Thousands of fans came out on Tuesday to celebrate England’s back-to-back women’s European champions in London.
It was led by a marching band along the iconic mall, and was later serenaded on stage by music stars Barna Boy and Heather Small.
“I was crying all the way down the mall. This is incredible. This is probably one of the best we’ve ever attended,” Captain Leah Williamson said.
England became the country’s first national soccer team in the entire men’s and women’s game, making history by winning tournaments in foreign soils. Penalty Shootout Win against World Champion Spain in Basel on Sunday.
Arriving at two open-top buses decorated with “Champions”, players waving face paint and flags, waving to the fans lined up in the streets to welcome the heroes.
“We really didn’t know what was coming today, but everyone was so excited about the bus and it was great to go back to England and celebrate with the fans,” said Alesia Russo, who scored the UK’s equal goal in the final. “It’s a bit surreal, it’s crazy to see these many people come out to their homes in England in London and head to Buckingham Palace.
The RAF central band created the atmosphere. They will play the English football anthems “Three Lion” and “Sweet Caroline.”
There was more music on stage, and it was a special surprise for Wigman, a Burna Boy fan. The Nigerian Afrofusion star joined her and sang his hit song, “For My Hand.”
The Dutch coach completed a three-peat Euro title and won in 2017 in his hometown of Netherlands and in 2022 in England.
She has an incredible record of reaching the finals of the last five major tournaments as a coach in the Netherlands and the UK.
“I wanted to have a little less mixed chaos,” she said of her latest victory. “They showed up when they really needed it.”
Heather Small lifted the trophy in front of thousands of fans gathered on the next stage as the English players were “prideful” after rejoining, and fireworks filled the sky.
For Williamson, Triumph was another benchmark as he became the first England captain to lift two major trophies.
“Obviously we do it for us and our team, but we do it for the country and for the young girls. This job hasn’t existed 30, 40 years ago, and we make history at every step,” she said.
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