{"id":2487,"date":"2025-07-28T19:57:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/grit-broken-bones-goose-bumps-my-moon-with-inspirational-lioness\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T19:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:57:48","slug":"grit-broken-bones-goose-bumps-my-moon-with-inspirational-lioness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/28\/grit-broken-bones-goose-bumps-my-moon-with-inspirational-lioness\/","title":{"rendered":"Grit, Broken Bones, Goose Bumps – My Moon with Inspirational Lioness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Lioness took the football home again after winning the second consecutive euro. A surprising campaign in Switzerland was a victory over the odds.<\/h2>\n
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19:55, July 28, 2025<\/span>Updated 19:57, July 28, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Northwest News Reporter for Mirrors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I got goosebumps as Neil Diamond’s sweet Caroline chorus rang around St. Jacob Park in Basel on Sunday night. I’ve heard that this song has blown up stadium speakers multiple times over the past four weeks. But this moment was different.<\/p>\n
With her signature bunny hopland, Chloe Kelly had just won the winner – a rocket shot penalty against Spain. This is the outcome that fans only dreamed of at the start of this tournament, and many people were secretly afraid of something too good to be true.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the Euro campaign, the Lioness was devastated with great losses to their team a few days before it was announced. Former captain Millie Bright has stepped down from running to prioritize her mental health.<\/p>\n
Mary Earps, who won the Golden Globe for her performance at the Australian World Cup, and Frankerby, who helped make history at the Euro 2022, have both retired from international obligations.<\/p>\n
read more: Lioness Celebration Live: England Stars arrives at Downing Street after Hero’s welcome<\/span><\/span>read more: New Lioness Teen Icon Michelle Aggieman enjoys the perfect homecoming after the hero of Euros<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
All of this cast a shadow of doubt on the team. The team enjoyed a historic 2-1 victory over Germany at Wembley in the final Euro final three years ago. But now they face a whole new challenge. To do it in foreign soil.<\/p>\n
Things looked bleak when we saw England lose 2-1 in the opening game against France. It must have prompted a cries of war from boss Sarina Wigman.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure><\/span>Euro mirror bones<\/span>(Image: Andrew Stenning\/Daily Mirror)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I will never forget the brutal integrity from Georgia Sternway. He wanted her to “put things on the pitch” frankly, saying she didn’t want to hold a press conference because she was “fed up talking.” The Lioness continued to beat the Netherlands (4-0) and Wales (6-1) after promising “proper English” football.<\/p>\n
And if the group stage alone wasn’t enough sensational comebacks, they couldn’t prepare for the drama that had their teams sacrificed their sleeves. A few days before the quarter-final match against Sweden, we decided to visit the yellow and blue women to see what they were doing.<\/p>\n
We drove to a Swedish base 30 minutes from our hotel in Zurich. I purred as they got out on the training pitch and started spitting out football – “They’re huge.”<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure><\/span>England bordered past Sweden as a penalty<\/span>(Image: Andrew Stenning\/Daily Mirror)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Sweden was the first team to win the women’s euro. They beat England 4-3 in their debut year in 1984, in a penalty, but have not been able to regain the title since.<\/p>\n
The match was a mud bath that was legendary in his country and became known as the “Battle of the Kenilworth Swamps” due to Luton’s pitch condition. However, after England knocked Sweden from the 2022 Euro final location, the Swedes felt it was time for revenge this year.<\/p>\n
And when the Lioness went down against them, still 2-0 in the 79 minutes, I thought, “They’re going to get it at last.” The next 103 seconds falls in soccer history.<\/p>\n
Less than two minutes later, he was the oldest and youngest player in Lioness. Lucy Bronze, 33, had both acquired the fans as being frenzy. Even Sarina Wigman admitted that the subsequent penalty shootouts were “hard to watch,” and missed some opportunities on both sides.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure><\/span>There was a much slower drama in the semi-finals against Italy.<\/span>(Image: Andrew Stenning\/Daily Mirror)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
When the UK won, Zurich’s Stadium Lettzgrund exploded. Relief and distrust were obvious. Even in the media room, everyone still seemed to be bustling with adrenaline.<\/p>\n
By the time the semi-finals against Italy arrived, fans, players and their families were hoping for an easy victory in 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
No one wanted to spend another 120 minutes with his heart in his mouth. But it would be another final victory for the Lioness, who won in the 119th minute in the packed stade de Geneva.<\/p>\n
And then the final act scene was set. The UK will face Spain. Spain won the World Cup with such a heartbreaking style just two years ago. Fans began texting me from the house home to see if they could help secure tickets for the finals.<\/p>\n
The story begins to play of people who were kicked out scrambling towards Switzerland on their four-day coaching journey.<\/p>\n
On the final day, Basel’s atmosphere was exciting and nerve-wracking. Despite the magic we all witnessed from this English team, all fans knew that Spain could be the cause of whether red waves were allowed near our net.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure><\/span>Spain led in the Euro 2025 final<\/span>(Image: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I was in the stands covering the World Cup final, and was devastated as the tearful Lioness fell to the floor in defeat. So, when Mariona Caldentay scored in the 25th minute, my head fell into my hands. I felt that was too familiar.<\/p>\n
But if this team had proved anything, it meant England was never finished. It was another penalty shootout time when Alessia Russo’s 57th minute goal resolved the score and the extra time couldn’t find the goal.<\/p>\n
Her chest was tight and she held her breath. However, after two shocking mistakes from Spain, a huge smile leaned over my face.<\/p>\n
Cool and confident, Chloe Kelly walked over for her spot kick. I thought, “There’s no way she’s missing this.” A roar of euphoria ripped through the stands, and everyone was standing up. The 27-year-old, who admitted that she had thought about quitting football just six months ago, won the winner in the Euro final.<\/p>\n
Silver and gold confetti rained from the sky, fireworks exploded from the pitch, and the hairs at the back of their neck rose. I began to think about all the fans I met in these major tournaments.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure><\/span>The UK has once again inspired the country<\/span>(Image: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, women in the 60s and 70s could not have dreamed of a women’s final like this in front of 34,000 fans.<\/p>\n
My 5 year old nie is back home and back.<\/p>\n
And when I thought they couldn’t show any more grit, resilience, determination. The news defeated my favorite player, Lucy Bronze, who played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia in secret.<\/p>\n
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Lioness will take it home again – Souvenir Edition<\/h3>\n
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The legend of Salina Wigmann made history and brought football home once more after defending the title and winning the Euro 2025 in Switzerland. We have produced this special souvenir edition of women’s football news.<\/p>\n
It’s packed with interviews with lionesses, special features, match-by-match paths to glory, and dozens of fantastic images. Click here to buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Euro](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35633770.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_England-Women-in-Euro-2025-Basel-Switzerland.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"England](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35633786.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_England.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"There](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35633790.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_England-v-Italy-Geneva.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Spain](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35633795.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_England-v-Spain-UEFA-Womens-EURO-2025-Final.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"The](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35633798.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_England-v-Spain-UEFA-Womens-EURO-2025-Final.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35613081.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1168v\/0_Euros-front-FactboxJPG.jpg\")
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