Women’s World Cup: Calls to recognise Lionesses with honours after they return from heroic marketing campaign
England followers are calling for the Lionesses to be given honours and a homecoming parade following their efforts on the World Cup.
Sarina Wiegman‘s aspect suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the final against Spain on Sunday.
It was Spain’s first main match win, and England’s first defeat below their Dutch coach in two years.
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Spain lifted the trophy after a 1-0 win
England’s stars picked up runners-up medals after the ultimate
Had the Lionesses gained, they might have been the primary England soccer workforce to raise a World Cup since 1966.
Despite falling quick, many supporters are hoping they get a hero’s welcome after they fly again from Sydney.
“There should still be a homecoming parade or celebration for the Lionesses,” one posted on X, previously Twitter.
“They need to know the effect and pride they have inspired throughout the tournament.”
Another stated: “Gutted but so proud. I hope there is a homecoming parade for when they’re back, they deserve it.”
“Still want the parade,” stated one other publish.
“I still want Trafalgar Square. I still want the laps of honour at their home grounds.”
Some followers are hoping for a parade by means of London and a go to to Downing Street or Buckingham Palace.
The Lionesses loved raucous celebrations with tens of thousands of people within the capital after their final main match look, although that had seen them raise the European Championship trophy.
But they did not enjoy a Downing Street reception, prompting criticism of then prime minister Boris Johnson.
There was one deliberate for the boys’s workforce after their Euros ultimate defeat to Italy in 2021, but it surely was dropped amid a racism row that noticed some players criticise ministers for their stance on taking the knee.
Gareth Southgate’s aspect didn’t get pleasure from a parade, both, regardless of some followers wishing to indicate their appreciation.
Previous males’s groups had been recognised for his or her near-miss campaigns, notably with a parade in Luton after the 1990 World Cup semi-finals.
Analysis: Spain turn disharmony into delirium to beat England
England’s Chloe Kelly in motion with Spain’s Olga Carmona
England’s Lucy Bronze fights for the ball towards Spain’s Mariona Caldentey
PM informed to recognise Lionesses with honours
Rishi Sunak has repeatedly voiced his admiration for the Lionesses this summer time, and hosted some stars at Downing Street earlier this year.
“We are all incredibly proud of you,” he posted on X after the ultimate.
But he has batted away questions on how their World Cup efforts could possibly be recognised after they return residence, ruling out a bank holiday even if they had won the final.
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer had known as for the break day within the occasion of victory, and was fast to name for honours following the match on Sunday.
“They’ve inspired a generation of women and girls to play football, take up sport, and to remove any doubt in their minds that they too can go all the way in their chosen field,” he stated.
“There’s no doubt they should be recognised by the honours system.”
Liberal Democrats chief Sir Ed Davey echoed the decision, saying “everyone on the team” deserved an honour.
England followers watching at residence had been left devastated
Keeper Earps the choose of the bunch
Four Lionesses obtained honours earlier this 12 months to mark their Euros success, with captain Leah Williamson – who missed the World Cup by means of harm – getting an OBE.
Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White had been made MBEs, whereas Wiegman obtained an honorary CBE.
Fans and pundits alike will doubtless really feel few deserve recognition extra this time than goalkeeper Mary Earps, whose elegant performances noticed her choose up the World Cup’s golden glove award.
The Manchester United star stored the Lionesses within the recreation towards Spain, saving a second-half penalty from striker Jennifer Hermoso to cease them going 2-0 behind.
She had no probability with the one purpose, a exact twenty ninth minute strike into the underside nook by Olga Carmona.
England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps saved a penalty
Demand for reproduction shirts
Supporters will on the very least hope her heroics see England’s equipment maker Nike put her reproduction shirt on sale, having refused before the tournament kicked off.
Nine-year-old Alice Grundy, a budding goalkeeper from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, describes Earps as her hero and desires the chance to put on her shirt.
Her mom, Kimberley Grundy, stated Earps was “an inspiration” and Nike’s stance was “disgusting”.
Sophie Judge, who’s six and from Leeds, additionally needs an Earps shirt. Her mom, Leanne Judge, stated she would “feel like she was playing the part of her hero”.
Sports large Nike, which sells a males’s England goalkeeper shirt on its web site for £80 in addition to each males’s and ladies’s outfield gamers’ kits, has stated it understands the demand and is “working towards solutions for future tournaments”.
Wiegman: ‘We will be very pleased with ourselves’
‘Right now we’re simply upset’
England’s workforce members are anticipated to be flying again to London from Sydney tomorrow morning.
Once the Lionesses are again on residence soil, they will stay up for a while off earlier than their subsequent recreation.
They will tackle rivals Scotland within the Nations League at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on 22 September.
The home Women’s Super League doesn’t return till 1 October.