The Lionesses were on Monday on their way home after their heroics in Australia ended in defeat to Spain in the World Cup final — as striker Beth England spoke of the players’ pride in their achievements.
The forward was among the footballers applauded as they walked through Sydney airport to board their flight.
She said: “This one hurts and will hurt for a long time but we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved. I’d like to thank all the amazing fans who travelled across the world and to everyone who supported our journey back home. It means so much.”
The Lionesses made history by reaching the final but remained one step from victory after losing 1-0 yesterday.
Defender Lucy Bronze said she did not have “enough words right now” to describe her feelings, adding: “Thank you to all the fans who have supported us on this journey. Your support has meant the world to us. Thank you to all my team mates. I couldn’t be more proud of every single one of them”.
Bronze, who plays her club football for Barcelona, also offered “congratulations to Spain for their World Cup victory”. Teammate Alex Greenwood went on social media to reassure fans “we will be back”.
Greenwood played part of the game bandaged up after a knee to the head left her bleeding.
Also paying tribute to her teammates, she said: “I just want to say thank you to the whole team I have just spent the last nine weeks with. It was an incredible journey with amazing people. I am so proud of you all.
“Thank you Australia, incredible hosts and fantastic people, you have given me some amazing memories I’ll cherish for life. Finally thank you to our fans, here and at home. Your support has been unbelievable and we are so thankful for that. Sorry we couldn’t bring it home! Humble in victory, gracious in defeat, we will be back!”
There was a personal victory for goalkeeper Mary Earps, who gave England fans something to cheer when she saved a second-half penalty. She was named best goalkeeper at the tournament and claimed the Golden Glove award.
Meanwhile at home, the row over Rishi Sunak and the Prince of Wales’s absence from the game was reignited by men’s World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst, who said a member of the royal family “should definitely” have attended the final.
Asked if he thought it was mistake that a member of the royal family did not go, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, I do. I think if the royals attend the men’s game, they should definitely.”
Sir Geoff, who scored a hat-trick for England in 1966, added: “It’s an English team, a World Cup tournament, a member of the royal family should definitely have gone. No argument at all about that.”
The Prime Minister on Monday attempted to defend his non-attendance. He said: “I’d like nothing more than to be able to watch England play around the world. I love football. I love sport. I love cheering on England.
“Sadly I wasn’t able to go to the World Cup in Qatar last year. I wasn’t able to go to this final but I enjoyed watching it in the pub with friends and constituents in Northallerton.
“I think we’re all being incredibly proud about what the Lionesses have achieved and what an incredible set of memories we’ve all got. And even though, you know, we didn’t get the result we wanted yesterday, their legacy is completely secure.
“I mean, what an incredible achievement, inspired a whole generation of youngsters and something that we can all be very proud of.”
Asked if the absences suggested they were just paying lip service to the women’s game, the minister for children Claire Coutinho said: “No, I don’t think so. So the Foreign Secretary was there and the DCMS Secretary was also there. This Government was represented. And I know that the Prime Minister would have loved to have been there but he’s also got a huge amount of work to do. And I think the travel time is difficult. But I know how proud he is of the Lionesses. We all are. It’s an amazing achievement to get to a World Cup final.”
