The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Lionesses reign again: Euro 2025 final review: Women’s Football Weekly

Episode Date: July 28, 2025

Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzy Wrack, Tom Garry and Sophie Downey to celebrate England’s historic Euro 2025 triumph over Spain — and reflect on an unforgettable tournament in Switzerland

This is The Guardian. Hello, I'm Faker-Rothers and welcome to the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Vibes only is what I've been told for this pod. The lionesses did it. It's coming home, it's staying home, did it ever leave home. Are we ever going to stop using the term football's football's Coming home, probably not. It doesn't matter.

England of won Euro 2025, back-to-back titles against the odds and with fractured bones. They only needed three games of 120 minutes and two penalty shootouts. From that first game against France, though, we knew that if they were going to do it, they were going to do it the hard way, and they certainly did. We will revel in the final win in all its glory, unapologetically, and look at what it means. Plus, we'll take your questions. And that's today's Guardian Women's Football Weekly. Hey, listen, in terms of panels, what's that beer?

This would be it, wouldn't it? Susie Rack, how are you? I'm a husk, a really happy husk of a human. Tom Gary, are you husking? What a time, what a day. I'm very happy indeed, very happy. I've had a lovely evening with some lovely people watching history being made and a couple of hours of sleep.

But who cares? We're ready to go again. Let's do it. You just need fumes at this point in the tournament. Sophie Downey, how are you doing? I'm good. I've been very emotional, I think, is the word. Over the last 12 hours or so. So I'm going to try and keep those in check in the next hour. Oh, listen, I had a cry on the sofa last night. I had massive fomo. I could just imagine you all going crazy in the press box.

Thank goodness it wasn't an 8pm kickoff, by the way. because, you know, I think when we did our final preview, I think we all predicted it could potentially go all the way, as has been the case with England. But I tell you what, Champions of Europe, not once but twice, is such an incredible achievement. And Serena Vigman's side wrote themselves into the history books once again, seeing off Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout and lifting the European trophy.

It finished. England won. Spain won after 120 minutes, after Alessia Russo's header cancelled out, Mariona Caldente's opener. A shootout then followed. Hannah Hampton saved two, as did Catercoy, but the lionesses prevailed with Chloe Kelly sending home the winning penalty. Who else? Big game player, big game team. Back-to-back European champions,

how do you even begin to assess what happened last night, Susie? Oh, magic. It was just magic, wasn't it? I actually thought England played really well you could see the sort of blueprint from that Arsenal Barcelona final in the way they allowed Spain to just have possession because that is what's going to happen anywhere there's no point in sort of chasing shadows

but they got the press really good in the star made some good chances forced catacol and some decent saves and were patient just really really patient and I thought it was for many of them as individuals and as a collective the best performance of the tournament in the moment that it was needed most, right?

And, I mean, what a way to do it to beat the world champions, the favourites of the tournament, the team that everyone said are the team to beat through the entire competition. You know, obviously England have had their doubters at various points. They've rid of their luck, blah, blah, blah,

kind of vibe. But you don't do that. You don't come from behind three times in a row in that manner through luck. Like, that is something else, something kind of undefined, but they talk about it being like gritty and proper English and all of that. But there's just this sort of, it makes me think of the Americans, the like 99ers and then

the team that won again in 2019 and 2015 and all of that. And it makes me think of that a conversation I had with Megan Rapino once where she said, that's just a small humble bag there, where she said that no matter what point of the game they're in, they could be losing 4-0, they still believe they're going to. to win the match. And they may not go on to win it, but at every single point they believe they're going to win, and that's the mentality shift that I think we've seen in this England side in the past sort of like three, four years, is that they genuinely don't believe they're ever done. And that's what gets them through it. Yeah, the resilience piece was just

quite incredible. We'll get on to Lucy Bronze and the fact that she played with a broken tibia for most of the, was it a tibia or a fibbia? I always forget which one's which. Libya for the whole tournament. That's just mental, absolutely mental. But we'll discuss that in a minute because I just want to kind of revel in the overview of it all, Tom. It was, how do you define how historic a moment it was? Bearing in mind, they're now the first English team to win overseas,

first England team to win more than once as well. What does it mean? Well, I think they're now the most successful England team we've ever seen, and they deserve that status. The team performance last night was so much more impressive than three years ago because while that was wonderful

on Holmes Doyle and it was historic at Wembley, this was a higher calibre of opposition. It was the most technically skilled opponents in the world and every England player really delivered when they were called upon. There are so many stories, Faye, we could talk about I want to throw praise at Jess Carter, you know, a week on from that awful racist abuse.

what an immense performance from her Williamson alongside her put in a performance akin to the way she played in the Champions League final I thought the pair of them at the back were immense players like Lauren Hemp putting in such a big shift I thought Greenwood did well Hannah Hampton making that crucial save from Peanut

and then two saves in a shootout you know Chloe Kelly coming up the clutch again so many players had a massive game and I really think it was the ultimate team performance everybody delivered in the final and they deserve all the praise they're going to get now because this is a remarkable achievement for them to win on foreign soil really.

And if you think about how compelling the chaotic drama has been fair, like in the knockout stages, penalties, last minute winner and penalties again, they have taken the nation on an emotional journey that I think we will never, ever forget. It was really special. It almost feels. Look, the first one is always the most special, 100%. I understand that. However, the manner of this one, Sof, feels like it. I don't want to compare either of them because they're both completely different experiences and for very different reasons. And actually, I'm quite pleased about that in a way because this win just showed a completely different side to England, didn't it? I mean, you've covered the team for such a long time. How do you kind of look back on it? And, you know, bring the emotion. Don't hide your emotion. I don't want to bring the emotion because I'm going to cry again.

No, I think you're perfectly right there. I think in 2022, it was kind of a youthful jubilance of, you know, they were this young team, they weren't really, they were on hotel, they were expected to do well, but they weren't really expected to win it. And that you saw at the end, right, the outpouring emotion on that day was just like, we can't believe what has happened. And since that point, they played themselves into being a favourites in every, like the World Cup and, well, up with Spain and in this tournament,

and they're expected to win things. And it's a disappointment if they don't win things or if they don't perform well. And I think you saw in the celebrations last night, like that maturity, you know, they've really like come on as a team, as a unit. You know, they've kept a lot of the players from 2022, but they're not exactly old, are they? You're talking about, you know, Leah Williamson is, what, 27, Lesser Russo's 27. You know, they're still got a lot of running in those.

legs, they're still quite young in terms of it as a team. And I just, yeah, it's just an incredible, incredible moment. And as someone who has followed this team, home in a way, for 13 years. Yeah, it was really emotional yesterday. I was on the fan march and with all of the England fans. And, you know, it used to 13 years ago, I'd be at the Cyprus Cup and it would be me and Rachel in the stands and maybe a couple of people in the press box. It really wasn't a big following at all. And to be in that march with everyone yesterday, thousands of England, and fans just really, really got to me. I probably balls my eyes out for the first time of many times this day.

I cried on the sofa too. I sent you a video, didn't I, of Ted? So the football won over Port Patrol, Susie. I think it's important to let you know. He wasn't very happy about it, but it did win. He also got very confused because we've been watching the Lions in the Rugby Union in their tour in Australia. And obviously they play in red.

And so when, you know, the teams are lining up, Ted starts going, come on the Reds. Like, no, no, no, no. Come on the white. He just couldn't work it out at all. So it was like, come on England. And then he literally was watching the penalties behind his face. It was very sweet. And, you know, we'll get on to the legacy part of it.

No job is too big. No pup is too small. Poor patrol are on a roll. The lionesses are on a roll. Oh, yeah. Just magic. It was, you know, watching. And my niece as well, she's 18 years old. She was just looking, going, what, Michelle Adjimang is the same age as me? I'm like, uh-huh. She's like, wow. But let's talk about the game. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. This is what I always find so funny when you get to a final. Unless you're on the losing side

and then you literally overanalyze it so much of what could have happened, what should have happened, etc., etc. When you're on the winning side, you just don't really care. However, this is the Guardian Women's Football Weekly and we analyse football properly. So, Susie, in terms of the actual game itself, Europe's best, both of them going head to head. We thought it'd be a bit of a chess match.

It kind of panned out a little. little bit like that. But as they got more tired, it became a little bit more chaotic. But what did you make of the actual game as a spectacle? Oh yeah. I mean, I think it was definitely, like, well, for one, as a spectacle, I just, it was a great game to watch. I was just sat there, like, at various points turning to Johnny on one side of me and Sophie on the other going, this is just a really good game. Like, I'm just really enjoying watching this, not writing on it. That was frustrating. It was frustrating. It was frustrating I had to do some work. But yeah, like, I think, you know, the difference, well, a difference between those two teams is that obviously in Serena

Vigman, we've got, like, I was going to say arguably, but is it even arguable anymore that she is the world's best manager? And that's, you know, she's a difference maker. She's a significant difference maker. And the fact that she's got this track record, like, builds a trust and confidence in the team in her that, you know, you just don't get otherwise. But then, yeah, I thought they got the game plan pretty much spot on. Me and Sof were talking about the switching of Lauren James and Jess Carter on the wings and how that really helped kind of particularly on the right with, you know, Lucy. We love Lucy bombing forwards, but it often can leave a little bit of space

and hemp's got the pace to be able to cover more for her. So especially with LJ, you know, not 100% fit as was clear. But those little aspects, the decision to sit back off the ball a little bit and soak up the spain pressure a little bit, I think is important. You know, that's what's worked well. There was some really standout performance from players that I don't think have had the best tournament. So like a Georgia Stanway who I think has struggled this tournament, I don't think that's her fault. She has not played much football this year prior to the start of this tournament. But to step up in the game in the way she did, the physicality she showed in the middle, the press.

the fight, like it was just great. And yeah, that was key too. They just, they just all step up in the biggest moments. But yeah, like definitely a tactical battle won by the magician Serena Vigman who like, honestly, I was said to soap last night. She could like stay forever and England could never qualify for a major tournament again and I wouldn't care, right? Like build the statue, recast it in gold if you start it in bronze, like do it again in platinum. and like England could never win anything ever again and I will die a happy human being and I basically should retire now

because I've just watched my two teams win European titles in the space of two months. What could possibly be better? I thought, oh, what's better? Club or country? Club or country. Doesn't matter, we get it all. You're just being greedy now.

Too greedy, Susie. And I'll tell you what, if we rewind maybe back to some of the pods from the beginning of the year, maybe kind of March time, I don't think there's any chance in hell you would have expected A, the lionesses

to be doing this or B, Arsenal to have been European like two lots of European champions. There's no way on earth. You were feeling quite sorry for yourself and licking some football wounds earlier on in the year. It is quite some achievement.

There were crucial decisions within the starting line up again, though Tom weren't there. You know, Serena Vigman decided to start Lauren James despite that ankle injury and you could tell she was really struggling. She just wasn't up to the pace that we're used to seeing her. Look, again, they've won it, so you can't really argue.

But there is a welfare issue within that of should she have been starting. She only lasted 40 minutes. Jess Carter coming back into the side as well, as you've all said, she had such a brilliant game, her best game of the tournament without a shadow of a doubt. She was the right player to come in for Esme Morgan. What did you make of the decisions that Serena Ville? Vigman made. Well, I feel really sorry for Lauren James because through no thought of her own,

she clearly wasn't fit to play the game. And I hope that she gets her big moment in a big major final in the future because she's such a wonderfully talented player. I sort of understand why Vigman went for the gamble of trying to play her if she could. Clearly a bit of a mistake because she definitely wasn't ready. And let's hope that there's not an injury that prolongs into the preseason or the start of the new season. As for the decision to start, Jess Carter, it was fully vindicated. It was a masterstroke. Actually, Fidman claimed afterwards that it had been a tactical decision to play Morgan against

Italy and a tactical decision to play Carter against Spain. She felt that there were tactical reasons why both suited each other. I suspect there was perhaps a small element of just trying to take Carter out the spotlight against Italy a little bit after such a difficult time. But then I can also believe that it will be footballed decisions. Everything does seem to be about football focus for Vigman. And the decision to play cards had just worked like a charm. She put in an immense performance. I can't remember really her losing a duel at all in any part of the game in terms of

tackles or interceptions. The other thing that I think worked very well from a Vigman point of view was the decision to swap over the wingers and play Hemp on the other side. Hemp had an outstanding game caused all sorts of problems for Carmona and just her work rate was brilliant defensively. So overall, Tantacquely, Vigman did a really good job. IAN as well in his last game with England. I end the other ink. I think all of the staff will be very pleased

with how they prepare the team throughout the whole way through the campaign. What stood out for you, Sof? Yeah, I think as Tom and Susan mentioned, the switching of the wingers was big. I think it both, yeah, covered for Lauren Hemp. Serena Vigman was asked about it in post-match. And she said to have like kind of your left-footed player on the right side

it allowed her to, it kept her cutting in so she was not just on the flank but coming in as well and it allowed her to cut in past defenders but I also think because Lucy Bronze was inversing so much she was coming into the midfield a lot and she was flooding that midfield zone and I think that was to try and keep out

you know, Patri Atana and Alexia and nullify their threats especially when England were in possession and it allowed Lauren Hem to just hang out on the right side and when she, when she got going. She had the beating of Olga Camona every time. She just had that burst of

pace that could skip past her. And there was this brilliant one, I think, in the first half, where she literally just touched the ball. It rolled all the way along the touchline. And she just spun around Carmona and got at the other side. It was like she almost passed herself. But yeah, so I think that was really influential. A word on

Leah Williamson as well. She didn't make a single foul in 120 minutes of football. I mean, for a central defender that is ridiculous. She did that in the Champions League Final two. Didn't make a single foul. And that shows how like composed she is and mature she is as a central defender because she was at times the last woman in defence in the box, you know, and all of her tackles were clean. She was just on the money for all of them. And she's been criticised a fair

amount of the last year, I think, maybe the overly criticised, I think, I think when you're the England captain, you know, all the eyes are on you like that and you're kind of under the spotlight so much, but I think not just her defensive display, but her passing. She is the best ball-playing centre-back in Europe right now, I think, if not England, but definitely yeah. And then I would also say, Alessi Russo, I think she also got a fair amount of criticism in this tournament because she hasn't been scoring the goals, but she is the person who tires out the defender's legs. She runs constantly, she doesn't get the service always that she needs, but she just keeps pressing.

She's so intelligent when she goes forward in terms of pressing defenders and she activates the press like no one else in that England team and it's down to her that you know you can have those kind of combats against Italy and Sweden because she has run them ragged and she might not get the goal or the glory she did yesterday

but yeah I just think she's so crucial to the dynamic of this England team. Well she got the service when Chloe Kelly came on, didn't she? You know, the combination of those two and that ball in and Chloe Kelly's crossing this tournament has been absolutely superb. Are we saying that Arsenal won the European title? I think we are. I think we are. Oh, you're going to be unbearable next season.

Just when I was about to throw praise on my colleague, oh no. We're going downhill. I want to give a shout out to Georgia Stanway because, you know, even going back to 2022, we always used to be worried that she had a yellow card in her, that she'd fly in with a tackle. She loved a long-range shot. I feel as if her game, particularly in the final, was so disciplined.

And we talked about the gap between Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter on that left-hand side. And she slotted back in diligently into that backline to protect that space throughout the game. And I just want to give a nod to that because she's, you know, the midfielders,

I think, have not been, you know, the centre of attention in this England side, this tournament. Actually, you know, we did think that Spain's midfield would be, you know, superior. But England have managed to bypass the midfielders in many ways. But they've done other jobs that have been important, but not necessarily, you know, spotlight, if you like. But I tell you who has been in the spotlight is Lucy Tough Bronze. Oh my goodness.

When we talk about resilience and England's inability to know when they're done, her post-match interview where she, I mean, And I watched her face. She almost thought, should I say this out loud or not? Nah, do you know what? I've been holding this in for quite a while now. I'm just going to tell you all that she's been playing the whole tournament, not just the final, the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, you know, effectively playing, you know, as Susie had said about Lauren James,

on one leg. And she goes and does what she's done. I feel like that's kind of emblematic of the whole team, really, Susie. Yep, yep. I mean, that's not something we should encourage. right, like playing on a broken neck. Definitely not. I don't know what the medical staff are thinking,

but I mean, obviously Lucy Bronze is a different beast. And plus, I mean, I was thinking about it. She did that injury, she said in the mix zone afterwards that she did it in the Portugal game, so two months ago. If it's a hairline fracture, two months is a decent amount of healing time. But yeah, she's been playing through pain within that time quite a lot, I think. Oh, well, she said she had. Yeah, it's completely emblematic of her and what.

what she brings to this team and of the team's performances during this tournament as well. She's just a warrior. And the fact that, you know, she like took and it was taking the knock to the knee in extra time that forced her off. And it was the combination of the two. Oh shit, my broken tibia and I've taken a knock to the knee. Better probably go off, but still tries to play on for like a significant time. And then, I don't know, you might, way, you probably may have seen it on TV, Faye.

I've just seen clips of it this morning. But during the penalties, obviously she's been subbed off at that point. And her leg is, like, her knee is like strapped up. She's hobbling. But she is like on the pitch. And the fourth official is telling her to get off the pitch. And she's there like bouncing, like a little rabbit, like bouncing. And Georgia Stanway runs on and just pulls her off onto the touchline.

And like just, she just lives and breathes every single second of football, wants to be a part of every single second of football she's just like just like we need like she needs to go on forever and she probably can because she seems to be like completely indestructible listen this is a conversation for another time because she's not retiring any time soon is she but I'm fascinated to see what she's going to do in the game going forward and where we get this you know incredible athletes expertise

going forward but now is not the time for that for sure Now is the time, though, to heap some praise on Hannah Hampton. The shootout queen once again, two saves keeping out Mariona Caldente and Itana Bon Matty. I mean, she's properly repaid the faith that Serena Vigman put in her time, hasn't she? Yeah, what a tournament. What a moment for her. Still a young player, of course. And if you think back to sort of the story of her childhood and having problems with her debt perception in her eyesight, you know, to even just be playing at this level is an achievement

and then to go and take on the number one shirt and play like this, make two saves in the shootout against Sweden, two saves in the shootout against Spain, and not just that, I think also a save that kept England alive in the 86 minute against Italy in the semi-final as well

when Italy could have gone two-nil-up. All those things combined, the saves against Sweden earlier on, she's, I think, been the goalkeeper of the tournament, which, when you think how well Anker-Trenberger played against France is saying quite a lot so well played

Hannah Hampton England fans have got a new sort of keeper between the sticks to idolise and she's done really really well I think her story is one of the one of the nice stories

of the campaign for sure of which there are many there are so many stories I was on the Guardian Football Weekly earlier on with Seb Hutchinson Max Rushton and Nick Ames and one of the first things

that Max said at the beginning is the stories and the stories that this England side have, you know, that there's so many that will appeal to so many different people for many different reasons. And I mentioned I was watching with my niece last night. It was really lovely. It's the first time I've probably experienced

following England like this in such a long time since I've been England correspondent. First time I've sat and experienced it with my family. And that's when you actually realise, when you're so used to working in football that you experience these moments with your football colleagues, etc. the incredible privilege that we have being so close to the action.

But actually it takes you back to being a kid before you worked in football where you experience the moment with your friends and your family. And I found it really fascinating, particularly watching my niece, who's not a massive football fan at all. In fact, we quite literally drag her sometimes to Kenneworth Road. You're going to be on your own tonight, Annabelle, so you might as well come to the football. But watching her, you know, saying, oh my goodness, Michelle Adjimang's the same age as me. She loves Chloe Kelly as well.

She's just got this obsession now with Chloe Kelly. She went, I really like everything about her. I like her swagger, she says. And this is the thing. Those stories capture different people for different reasons. And, you know, Chloe Kelly and watching what she's done and how coolly and calmly she's done it, the year that she's had so, I mean, it's a definition of a roller coaster, isn't it?

Same as with a few of the other lionesses as well. But a story of resilience on a personal. and a team level for her. Absolutely, and I can honestly say that when she walked up to take that penalty, I had absolutely no doubt that she was going to score it. She just has that self-confidence and awe about her. And Tom pointed out to me last night

that Lucy Bronze had actually been on the bench telling everyone to calm down because she knew that Chloe Kelly had this. And, yeah, it's been an incredible year for her. You think back to September where she was in sort of not out of favor, Well, she was out of favour with Gareth Taylor at Manchester City. She wasn't getting a minute.

It got to Christmas. Her game time was limited. Her spot with England was, you know, kind of up for grabs. It wasn't guaranteed that she was going to make this tournament this summer. And she made that deadline day move to try and force a move to get herself some game time. And, I mean, what a decision to do that. It's a very brave decision, I think, because a lot of players would not have the courage to do that. But yes, it paid off.

she went and had a brilliant second half of the season at Arsenal, you know, won the Champions League, and now she's got a Champions League medal on a second European title to her name. And I think, I don't know, I was quite pleased with myself last night in the press conference because I think I got the line of the press conference yesterday because I asked her about, you know, that journey she's been on

and she's been asked so many times, but now that she was sat there with the middle around her neck, what it felt like. And she said, thank you to everyone that wrote me off. I'm grateful. and I was just like that just sums her up to the tea just like the absolute like aura of the player that she is and you talk about stories right

there's so many like I don't think I know I've known an England team quite like this there's always little stories that go on but when you think about Eiltoon like what she's been through this year with her dad going a passing you know Beth Mead since with her mum since um uh 2022

and it's just absolutely heartbreaking for them all but they've kind of pushed through, they've found a strength from somewhere just to find a delight in playing football and get to this level and just keep going. And a lot of us, I think, if we've gone through that, you'd want to sit on the sofa and cry and give up.

And they haven't. And I think that's a testament to the characters in this team that they can not just pull through individually, but pull through together. Yeah, it's the bravery in talking about it as well. You know, it will have helped so many more people than they will ever really truly know as well. I'll tell you the one person, you know, we've mentioned so many of the players,

but the main person who's the architect of all of this, we haven't heaped praise on yet, and we absolutely should do, Susie. Three back-to-back European trophies for Serena Vigman is just some incredible achievement. Just getting to five major finals in a row is special. She wants that World Cup so desperately, though, doesn't she? I'm sure now. It's like, No, has completed it, ticked it, triple whammy. But how does she just keep doing this time and time again? How does she keep her consistency? I don't think she knows.

She certainly seems like quite taken aback by it. But what a record, like five major tournaments as a manager, five finals, three trophies. It's like staggering, like truly staggering. And yeah, so much, so much love for her. for it for us as well and for our industry and for the growth of the game like I mean we just couldn't ask for much more really but yeah I mean the World Cup is obviously

the missing one two finals two silvers and that'll be wanted I think what is going to be really interesting is to see what England look like moving forward with Ayan leaving to manage the Netherlands because they've been such a formidable partnership you know he's a real tactical mind alongside her she like they work

so well together they're so she's she's talked about as being really instinctive like they really understand exactly what the other is thinking football wise um so i think that's going to be really interesting to see what serena without her like right hand looks like and whether the new one fits as well so yeah i think that's going to be a big test moving forward but like you know she she was a hugely successful manager before that too so i'm sure we'll see you know plenty more I just, yeah, like I say, I said earlier she could, you know, do anything. She could tank the England team for a time in Memorial when I would be still wanting the statue built and going to shine it every single day

and lay flowers at its feet. So, yeah, she can do no wrong. We will talk about Spain in a second, but I just want to mention the fact that Michelle Agamang was named Young Player of the tournament, which I don't think any of us realized until she kind of stood there. there, this huge beam on her face, the guard of honour from all the lionesses, and she danced her way through to the middle to then go and collect it.

What an incredible moment for her, Tom. Yeah, what a cool customer. She's so mature for her age, but seem to just revel in that moment. And all the players, whenever they talk about her, talk about someone who's not been phased by this at all. Oh, story's fantastic. You know, this time last year in the under 19 euros, I think scoring a hat-trick again, against Lithuania to now be the young player of this tournament.

She's the breakthrough star. She's been fantastic. And I'm just fascinating now to see what happens with her season. Does she go for another loan spell to start week on week? Does she push for games at Arsenal? Do they have a three-way strike a battle between Russo, Blacksonius, and Asimann, or does somebody leave? I think it's a really interesting situation now because she will, England and her, of course,

will want to kick on with her career now. and I'm so excited to see what the future brings for her. And, you know, she's an example of somebody who'll be in their big years when the UK hosts the World Cup in 2035. She'll be 29 years old, which is quite an exciting thing to think about. Oh, wow, I hadn't even thought about that. What a brilliant point. I tell you what I really wanted.

I wanted the Kitman to wheel out her piano for someone to tinkle it as she walked onto the stage. That would have been wonderful. Where she obviously was delighted with the accolade that she had received. Itana Bon Mati had to walk up on stage as a member of the losing side, but having been awarded player of the tournament,

which I'm sure she will reflect on positively at some point, but certainly yesterday was not the point that she was going to reflect on that personally. I've really felt for her having to go up and accept that. What does Spain take away from this tournament as a whole? Obviously, they wanted to add, you know, a European title to their trophy hall. It's been an incredible

year for them or cycle for them. What do they take from this? I think they can take an awful lot. They played very well in parts. I think they offensively are probably the best team in Europe going forward. I think where they fall down is defensively and I've said that throughout

and sometimes people don't agree with me but I think maybe they will learn from this that you can't just live. on an attacking structure. They do fall behind when they're thinking about their defensive actions and that's something

for them to build on, I think. They've developed a lot in the last two years since that World Cup win in terms of adding more directness to their play. It didn't quite work against England yesterday.

They got in over the top a couple of times that ball from Olga Camona into Esther Gonzalez but it wasn't really as frequent as maybe we've seen at times this tournament but they have added

that side of their game and they have the best midfield on the planet in terms of those three play. And when you think about their age of their squad, they're not going anywhere anytime soon. They've got another couple of tournaments in them, I think. So it's going to be interesting to see how they rebuild or refocus ahead of the World Cup because they want to defend their title, but that's for sure. But yes, this one, I think for them, will feel like the one they got away a bit, not because England won't really, they came up against a really strong opponent in England in the final,

but they were so desperate to get that European championship on their name. It's a one trophy they haven't won. Also, I guess, part of me feels to them, not too much because I wanted England to win. But I really wanted to have their moment of celebration where they could really, really celebrate. And I hope that comes in the future because they've got such good players. They've managed to change Spanish football in a lot of ways. They've still got a long way to go. They've been leaders at the forefront of that.

and their moment in 2023 was ruined is still a kind of a really sad part of that whole story but they'll come back they've got the players to do it I think they'll learn a lot from that experience as well that they can't just get through on pure offensive football attacking football no although they did have their chances

you know I think it's important to highlight Sama Parolello came on and she got herself in brilliant positions but just had no finish at all and then obviously stepped up and pulled her penalty wide as well. She was so good in 2023. I think she'll be incredibly disappointed with that performance. I think that's also the problem as well because they

registered, what, five shots on target I think, which was the same as England, despite having 22 created. I can't remember the exact stats, but something along those lines. They had the same on target as England and that's just not being effective enough in terms of yes, you can hit the ball towards a goal, but

if you're not making it count, like it's not really being effective in what you're doing. So they have to re-look at that a bit because I think it has happened a couple of times this tournament as well, where we've kind of dusted over it a little bit. Well, they missed that number nine. You know, we've mentioned it. They are a complete package if they can get that.

Looking forward, Susie, the lionesses fly home today. We're recording on Monday morning. They're going to go to Downing Street later on to meet the Deputy Prime Minister, I believe, before they're going on a bus parade and having a celebration outside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. I mean, there is an explanation. nation of the growth because we were at Trafalgar Square in 2022 and it was absolutely heaving and they needed more space. They've gone and given them more space by giving them the mall

essentially. How is the impact, though, of this win going to differ from 2020? Oh, and I'm going to be on holiday. I did tentatively look at Sky Scanner to see whether I could get a flight back from Basel tomorrow morning and then get a flight to Munich in the evening, but I thought it ended of Warsaw, but I haven't even suggested it. No, it's huge. What's incredible is, obviously, 2022 got people on board, right?

And this tournament, if anything, I think, has been more special because it's shown the impact of 2022 because the number of travelling fans, I think everyone was a little bit like, oh, can they do it on foreign soil? Like, they had the huge home crowd advantage in England. They've had a home crowd advantage here, right? Like, majority of the games

they've played, the fan bass has vastly outnumbered their opponent. Like, it's been phenomenal. And the work that's been done, praise for Debs at the FSA, who's been plugging away for so long, alongside the FAA, like, backing what they were doing and them coming together in partnership

and, like, funding Lionesses HQ and going in collaboratively was massive. Well, this is the different. We've gone from Free Lionesses in a pub. You know, in 2019 in France, that was my first experience of Free Lionesses. And there were literally, I don't know, 20 people in a pub. And now Lioness's HQ just looked in Zurich.

Looked incredible. And thousands on the fan march as well. Yeah, it's just been like an epic, epic effort. And this is Deb Stilworth, by the way. Remember her name, everybody, because she works tirelessly behind the scenes. Absolute hero. And then also the fact that after that first game, they were in knockout tournament football.

And, you know, the incredible Sweden victory, the incredible Italy victory and then this incredible comeback from behind in the final like that is like people invest in emotion and feeling that's what gets them going and there's been so much of that in this tournament

I think it's just like exposed it to a whole new layer of people in a really really dramatic way and yeah I like who knows what the impact will be I think it's going to be massive I think it's going to be really really big yeah I agree right that's it for part one in part two

we're going to have a look back at the highlights from the past month and we'll go over our predictions that, thankfully, are still terrible. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. We will get to our predictions in a second, but it has been quite a month of football, hasn't it? I mean, you guys have all been out in Switzerland

for the entirety of it. I've had massive FOMO. However, I have enjoyed watching it from a very different perspective back home in many ways and looking at the tournament more as an overview. But who wants to go first

in terms of what have you made of the tournament overall? Switzerland have been fantastic hosts in terms of the infrastructure has been brilliant. The buy-in from the public here has been wonderful to see. The atmosphere has been great.

I've loved how so many games that didn't have loads riding on them were still packed out. Games like Denmark, Poland, when both teams were going home, still a lovely atmosphere, really, really exciting. So that's been a step forward. And despite the fact that we had larger stadiums for the opening game and final in England, they've still managed to surpass the attendance comfortably from 2022. So they've been really good hosts. I think now, realistically, this event has outgrown a country with the stadiums of the size of Switzerland. So I don't think it will ever come back. I think we will now see this kind of tournament kick on and continue to get better and better really. But my overriding memories of this beautiful place will be the

fan walks that we've seen, the lovely old towns and this whole country kind of getting on behind women's football. That's been really what lovely to see. Yeah, maybe send it somewhere cheaper next time. It's another idea, although still somewhere that has cheese, I would suggest. What have been your defining moments of the tournament, Susie? I mean, everything Tom just said, I completely echo that vibe out here has been phenomenal. And, yeah, the Swiss, like I said, the Switzerland-Spain game is one of the best atmospheres at a stadium that I've ever been in. It's just been absolutely incredible. And then there's been all these sort of key moments, Lucy's strapping her leg, Anchorage's Save, Chloe's smile at the keeper.

in the shootout against Sweden like there's just been all of these like fantastic images of the tournament that like I think are going to go down in history and it will be shared and will become memes and like I just I love that I love that it's gone so utterly mainstream through all of these like stills

listen I have to ask you something because in Australia you are lino cutting what artistic endeavours have you been up to in Switzerland? Doing it again on I'll show you, I'll share it on social media at some point. I've been working on an A4 of the, I've shown the others beforehand.

So you've got basically an A4 sheet of Lino for people listening with various images from the tournament carved into it. And then when I get home, I'm going to print it as an A4 print. So I've got Anchorage Berger's save in there. I've got Lauren James's Selly from her goal. I've got Michelle Adjaman praying to the sky after hers, Chloe leaning on the corner flag, Alexia Piteus bowing, Lucy's strapping her legs, but then also little things from around, around Zurich, the traffic lights, the floaty,

unicorn floaties for floating on the river, save us goat, note, just fun things, basically. So that's what I've been doing. Where's the fondue? A fondue is going on. A fondue is lined up. I absolutely love. Do you know what? You're going to have to start, you know, like the tattoos that you've got.

I mean, firstly, one of the first things I should have asked you, Susie, is what is your new tattoo in celebration? My shout across the streets last night as we left the pub was, we're all getting matching tattoos, right? The take-up wasn't that high. No, funny that. But, you know, but we move. But some of those images, you need to give them to tattoo studios. They're brilliant. Let's see what David Squires comes up with and maybe I'll get another one of his on me.

I love that. I love that. in terms of what it's going to do for the women's game in Switzerland, Sof, how much is this opportunity going to change things out there? What are you expecting? I think it's a real opportunity and it's a different dynamic, I guess, to 2022 and what happened with England winning it and stuff. I mean, England are so much further along in the journey, right?

And in terms of the investment, the fact that football in England is the biggest sport, It's everywhere. It's sort of ingrained in the culture. That's a very different story to over here. They love football, but it's not as like intrinsic to their everyday life, I guess, as it's back home for a lot of people. So I think it's a very different landscape, that's for sure. But they've really got to seize this opportunity. And the players, I think I said it in a previous pod, that the players have done their bit. They came out, they performed, and they formed that bond between the fans and the stand. and what they did on the pitch and they got people behind them, got people marching. And now it's up to the Swiss Federation to really try and make that count because you can't let,

like they're not, as Tom said, this is not going to happen again for Switzerland. They're not going to get a, the women's game is just getting too big that a small country just isn't going to get the hosting rights, I don't think. So they really need to see this

as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And I think the players really get it. Lee of Altie said it like, you know, this was her once in a lifetime getting to lead her team out at a major tournament at home. But I really, really hope the Federation have it all in place that they can take opportunity of girls wanting to play football, boys wanting to play football, making it accessible for people. It's because that's the key legacy of this whole thing is growing the sport and getting people interested, not just at an elite level, but just playing the game and wanting to have fun with it. And

using it as a tool to make friends and learn how to behave socially and stuff like that. There's so many tools that football can teach you. And it's such a powerful thing that you can use. So I just really hope that they do have the plans in place to make it count. And with that in mind, Tom, just quickly, with records kind of broken both in the stadia and the viewing figures back home as well, the fans travelling out in their thousands, what do those numbers say about where the sport is?

when you consider where it's come from? Well, I think it's encouraging, I think, and we're waiting to hear the TV viewing figures for last night in the UK. I would imagine they're going to break records. The thing that encouraging most about the audience figures, Faye, was the interest from around Europe in matches that weren't involving the relevant domestic team. I heard something amazing yesterday

that Germany's television figures for the England-Italy semi-final We're nearly 8 million viewers at peak, which sort of blew my mind because that's the sort of figures we would see here for like a group stage men's World Cup match, and Germany are getting that for women's international that doesn't involve Germany. So like it's pretty special that there's that growth around Europe and that's really good to see. I think the challenge now is that the tournament needs to kind of take things to a new level. We want to see the next edition of these years break the million spectator mark, I think, for the cumulative attendance. That will be the target for them, which I think is achievable.

And they need to think about minimum stadium size being raised so that somewhere like the City Academy Stadium, for example, the Joy Stadium can never host games again at this level, see on and turn too small to host games at this level again. So I think those are things that can be raised to raise the bar for next time. I received an email this morning and it'll be really interesting to go through these figures another time actually. Now's not the time to go through it, but it was from the Swiss ramble with the revenue trend. And from 2005 to 2025, I mean from 2022 to 25, you know, media rights have almost doubled. Basically, the events moved from being broadcast to a small niche market to being part of the main.

mainstream, but the figures and commercial rights and everything else, it's fascinating looking at the, looking at the jump. And that is only going to continue, I'm sure. We got this email in from Roy. Hi, my name's Roy, father of two daughters. By the way, not the only reason I'm a fan of women's football. I went to two group stage matches in Switzerland and spent the rest of the month enjoying the tournament with help from your excellent podcast. Thank you, Roy. I think we can all agree it was a successful and exciting euro and one that's likely to strengthen women's football across Europe and beyond. Even in places where the sport isn't that strong yet, there's reason to be optimistic. Take Switzerland, the host nation. I imagine the effects of this summer will last for years. And Italy, a big country with a rich football culture, but still far from reaching its full potential in the women's game. Here is my question. What kind of impact, if any, do you think this euro might have on countries that didn't participate? On one hand, you'd hope the momentum spreads across the whole continent, but on the other, could it actually widen the gaps? A really good point.

Looking at the participants in this year's euro, apart from Poland, they're all from Western or Northern Europe. Is there a risk that women's football becomes a kind of closed club, while in much of Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, the sports still keeps struggling to grow? As someone living in one of those regions, I'm hopeful, but also a little worried when I see the gaps. What do you think, Sov? I think there is a wider impact to be had. You know, nations who weren't at the tournament had it shown on broadcast. So I just think about you say the Republic of Ireland Ortee was showing the games

even though they weren't there at the tournament and I think that has had such a big impact in terms of visibility-wise right not just yes their country isn't in the tournament their stars aren't on the TV but it just shows the growing impact and the growth of the sport I guess it's hard with the smaller nations

as they're trying to develop I still am not entirely convinced about like the Nations League bridging that gap. I still think League C teams get stuck in League C a lot of the time. They might float up to League B occasionally and then come back down and, you know, it's really, really hard.

So I think investment needs to go on across the board. But examples of success and of investment from other federations but also from branding and newspapers and brand partners and all of that, I think a lot of federations will now step up and think, oh, we could have a bit of that, you know, a piece of the pie ourselves, you know, the return on, I can't remember the figures, but the return on investment on women's sport at the moment, you know, long term is projected to be huge. You just have to play the long game a little bit. So I would hope that the FAA is from the, you know, more developing nations in terms of women's football will look at this as a real opportunity. And they have done in the past. I remember going to North Macedonia, when England played there. And they really used that opportunity when England came to step up to their federation,

the women's side of the FAA, to step up to the bigger federation and say, we need to do something here. This is an example of, you know, what we could be trying to aim for. It's going to be hard. And they'd literally just release their women's football strategy at that point in time.

And it takes time. It's all going to be small steps. But I think they will start stepping up and taking a artist. Yeah, it's a really interesting point. Okay, listen, we need to go over our predictions. As you know, on the Guardian Women's Football Weekly, we are renowned for our absolutely terrible predictions,

and I am delighted to say that we continued that trend because both Marva, Susie and Tom Gary, all predicted that Spain were going to win this tournament. Uh-uh, it was wrong. Thank goodness. producer Sof does tell me on the Great Vine that she has been saying England are going to win the whole tournament but you know what I don't think it's been recorded

so I'm not entirely sure we can fully take that on as a true Guardian Women's Football Weekly Prediction Sof I'm afraid I would just like to say though to take the plaudits that in the preview pod I did say that England were going to win however I did say they were going to win three two in extra time so don't give me that clap Tom Gary

I'd normally take it and have a bow on a curtsy, however. I did not predict it was going to go to penalties again, although perhaps I should have done. So predictions were kind of good, kind of terrible. So if you're right? Are you protesting? Well, yes, I have Tom to back me off on my complete faith in England from the very beginning. So I think that counts as being recorded. But I was just going to say I did also promise Marva, who couldn't come on today,

that I would shout out her adult horse's prediction. She was very determined that I gave her praise for that. Listen, we gave her praise in the podcast because she did say that Italy were going to be dark horses. But I have listened back. She also did predict that Italy were not going to get out of the group stage. So she can only really half have the prediction, I think. In fact, I was so excited for her in terms of the dark horse prediction

that I put it in my intro and I said they were stallions, if you remember, after that game. However, she can't fully take it. She's still part of Guardian Women's Football Weekly royalty and still sticks with the fact that her predictions are pretty terrible like the rest of ours, I'm afraid. What I would like to do is go through some awards that I feel we need to give.

So I'm Tadabor Mati was named player of the tournament, but was she your player of the tournament, Tom? I think you have to give it to Chloe Kelly, someone who's come on and change the game in all three knockout matches is tournaments are decided by big moments and this is somebody who's delivered in all the big moments. So I would have given it to Chloe Kelly,

the two crosses in the quarter final, the way she took a penalty in the quarter final, the winning goal in the semi-final, and then the cross for the assist in the final and the winning penalty in the final, that's a tournament winning impact. I think I would have gone Chloe Kelly. Even though Bon Matia is the most technically gifted player

in the competition, it should be an England player and it should be Kelly felt a bit reputational base didn't it the decision to award it to Bon Mati Sof what about for you I would probably go Chloe Kelly too

although I would give a massive shout out to Patrick Guilla of Spain because I don't think she gets deplored it's enough in terms of what she does for that Spanish team and all of the work that she puts in to allow Bon Mati and Alexia to do what they do and that's not to take anything

away from those two they are two terrific individual technical players but she does the dirty work behind them as well as the brilliant work as well so I think I give her a shout out too because she is massively overlooked at times I'm just going to let you all know as well that Susie's had to jump off into a high profile

guardian big wig meeting such as the importance of the Euro 2025 win she is going to see if she can join us back at some point but she's not giving her predictions for that reason and we haven't just muted her. Is there any other breakout star apart from Michelle Ajumang deserving of that award from us?

Well, let's give a shout out again to I'm Benet for Switzerland, New Man City signing, I thought played really well for the host. We should... I think we count Hannah Hampton as a breakout star on the kind of the big international stage. I know we know her really well domestically. And I would say in the group stage,

Vicki Lopez played very, very well as a breakout star. but the answer, you've already said it, it's Adjimang. She's the ultimate breakout star 19 years of age and the super sub. I just seconded Bicke Lopez. I think the fact that she came in for Idana Bo Matty in that midfield in the first two games and looked like she'd been playing this level of international football her whole life. She just didn't look phased by her at all, as well as Michelle. Obviously, Michelle is a breakout star, but I just think she deserves so much credit.

Can I also just give it some. slight apology to Tom, because I'm going back through our predictions from early on in the tournament before everything kicked off. And Tom did say Spain would win, but then in brackets, but England and Germany are also very good. There was some quality fence sitting on there, but you can partly take a little bit of applaud it for England, I suppose. But that's a good point, though, in how close it's been, right? The fine margins between England, Spain, Germany. I mean, England could have gone out in the court finals if Alc had scored a penalty or Yakovsin had scored a penalty. So it's been very fine margins

and I think we were all of us were right as a group to look at kind of that group of teams in England, Spain, Germany, Sweden and France who have all been really strong and that's so exciting for the level of the tournament going forward because it's going to be

really close for many years to come. So Susie, and she's not here to defend herself, I'm afraid. When we were talking about how far England will go, Susie said it will be England against Spain in the semi. or they'll finish second in the group and played Germany in the quarterfinal and that's the exit.

Marva said England would go out in the semi-finals and Tom, you also said that England would play Spain in the semis and lose on penalties. And in fact, we got to the final, played Spain and won on penalties. Yeah, well, we all thought they were going to win the group didn't win and they would have had

that collision course in the semi-final. I think the one, the shameless plug I will give is that I do think I said that the winner of the first semi-final would win the tournament, which has now happened 13 times in a row at men's and women's euros and World Cups. So a conversation for another day, but I do wonder at what stage football

will start to have an internal conversation about whether it's too big an advantage to play the first semi-final and have 24 hours extra rest, given how many successive tournaments have now had the first semi-final be the winner. And by the way, you did say that Imam Benet would be the player to watch,

so you were correct on that one. Anyway, I digress. Let's go back. Game of the tournament, which was your favourite game, Sophie? Ooh, that is tough. I thought Spain, Italy was a brilliant game despite the scoreline. I thought they matched each other up very, very well. From an England point of view, you have to look at that Sweden game. I know they were like they had such a bad first half,

but the manner of a comeback to come back from 2-0 down and save yourself and then just the whole drama of it all right. They come back, the extra time, the penalties, the absolute chaos of the penalties, no one really wanting to win it, I guess, I think is, yeah, that would probably be the one that lives in my memory for a long time. Tom?

Yeah, so for me, this was the Germany-France quarter-final because of the just non-stop drama, the red car, the disallow goals, the Saferenberger, the performance from Germany's 10 players, that was epic to be there in Basel for that quarter-final. Yeah, I can imagine. I loved watching

it. It was such a fun game. What was your favourite moment? So, this probably would have been a question before last night. Yeah, if I'm taking the winning of the thing out of it, I think being in the stadium for Switzerland, Spain, I wasn't in the press box that day, I was in the crowd, and I was amongst the Swiss fans, and you could just feel how special that moment was.

I get very emotional, but it made me very, very emotional anyway, just seeing the way that they had a connection with the fans, with the way that Pierre has really embraced this role as being the manager of Switzerland. She's managed some really big sides in her time, right? And Switzerland is a different project for her, I think. But she really, really gets it. And the way that she approached a tournament,

yeah, that moment was just really special. And for me, it would be the moment when Switzerland scored their 92nd minute goal to go through to the knockout stages. I was actually watching that game with a slight delay on the screen I was watching on in Zurich. So I heard the reaction from the city of Zurich, the window before I saw the goal and the kind of roar of noise and all the other balconies around Zurich that were all clearly watching the game and that was just so lovely that was

the moment I really realised that the whole nation had kind of fallen in love with the tournament and that that will be my favourite moment for a long time because it was just such a nice noise to hear a city react to a goal with such joy. That's kind of similar to favourite memories But what have you picked for favourite memories, though? For me, it's getting to do this job is really special and getting to do it with my wife as well. It's very special. And also, you know, some of my best friends,

I was sitting next to Susie yesterday in the press box. I sat next to every single England game. There are many others in that press back who I consider really good friends. And these moments we shouldn't really take them for granted, I don't think. We're very, very lucky to do this job and see England get to three finals,

and win two of them. has really changed our lives as well, as much as the, you know, in different ways, but as much as the players, it's given a lot of people, employment and job. And it's kind of paralleled the growth of the sport. So I count myself very lucky. And yesterday, I have to really thank Susie because she was on the whistle with her report. And I was just literally bawling my eyes out. And she was on one hand typing on her keyboard and the other hand patting me on the back,

just making sure I was okay. And I think those moments were just, yeah, right. Yes, same as safe. The memories around the winning moment for England. Actually, I was sat just underneath where Sophie and Susie were with the independence, Jamie Brable to my right. And he and I had speculated through the shootout. Oh, do you think Kelly's on number five? And Kelly's, and when Spain missed their penalty to set it up for Kelly to win it, we both sort of looked at each other. And Jamie just said, Kelly to win it. And we just realized this was the moment that was coming. And there were so many lovely memories there. the reaction of all the England's families and friends in front of us when the winning penalty went in. You know, FA staff, the likes of Greg Dimitius on the communications team, just sort of leaping onto the pitch, hand on his mouth in complete disbelief. All of those little tiny moments of joy will be memories that we'll never forget. It was lovely.

Etched, etched in your brain. I'm going to give the quote. My favourite quote was from Robin Cowan. It's Burger Time. Because that just had me howling. And I have to say, I felt as if I was cheating on Robin last night because I was listening to ITV's commentary at home because I knew I was on with Seb Hutchinson on Football Weekly this morning. And I thought it'd be rude not to listen to Seb's commentary if I was doing the pod with him.

So sorry to Robin for that. Both friends of the Football Weekly crew for sure. Wow. Suzie's got loads of them. I'm sure we'll talk about this again. and again, but we have been bringing you all the latest for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations and they had their final on Saturday and it's Nigeria who have won the title for the 10th time. It was a sensational comeback win over Morocco, the hosts in Rabat.

They had gone into a 2-0 lead, Morocco, thanks to goals from Jelan Shabak and Sana Masudi. But Esther O'Corincal pulled one back from the penalty spot before Isha Melusi leveled the score. substitute Jennifer Eshagini scored the winner though in dramatic circumstances with just two minutes left to play and actually Morocco unfortunate record holders now the first country to lose successive Wafcom finals they lost to South Africa last time out painful for them but absolutely incredible

they also scored twice as many goals against Nigeria as the rest of the champions opponents here all put together which is some feat as well but ultimately is Nigeria who win the title. Right, Susie is back. Susie, you have missed me absolutely hammering you for your terrible predictions of England going out at the quarter-final stage or semi-final stage,

depending on where they finished in the group. Tactical, tactical fay. You have also missed out on giving us your takeaways from the tournaments, but I am going to leave you with the last word, if you like, and your biggest takeaway and your favourite moment from this tournament. Oh, biggest takeaway.

Just like the visual impact of seeing the success of 2020 in the way this tournament went in terms of like obviously both the quality on the pitch but in terms of like the fans and the way they travelled and the way they've supported this team

and how vocal they've been. Like it feels like a proper like away movement now which I think is like really special and growing and just I wasn't expecting it so that's what really got me and then it's got to be Lucy Bronze strapping up her leg right like she's just like now knowing

that she also had a broken leg throughout that tournament and she's on the pitch strapping up her leg herself ready to play on playing through her teeth just I just love it I'm living for Lucy Bronze at the moment like I just think maybe that's the tattoo maybe her strapping her leg is a tattoo I don't know

I don't know. We'll see. We shall see. Right. It's been an absolute joy and a pleasure. I've missed you all in Switzerland, but I've loved hearing your tales of what sounds like a wonderful country and it has been a wonderful tournament. So if go and get some well-earned rest, please, and some sleep. Going on holiday this afternoon, so I can't wait. Oh, oh, oh. Out of office on. Tom Gary, a pleasure as always. Take care, mate. See you soon. See you soon. Susie Wreck, vegan cheese. Fondue. Vegan cheese.

Vegan cheese fondue. Okay, right, I'm going to have to have you over for dinner and I'll make you a vegan cheese fondue. We'll see how that goes. I'm very excited about that. You enjoy your holiday. It has been very, very well earned. Keep having your say as well. Send in your questions. We love to get them either via social media or by emailing us at Women's Football Weekly at the Guardian.com. A reminder as always as well to sign up for our biweekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do there is just search moving the goalposts sign up. Listen, we are taking a little bit of a well-earned break before the Barclays WSL kicks off again in September. So we will be back to let you know when we will be back.

But of course you can listen to Football Weekly as well. They'll be updating you on everything that's going on in women's football as well as all of their usual stuff. so take care of yourselves, enjoy a bit of a tournament break. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray. Music composition was by Laura Aydale. Our executive producer is Sal Ahmad. This is The Guardian.