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England’s Lionesses were met with cheers and celebration on Monday as they returned home less than 24 hours after a dramatic Euro 2025 final win against Spain.
The reigning champions clinched their second consecutive European title in a tense penalty shootout in Basel, Switzerland, with Chloe Kelly calmly converting the decisive spot-kick.
Fans gathered outside Southend Airport in Essex, waving flags and wearing England kits to welcome the team. The players’ plane, marked with the word “Home” in red, received a water salute upon landing. Captain Leah Williamson and head coach Sarina Wiegman were the first to disembark, with Williamson proudly holding the trophy.
The England team shared an image on X (formerly Twitter) of the trophy draped in an England flag, resting on a seat aboard the flight. Among the crowd were young supporters, including 11-year-old twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, hoping for a photo with striker Alessia Russo. “They’ve had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they’ve done really well,” said Poppy.
The squad was taken directly to 10 Downing Street, which was adorned with England flags. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock hosted the players in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s absence, as he was meeting US President Donald Trump in Scotland. Rayner praised the Lionesses as “a shining example of talent and excitement for women’s football.”
A victory parade is scheduled for Tuesday, ending in a celebration outside Buckingham Palace.
England’s dramatic win came as sweet revenge, having lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. Despite trailing in the final after Mariona Caldentey’s early goal, Russo equalised before the match was settled in a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was named player of the match for her two key saves, while Spain’s Salma Paralluelo missed her penalty, setting the stage for Kelly’s winning strike.
It was a tournament full of comebacks and late drama for England. After losing their opening game to France, they rebounded with group-stage victories over the Netherlands and Wales. A thrilling quarter-final comeback against Sweden, followed by a dramatic extra-time win over Italy in the semis, set up the final showdown with Spain.
Remarkably, England led for fewer than five minutes in the entire knockout phase, underscoring their resilience. “This is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,” admitted Wiegman. “But we just never, ever give up.”
Wiegman, who now holds three consecutive European titles (with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022 and 2025), said she hopes this victory will further elevate women’s football globally. “The intensity and level of this tournament were the highest yet,” she noted. “I hope that continues to inspire the women’s game around the world.”
