England captain Leah Williamson has opened up about the Lionesses' painful defeat to Spain in the Euro 2025 final, vowing to use the experience as fuel for future success.
The Arsenal defender, who missed most of 2023 with an ACL injury, returned to lead England in their quest for back-to-back European titles. However, Spain's clinical performance dashed those dreams in a tightly contested final.
Learning from Defeat
"Losing always hurts," Williamson admitted. "But this feeling will drive us forward. We've shown what this team is capable of, and we'll come back stronger."
The 27-year-old praised Spain's quality while highlighting England's resilience throughout the tournament. "Credit to Spain - they were excellent. But I'm incredibly proud of how we battled until the end," she said.
Road to Redemption
With World Cup qualification secured, Williamson's focus has already shifted to Euro 2025. "We've got an exciting young squad blending with experienced players," she noted. "This group has so much more to give."
The defender also reflected on her personal journey back from injury: "Being able to lead this team again meant everything. Now we build towards the next challenge."
New Generation Emerging
Williamson highlighted several young players who impressed during the tournament, suggesting England's future remains bright. "The talent coming through is frightening," she said with a smile. "We're in good hands."
As England begin preparations for their next campaign, Williamson's leadership will be crucial in turning disappointment into triumph.
