England win Women’s Euro 2022 final: players and fans celebrate in London – live!

Ella Toone’s opener in the final yesterday was the 500th goal scored in the women’s Euros. A lovely stat to add to a glittering career.

It wasn’t just England who received a celebration today, the German team also had a welcome return. Have a look at this video from goalkeeper Merle Frohms’ Instagram story:

Reports are coming in the Football Association are looking to extend Sarina Wiegman’s deal after her historic Euros win. The manager’s current deal runs until 2025 but bosses want to nail her in for a longer contract. Thoughts?

There have been so many standout moments of this Euros but one of the sweetest has to be eight-year-old Tess dancing to Sweet Caroline. She received final tickets and even got to hold the trophy!

Impact of this Euros already taking shape:

Cameron has got in touch and said: “So I see that the England women’s team will soon face the ultimate test: not the United States, but a wet Tuesday night in Stoke (against Luxembourg)“ After winning the Euros there isn’t anything they can’t face!

Brighton are all over the signings today as they announce midfielder Yeeun Park has joined the club on a two-year deal. The WSL side have also announced Elisabeth Terland as a new signing today.

Itching to watch England again? Well they will be back playing on home soil in September, the tickets for the game are already on sale:

Just when Manchester United fans couldn’t think there could be more good news after Toone, Russo and Earps win the Euros, Lucy Staniforth has extended for the club. The star’s new deal runs until the end of the upcoming season and she said: “I’m really grateful to be given this opportunity and want to make sure I hit the ground running this season and contribute as much as I can. I feel great in myself and I’m really looking forward to the new campaign.”

This tournament has seen so many stars shine. Cascarino, Bonmati, Popp and Mead to name a few but this Euros was also one for the keepers. Van Domselaar saved around 25 shots and Thalmann, Earps, Frohms and so many other shot stoppers impressed. This is surely the save of the tournament though for Van Domselaar:

These pictures will bring you a lot of joy on this sunny Monday:

It’s worth giving a nod to Ellen White for her tournament, maybe not as many goals scored as expected but she has closed in on Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goal record. She now has 52 to her name behind Rooney’s 53 and the Lionesses play again in September so she could have the record soon.

More handball chat anyone? Christopher has emailed and said: “I don’t think the replays were particularly conclusive though. It didn’t seem obvious from what I saw that the ball hit the arm rather than the shoulder / t-shirt area that IFAB currently use to define the offence. It was one those where VAR wouldn’t have overturned either decision from the onfield ref and both decisions are defensible. So yes, we can count ourselves a bit lucky in the “you’ve seen them given” sort of way, but it’s no great scandal IMO.”

Manchester United’s Ella Toone scored the opener yesterday but she was a bit “gutted”, saying: “I got them done and they fell out, now I’m at the final with no lashes – it’s a nightmare. I’m actually really gutted. I’m off to Ibiza tomorrow – get home, get my lashes done.”

A lot of football fans may have looked at Chloe Kelly’s celebration last night and thought of the US’ Brandi Chastain’s celebration from the 1999 World Cup. The star herself thought it too and tweeted: “I see you @Chloe_Kelly98 well done. Enjoy the free rounds of pints and dinners for the rest of your life from all of England. Cheers!”

Here’s Kelly’s celebration:

Here’s Chastain’s:

Amid the Euros there have been a lot of transfers in the summer window. The latest sees Elisabeth Terland, who competed for Norway this summer, move to Brighton from Brann. Check out all the rest of the moves here:

German chancellor Olaf Scholz was at Wembley to cheer on his national side in the final yesterday but Prime Minister Boris Johnson wasn’t present.

“Asked why Johnson did not do the same, despite sporting an England top as he watched from the crowd when Gareth Southgate’s side took second place in the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, his spokesperson said: “The prime minister did watch the game at home along with, I think, 17.4 million other people.””

I know all you England fans reading this wanted to be in Trafalgar Square this afternoon for the celebrations. Well here’s a video to make you feel as though you were there, which you were in spirit!

Captain Leah Williamson described manager Sarina Wiegman as the ‘secret ingredient’ England have been missing and I can’t help but agree. Under the boss England have conceded just five goals in 20 matches and they haven’t lost a single game.

Here are some pieces you should read and listen to about that historic final last night:

The discussion of if Williamson’s handball was a penalty rumbles on. Nigel has got in touch and said: “It is (only) an offence if a player touches the ball with their hand/arm when the position of their hand/arm is NOT a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.” It’s a close one to call but I think England were a touch lucky VAR didn’t get the referee to look at it.

Chloe Kelly said of her winning goal: “I was here on crutches that day watching Bobby Zamora score that winner and I said to my family this morning: ‘There’s going to be a Bobby Zamora moment today’, and there was! Unbelievable. You ‘Rs!”

Now Bobby Zamora has heard about it and tweeted:

The friendship between Rachel Daly and Millie Bright is so tight and their dancing together are Trafalgar Square earlier was iconic. I know I’m using the word icon a lot but it’s the only work to describe this team.

Our very own Jonathan Liew was at Wembley yesterday and he wrote about the legacy the final could have. “Tomorrow arrived with a referee’s whistle,” he writes. “And as England celebrated, the tableau that greeted us at Wembley would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. Women commentating on television. Women tapping away in the press box. Women officiating, women coaching on the touchline, women bellowing in the stands. Over the last few weeks these sights have become normalised because they are, in fact, normal. The crowds will disperse. The wall of noise will dissolve. But this legacy will remain: a nation slowly being rewired to expect different, to expect better.”

Jill Scott is putting 16 years of being in this England team into her celebrations and it’s amazing. Have a look at this:

Lucy Bronze reveals those glasses were necessary after the big celebrations last night. I can’t get over how iconic she is, if she wins the World Cup with England next year she would have won everything there is to win in English football. WSL, Conti Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and the Euros already in the pocket. Alongside those French domestic titles and FIFA Best awards.

The amount of sunglasses worn on stage is reflective of the hangovers from well deserved celebrations, have a look at this:

Also Rachel Daly was on the karaoke:

What a journey for Manchester City’s Chloe Kelly, also how iconic is this photo:

Would you like a compilation of Beth Mead’s six goals? Of course you would! I think my favourite Mead was her first against Austria. But if I had to pick a favourite England goal of the tournament I have to narrow it down to three. Stanway’s against Spain, Russo’s against Sweden and Toone’s against Germany. What has been your favourite England strike or favourite of the tournament?

The Lionesses and manager Sarina Wiegman have been awarded the Freedom of London award and they’ll pick up the honour later this year. Other people who have had the award include Florence Nightingale and Winston Churchill. Leah Williamson is also to have the Freedom of Milton Keynes.

Here is the crowd in London, the players are in the mixed press zone now before heading off for some more partying:

Guardian columnist and former England star Anita Asante has said of the Lionesses’ win:

Georgia Stanway has spoken at the London celebrations and she is looking to build on what the Lionesses have started: “Life’s changed for the future generation. We’ve definitely inspired a nation here today. We want people to jump on the bandwagon, we want people to fill them stadiums. We want people to stay with us because this is only the start.”

Oliver has emailed and he too is looking to be the Lionesses’ beat mate: “I’m still on cloud 9 after living the best life at Wembley yesterday! As someone who similarly wants to be best friends with this England squad, any tips you receive would be greatly appreciated. Whilst you’re with them, can you also ask how to get hold of one of those “Home” t-shirts? They’re great!” I think Nike could be selling the shirts, that is who has provided them for the players.

We have a confirmed legend and icon in Jill Scott, the earlier reports are correct she has pulled an all nighter. She said: “It’s worth it. I don’t want to miss a moment and sleeping would be missing it wouldn’t it?”

Adrian has got in touch and said: “Among so many great moments was @Chloe_Kelly98 excellent tactical work in the top right hand corner of the field for most of the last 5 mins of extra time keeping possession at all costs.” Completely agree, her game management was excellent yesterday as well as her winning goal.

From one great manager to another, Chelsea’s Emma Hayes has spoken about Sarina Wiegman. “She is an amazing manager. It’s the same sport, she just manages women rather than men at an extremely high level,” Hayes told PA. “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 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 immense, 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.”

The players are leaving the stage now for what I’m guessing is another day (or week) of celebrating.

So here is a lovely fun fact for you. Sarina Wiegman is the first manager to lead two different nations to Euros glory. She has done so in style, not losing a single match.

How can I become best friends with the entire England squad? Is that something that can be arranged? Also BBC 5 Live are reporting Jill Scott has pulled an all nighter, what an icon. The BBC coverage is over but Sky are still showing it, these players aren’t leaving the stage any time soon.

What a mood Lucy Bronze is in Trafalgar Square:

The momentum for women’s football is huge, clear to see with 7,000 in Trafalgar Square to celebrate, so how does the sport capitalise on it?

The broadcast is over but that celebration is going on into the afternoon! Alex Scott finished with a perfect sentiment, saying: “#whocares, millions care. Millions. Like our captain Leah Williamson said, the tournament may be over but the journey has just begun.” And I’m crying again.

The players and backroom staff have formed a line and are kicking their legs out. The arms are going in the air, their jumping and the whole Trafalgar Square are singing the iconic song. Lucy Bronze is loving this and Chloe Kelly is out for a solo dance. Millie Bright is on the mic signing along.

Every player is now taking the opportunity to lift it, Wiegman lifts it to the biggest cheer. England fans definitely love their manager.

Williamson is back on the mic: “Dreams turn into reality. Hopefully there is a generation that is being inspired by us.” Sweet Caroline is blaring on the speakers, here we go!

The trophy is out on stage and the team are going to lift it in front of these supporters. Leah Williamson is doing the honours, the confetti canons go and the fans are raucous.