David Beckham gave a powerful message of support for the Lionesses on Saturday as millions prepared to cheer the team on against Spain in Sunday night’s European Championship final.
With the Prince of Wales flying to Switzerland on Sunday for the match, and more than 15 million expected to tune in back at home, Sir David paid tribute to Sarina Wiegman’s team for their extraordinary campaign.
Sir David said: ‘The whole country has watched as our Lionesses have again fought their way to the finals with the grit and determination that we know is at the heart of this brilliant team and of our country.
‘Good luck, girls. We are all behind you, and we know you will give everything for the final.’
The England squad will rake in millions from FA bonus payments, sponsorship bonuses, endorsement deals, and social-media earnings if they clinch the Euros for a second time in just three years.
Each team member could pocket more than £70,000 as part of what is thought to be a £1.7 million bonus pot from the FA – £18,000 more than their reward for defeating Germany at Wembley in 2022.
The 23 players will also share 40 per cent of UEFA’s prizemoney pot between them, which equates to at least £87,000 each because they have made it to the final.
Euros fever will be strongest on Sunday night in the players’ home towns. In Studley, Warwickshire, where goalkeeper Hannah Hampton grew up, postbox toppers in the green of the 24-year-old’s jersey have been knitted by proud residents.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fans are expected to gather in Lucy Bronze’s home town of Alnwick, Northumberland, where the 33-year-old recently opened a pavilion in her name at a junior football club.
FA patron the Prince of Wales has put his summer break on hold to attend. In 2023, he turned down flying to to see England play Spain in the women’s World Cup final. The flight is thought to have been deemed too long for such a short visit. The Lionesses lost that game, but his no-show was not a popular move.
His plan to fly out on Sunday was revealed after the Lionesses’ extra-time win over Italy on Tuesday, which attracted a peak TV audience of 10.2 million – ITV’s highest viewing figure of the year.
England received a huge boost last night when Wiegman revealed that star player Lauren James, 23, who limped out of the semi-final with an ankle injury, would be fit to play against Spain.
Wiegman, who reckons England’s dramatic tournament could be turned into a film, said the late comebacks against Sweden and Italy in the quarter and semi-finals gave her players huge self-belief.
She added: ‘You don’t want a nerve-racking game, but it shows what the competition is. The women’s game is improving so much – every game is a hard game. The most important thing is the players think we can win and change a game. That’s what we’ve shown.’
Captain Leah Williamson, 28, who has also had an ankle injury, said: ‘You don’t want to be a flash in the pan. Before 2022 we said it was the start of something.’
Referring to Spain being tipped as favourites, she said: ‘We need to be at our best to beat Spain – I think they need to be at their best to beat us, too.’