Long Live the Lionesses: England Women Retain Euros Title

The 2025 Euros Final

Nobody could say they were bored during the final of the women’s Euros 2025. With two top-tier teams, England and Spain, coming up against each other, the final was sure to be exhilarating – and it was! The atmosphere in Basel’s St. Jakob-Park was electric. 34,000 fans packed into the stadium to witness history. The match may have left them with a few grey hairs, but it certainly kept them entertained!

When Spain’s Mariona Caldentey scored in the first half, England could have lost hope. But luckily, they knew that they could come back from a loss. Indeed, if their earlier games against Italy and Sweden taught them anything, it’s that the Lionesses become most dangerous when they’re cornered. And they proved this once again in the final.

Alessia Russo equalised with a phenomenal header, set up just as phenomenally by Chloe Kelly. Spain and England battled to a draw at the 90-minute mark. The tie stretched into extra time, until once again, England found themselves in a penalty shootout.

That’s right – once again, the Euros final finished with a shootout.

And, once again, Chloe Kelly saved the day. Kelly delivered the astounding winning goal, just as she did in the Euros 2022 against Germany. The crowd went wild. They’d done it again! England had won the Euros for the second time in a row, retaining their title from 2022 – an accomplishment no men’s team has ever achieved.

“History-Makers”

Reactions across England ranged from astonishment to pride to excitement for what this could mean for the future of women’s football. But it is safe to say that the Lionesses’ incredible victory is sure to make the history books.

Indeed, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the team were “history makers”. They were hosted at Downing Street for celebrations and congratulations after their arrival back in England.

Members of the Royal Family also offered reactions and well-deserved praise. Prince William congratulated and shook hands with the players after the game. The King said, “There are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms.”

The Lionesses have proved that they can always find a way to turn a loss into a win, to fight every losing battle until it is won.

And this fight extends outside of the realms of the game. The Lionesses are well known for their roles as advocates for equality. Indeed, the team recognise the important role they play in women’s football and aim to continue this. Captain Leah Williamson said, “We are still trying to play our role in that. We know how powerful that is. I hope it continues to grow, the respect for women’s football, the respect for women and women’s sport in general – we can try our best to elevate that.”

She continued to say, “Everything we do, we do it for us and our team, but we do it for the country and young girls. This job never existed 30 or 40 years ago, and we’re making history every single step. Stay with us, this story is not done yet.”

Growth in WSL Attendance

After England won the Euros for the first time in 2022, attendance at the Women’s Super League (WSL) bloomed. Arsenal set a new record in the following season with an attendance of 47,367 at the first home game.

Appreciation of women’s football continued to grow after the 2023 World Cup, where England lost to Spain in the final. More and more people flocked to WSL matches, finally realising that the women’s game can certainly hold its own against the men’s.

Many families actually prefer the WSL games because they tend to lack the hooliganism often seen in men’s games. Women’s football is known to have a calm, encouraging and accepting environment. This makes it perfect for families. It’s also far safer for marginalised groups, like women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. According to Kick It Out, 52% of women who attend men’s football matches have experienced sexist language on matchdays. 42% said they had experienced sexist behaviours like being questioned on their knowledge of the rules, wolf-whistling and harassment, and a significant minority of 1 in 4 claimed they felt unsafe at games. So, is it really any surprise that people are starting to appreciate the friendlier atmosphere of the women’s games?

With the spark of England Women’s success in 2022, combined with the fuel of a far more inclusive atmosphere, women’s football has started to ignite. The fire has started. But if it is to burn as brightly as it should, more work still needs to be done. More fuel needs to be added to the fire. More people need to appreciate its warmth, the magnificence of its flames. Women’s football deserves the same respect, love and appreciation as men’s football, and the repeated success of the Lionesses can only stoke these flames.

Funding Women’s Football

The 2022 Euros had an enormous impact on funding for women’s football. In September 2024, a new deal worth £45 million was agreed for Barclays to continue as the title sponsor for WSL. This was after the revenues for WSL clubs increased by 34% in the 2023-4 season. During this season, each club generated more than £1 million for the first time, an extraordinary milestone.

Player transfer fees have also increased in the WSL. Chelsea and Arsenal broke the world record not once but twice in the past 6 months. Arsenal paid £1 million for Olivia Smith, making her the first-ever female football player to pass the million-pound marker.

But women’s football still has many financial struggles. Most WSL clubs rely on financial support from a men’s team, and lower teams struggle even more. Blackburn recently withdrew from WW2 because of financial issues. Reading, who were in WSL only 2 years ago, dropped from WSL 2 to the fifth tier because of funding problems!

The success of England’s women in the 2025 Euros final can only help here. Indeed, on Monday the 28^th of July (2 days after the final), Ministers announced plans to double the amount of time women’s and girls’ football teams get allocated at government-funded sports facilities. This just goes to show the immediate and immense impact that the Lionesses’ victory has had and will have on women’s football across England.

Trailblazers

The Lionesses have promised to ensure that their victory has the impact that it should. Their status as beloved members of England’s culture has allowed their voices to echo out beyond the game. Now, they represent not just sporting history and success, but the face of equality, visibility, and acceptance. And they are demanding change.

Many women across all sports are celebrating with the Lionesses and joining in with their effort to ensure that the victory has a lasting impact. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Sue Day said, “We want more matches on the TV, we want more opportunities for fans to be able to get involved, we want more money to be able to pay the players with, we want more kids playing in schools. So, we have to really capture this moment and turn it into everything we all want football to be for girls.”

At the celebratory reception at Downing Street following the Lionesses’ return to England, manager Wiegman echoed the spirit of Day and of the players. She said, “We need some more investment. We’re not there yet. In England, we’re up there, but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example – the players first but also the Football Association, the clubs, the government, the country, the fans. Let’s keep being the trailblazers.”

Long Live the Lionesses

England’s women have done it again. They’ve won the Euros 2025 and made history. However, their greatest impact is not on the pitch, but on women’s football as a whole. They will live on as sporting idols not only because of their phenomenal achievements, but because of the effect that they have had on women’s sport. They’ve battled against misogyny, against gender bias, against stereotypes, and emerged victorious. Their victories on the pitch amplify the voices of not just the Lionesses, but of all women across the country. The success of the Lionesses in the 2025 Euros will live on not only as a victory for England but also as a victory for women’s sports overall.

So, long live the Lionesses! Long live their legacy! And long live the place of women’s football as a beloved part of English culture.