learning. Clinton’s midfield role is so versatile, tucking in defensively to help Walsh and Stanway but also making room for her creativity.
Georgia Stanway
Rest and recovery. Stanway did not start for seven months for England until this summer after knee surgery. She now says she is recording her best ever fitness times in training, which she puts down to her first proper break in 10 years.
Jess Park
Celebrating personal milestones. Won her first appearance at a major tournament against Wales. It was only 45 minutes but it was a huge moment for Park, for whom the best is yet to come.
Ella Toone
Finding the joy. Toone says this has been the toughest year of her life after losing her dad last September. She has danced, sung and scored her way through it – at the final, there was an empty seat next to her mum.
Aggie Beever-Jones
Taking it all in. Beever-Jones wrote down a wellness quote every day in camp, journaled and essentially became the team photographer to ensure none of the experience was lost.
Michelle Agyemang
Humility. Agyemang had to be forced to the front of the group of players on the pitch as fans serenaded her after her heroics in the semi-final against Italy.
Alessia Russo
Unselfishness. Plenty questioned Russo’s goal return before the final (she had just one from the 6-1 win over Wales before that equaliser against Spain) but not her teammates. Her runs were instrumental to wearing opponents down and she finished the Netherlands game with three assists.
Lauren Hemp
Working without clear rewards. Hemp deserved to finish with more than one goal and no assists at this Euros – she was constantly carving teams open.
Lauren James
Perseverance. So much of James’ season was ravaged by injury but she won her fitness race to be there and lit up the group stages.
Beth Mead
Be a team player. Mead started the first game against France but was then used as an impact thereafter. Did not complain once and led the team’s “clicking” celebrations for the super-subs.
Chloe Kelly
Not giving up. Kelly wanted to quit football in January before leaving Manchester City for Arsenal. “Thank you to everyone that wrote me off,” she said after winning the Euros for England in the second final in a row. “I’m grateful.”
Your next read
And a bonus – Sarina Wiegman
“I always say don’t put too much emphasis on the result. Of course we are here to win, but you can’t control winning, you can control what you do.”
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