Jordan Butler
BBC Sport

To say that Lucy Bronze put in a heroic performance during yesterday’s final is quite the understatement.

The right back was substituted in extra time with an injury to her right knee and during her post-match interview revealed that she had played the entire tournament with a fractured left tibia.

The match was her 36th major tournament appearance which is the outright most in an England shirt and she showcased all that experience on the biggest stage.

Bronze made the equal-most interceptions and the second most clearances of any player on the pitch and she also won 10 duels – a number only bettered by Spain’s midfield enforcer Patri Guijarro with 13.

The Chelsea defender had 92 touches – more than any of her team-mates – as 52.4% of England’s attacks came down her right flank.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

More from Lucy Bronze’s brother Jorge speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast:

"For us it’s just fantastic to see with the adversity she has faced in her career.

"Whether that has been banned from playing with her team when she was 12, whether that’s injuries. Before the age of 22 she was told ‘love, I don’t think you’re gonna be able to walk because of your knees’.

"To see her be able to do that just epitomises who she is and we are so so proud, not just of who she is as a player but as a person as well."

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Lucy Bronze’s brother Jorge speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about his sister's fractured tibia: "It’s just casual, international major trophy winner with a broken leg, why not? We knew it wasn’t going to stop her.

"Sarina Wiegman said, it must have been after the Sweden game, ‘you’re going to have to put her in a wheelchair to get her off the pitch’. It’s going to be more than a wheelchair to get Lucy off the pitch, she’s going to literally be dead on the floor before she leaves that football pitch for England.

"We are just so proud of who she is as a person, as a leader, that absolute mentality monster that she is, coupled with the ability - she is just a machine."

Image source, Getty Images

We found out last night that Lucy Bronze had been playing the whole tournament with a fractured tibia and according to her mum Diane, this was no secret in camp.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Diane said: "We knew all the way through. We've known all the time and originally somebody said, well, it can't be a fracture because you wouldn't be able to stand up but she said, 'I've got high pain threshold and I can deal with pain'.

"There's lots of equipment and things that they've got, and obviously we knew the medics had checked it and they knew what they were doing and so does she, because she did a sports science degree.

"She reads research papers and things. She knows about injuries. That's how she can keep going. That's why she knew how to tape her own leg. She knew that she felt her muscle and she thought, if I don't tape this, I'm going to pull the muscles. I need to tape it now.

"Lucy has this kind of, never say die. [She fractured it] in June. It didn't matter how I felt, it's what she was going to do [play].

"She knows her own body and as I say, I trust the medical team. Chelsea knew about it. They all knew about it. We knew about it. I think a lot of the girls knew and not a whisper got out."

Image source, Getty Images

England defender Lucy Bronze's middle name is Tough, which perfectly encapsulates her Euro 2025 performances.

After the Lionesses defended their European title against Spain, the Chelsea full-back told BBC Sport she had played the tournament with a "fractured tibia".

At 33 years, eight months and 30 days, she was England's oldest player at Euro 2025 and played 598 minutes throughout the tournament. Only Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood and Hannah Hampton played more for Sarina Wiegman's side.

In the quarter-final against Sweden, she was shown on camera self-strapping support around her right leg during a break in play.

In Sunday's final, she was limping again but played through the pain and managed 105 minutes, before leaving the pitch in tears as she was forced off.

England forward Lauren Hemp was among those papped leaving the hotel in Switzerland with her prized possession.

No, not her Euro 2025 winners medal - her Beauty and the Beast lego castle.

It was quite rightly being protected by an umbrella, too, as she made her way to the coach in the pouring rain.

A quick search online shows it has 2916 pieces and costs roughly £240, for those interested.

Maybe her medal is in the castle?

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Rachel Brown-Finnis
Former England goalkeeper on 5 Live Breakfast

You see the Lionesses, their togetherness, being part of a team, what that means, how strong that bond is and how powerful it is - that ultimately is what got England over the line.

All the stats were in favour of Spain really but England won it. That togetherness is what is so special and lasts well beyond the playing days.

Image source, Getty Images

Sarina Wiegman is the only manager to reach the final of all five major tournaments at which she has managed.

England's stunning penalty shootout victory over world champions Spain in Sunday's Euro 2025 final meant that the Dutchwoman has also won three successive European Championships.

She is only the second manager to achieve the feat after Christina Theune did so with Germany in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Wiegman previously did it with the Netherlands in 2017 and then the Lionesses in 2022 before helping them defend their title last night in Switzerland.

Apart from the three Euro triumphs, she also took the Netherlands to the 2019 World Cup final, and England to the World Cup final in 2023. Now she hope to go one step further in the 2027 tournament.

Euro-winning head coaches:

• 2025: Sarina Wiegman (England)
• 2022: Sarina Wiegman (England)
• 2017: Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands)
• 2013: Silvia Neid (Germany)
• 2009: Silvia Neid (Germany)
• 2005: Christina Theune (Germany)
• 2001: Christina Theune (Germany)
• 1997: Christina Theune (Germany)
• 1995: Gero Bisanz (Germany)
• 1993: Even Pellerud (Norway)
• 1991: Gero Bisanz (Germany)
• 1989: Gero Bisanz (West Germany)
• 1987: Erling Hokstad (Norway)
• 1984: Ulf Lyfors (Sweden)

Ellen White
England Euro 2022 winner on BBC One

These girls are constantly using their voice for change.

Wanting to inspire a nation and wanting to gain more opportunities for young people and young girls.

They're so inspiring - they want to make change. They are perfect role models.

It was certainly a moment in history not to miss.

A peak live audience of 12.2 million watched England’s historic back-to-back Women’s Euro final on Sunday evening across all BBC platforms, making it the most watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters.

The Lionesses' victory peaked at 11.6 million on BBC One - 59% of all TV audiences - with an additional 4.2 million streams of the match on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC Sport’s live page had 11.4 million views as fans were gripped by Sunday's final.

There's no sunshine in Zurich right now.

But the pouring rain is unlikely to dampen the Lionesses' spirits as they make their way to the team coach outside their hotel, ready to begin their journey home.

They stop to greet a few fans who have gathered, and sign a few autographs, and there are plenty of cheers as Leah Williamson brings out the trophy.

Sarina Wiegman offers a quick thumbs up before stepping on the coach - and they're off on their way to the airport.

Image source, PA Media

Daniel Wittenberg
BBC News journalist

St George’s flags are already flying proudly in the sunshine outside Downing Street ahead of this afternoon’s reception for the Lionesses.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and the second woman to hold that job, will welcome the players and staff at around teatime, straight after they land back in the UK.

Seven flags are hanging from the windows around the famous black door of Number 10, and an aide has been out to straighten up the bunting strung along the iron gates – all put up before last night’s final.

Even Larry the Cat has been spotted basking in the display.

The Lionesses are on their way home! Well, they will be very shortly.

A reminder of their plan of action for today:

• The team are due to leave their hotel any time now.
• They will fly back to the UK around lunchtime and are due to land on home soil early afternoon.
• It's no rest for the champions as they are straight on to number 10 for a special reception.
• The event at Downing Street will hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock.

Image source, Getty Images