Monday 1 August 2022 09:39 AM Touching moment Sarina Wiegman dedicated England's win to sister who died in ... trends now
Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman has dedicated England's Euro 2022 final win to her sister, who died three weeks before the start of the tournament.
Wiegman, 52, returned home to the Netherlands to be with her family at the end of May before returning to England's training camp at St George's Park to prepare for the competition.
As jubilant scenes erupted around her when the final whistle was blown at Wembley Stadium yesterday evening, she calmly walked onto the pitch and was seen kissing a bracelet on her right wrist.
Speaking at her post-match press conference, which was interrupted by ecstatic England players singing the chorus of Three Lions, Wiegman paid tribute to her sister, The Times reports.
She said: 'I’m kissing this little armband. It was my sister’s and she passed away during the build-up to the tournament.
'I think she was here, she was in the crossbar. She would have been here, she would have been really proud of me and I am proud of her too.'
The Lionesses wore black armbands during their pre-tournament friendly against Belgium on June 16 in a mark of respect to her passing.
And Wiegman believes their historic win will leave a legacy that stretched beyond football and into society as a whole.
She added: 'The world will be changed, we know that. When you win the European Championship the world changes.
As scenes of jubilation erupted among players and supporters around her, Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman calmly walked onto the pitch and kissed a bracelet in memory of her sister
Wiegman poses with the Euro 2022 trophy following her side's dramatic win at Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening
Leah Williamson and Millie Bright of England lift the trophy during the post-match presentation following their victory over Germany
'What we have done is just really incredible. I don’t think I really realised what I’d done when I was asked before the game, England is all behind us.
'We noticed it getting to the stadium, with 90,000 behind us, and over the tournament we’ve had amazing support.'
Wiegman took the England role only 10 months ago amid a period of abject form following the team's semi-final defeat at the World Cup in 2019.
She continued: 'When I took the job, you hope. I knew the team. I knew there was quality and potential in this country.
'That was one of my personal challenges - can I bring people together from another culture? With the support of the FA, it worked out. It is something you dream of.
'I think England was a little ahead of the Netherlands, the expectation here was higher, which is normal and logical, because England made it to the semi-finals three times in a row.
'This tournament has done so much for the game but also for women in society in England, across Europe and across the world. I hope that will make a change too.'
Today thousands of fans will be able to celebrate England's Euros win with the players in London later. Up to 7,000 supporters will have the opportunity to join the team for a daytime event hosted by veteran Lioness Alex Scott in Trafalgar Square, where fans were dancing in the fountains last night.
Supporters will be able to gain free entry on a first-come first-served basis from 11am on Monday, and can enjoy live music from DJ Monki while tournament highlights are shown on screens.
The players and Wiegman will also take part in a Q&A session before lifting the trophy.
Sarina Weigman has makes history by leading England to glory at Euro 2022 at Wembley
The England players lift the Euro 2022 trophy and end the 56 years of hurt without a final win
Not many knew of Wiegman ahead of
