Wiegman Reflects on England's Thrilling Euro 2025 Victory

As England's head coach, Sarina Wiegman, looks back on Euro 2025, a wide smile crosses her face. "It still feels surreal. Did we really achieve this?" she admits, her usual stoic demeanor giving way to emotion. "To be honest, it's deeply moving. Those games were incredibly intense, unlike anything we've experienced before. It was truly special." England's journey to becoming back-to-back European champions was marked by player dropouts, injury concerns, an early defeat, comeback wins, and nail-biting penalty shootouts. Months after the tournament, Wiegman shared her account of the most dramatic win in modern history with Sky Sports News. She recalled the buildup to the tournament as 'eventful', which was an understatement. Mary Earps retired after being relegated to second choice, Fran Kirby followed suit upon learning she wasn't in Wiegman's immediate plans, and former captain Millie Bright opted for a break instead of participating. Additionally, five presumed starters were doubtful due to injuries, including Lauren James, Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp, and Lucy Bronze, all of whom worked tirelessly to recover in time. Wiegman expressed immense pride in their dedication, saying, "We had five significant injuries, but the players worked very hard to get back. It's special that all five made it." The problem was that with almost half the starting lineup returning from injury, England was underprepared going into the tournament, which was evident in their opening game defeat to France. Tough words were exchanged, and training adjustments were made. The squad's determination and belief were put to the test in the quarterfinal against Sweden, where they found themselves 2-0 down within 30 minutes. However, Chloe Kelly's introduction turned the game around, setting up goals for Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang to take the match to penalties. The ensuing chaos saw nine spot kicks missed, but Bronze secured England's win with a stunning penalty. Wiegman attributed their success to the team's connection and belief in each other, saying, "What got us through was how this team is connected. We were together in 2022 and 2023, but this team took it to a new level." England needed this togetherness in the semifinal to overcome another deficit and beat Italy in extra time, setting up a final against Spain, the country that defeated them in the 2023 World Cup final. Wiegman acknowledged that England 'struggled' after Mariona Caldentey put Spain in front but found momentum again after the break, equalizing through Alessia Russo's header. The match once again went to penalties, where England's experience and confidence gave them an edge. Wiegman credited Hannah Hampton, the Chelsea goalkeeper, as a key factor in their success, saying, "We had an advantage, we knew that. They were disappointed to be in that position. We have experience, and we know we can do it. We know we are better at penalties than they are. And we also had Hannah." Hampton's saves throughout the tournament, including the crucial stop against Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, were instrumental in England's victory. Wiegman praised Hampton, saying, "I'm really, really proud of her. She was in great form and also had personal stuff to deal with before the tournament. She did a very good job, she's incredible." The team celebrated their win with a trip to Downing Street and a party in front of Buckingham Palace, where Wiegman showed a more carefree side, dancing and singing with Burna Boy. As England's men prepare for the World Cup in North America, Wiegman wishes them success, saying, "Oh, he knows" when asked if she offers guidance to Thomas Tuchel. If 2025 has taught her anything, it's how to navigate adversity, setbacks, and chaos, and still emerge with another medal.