Honour the Lionesses! Calls grow to throw England squad a heroes’ parade and give players gongs after reaching first ever Women’s World Cup final – as Sarina Wiegman tells team they can be ‘proud’ of historic achievement

Calls have grown for the England team to have a hero parade and give players gongs for reaching the first-ever Women’s World Cup final.

The team manager Sarina Wiegman told the team that they can be ‘proud’ of their historic performance after losing 1-0 to Spain today.

Weeping players were comforted on the pitch in Australia after suffering the agonizing defeat and inspiring millions of fans across the country.

The Lionesses, eventually sunk by Olga Carmona’s first half shot, got a lifeline when Mary Earps – who won the Golden Glove award for best goalie in the tournament – saved a great penalty.

Keir Starmer was the first to call for the Lionesses to be honored after they came second in the competition.

The team have been told they can be ‘proud’ of their historic performance after losing 1-0 to Spain today

Weeping players were comforted on the pitch in Australia after the painful defeat to Spain, inspiring millions of fans across the country.

England fans looked gloomy as they reacted to the game, which England lost 1-0

He said the team had “excited the whole country with their historic performance” after becoming England’s first women’s team to reach the last two in a World Cup competition.

The opposition leader said there was “no doubt” they should be given gongs to mark their second place.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said ‘everyone on the team’ deserved credit.

Fans took to Twitter to praise the team after the game, calling for a parade and gongs for their performance.

One person wrote: ‘Stunned but so proud. I hope there’s a homecoming parade because if they’re back they deserve to win or lose! Heroes.’

Another said: ‘I really hope @EnglandFootball @CityWestminster @MayorofLondon @UKParliament plans a huge welcome parade for the @Lionesses. They got into the final two of the #FIFAWomensCup which should be celebrated. Pride.’

A third wrote: ‘Proud of you all! You have inspired us with your team spirit, determination and achievements!

“The final was a step too far this time. Fantastic performance! Next step a very well deserved bus parade in London and a visit to Downing St/Buckingham Palace.’

Members of the Lionesses team were recognized after their Euro 2022 victory last year.

Captain Leah Williamson, who was forced to miss the World Cup through injury, was one of four European Championship winners to be named on the New Year Honors List.

Keir Starmer was the first to call for the Lionesses to be honored after they came second in the competition

She was awarded an OBE, while her teammates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White all became MBEs.

Mead missed out on a spot in the squad that flew to Australia with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while striker White retired from football in August 2022, a month after Germany’s European Championship victory at Wembley.

Bronze and Mead are MBEs made by the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in May.

Wiegman, the team’s Dutch head coach, also received an award as part of the 2022 New Year Honors, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs named her an honorary CBE.

As they missed out on World Cup glory at Stadium Australia on Sunday, ardent football fan Sir Keir said new accolades should be presented in recognition of the impact the Lionesses’ latest run had had on the country.

He said: ‘They have inspired a generation of women and girls to play football, to do sports and to dispel any doubt that they too can excel in their chosen field.

“There’s no doubt they should be recognized by the honors system.”

After Sunday’s final whistle, Sir Keir tweeted that the result was “heartbreaking”.

He added: ‘So proud of the England team who inspired the whole country.

“This is just the beginning for the Lionesses.”

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed said: ‘The lionesses have made the whole country proud.

“Last year they won the European Championship and they put up an incredible battle in the World Cup final today.

Players were comforted after the devastating loss earlier today

England’s Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Lucy Bronze during the National Anthem ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final

“They have inspired millions and brought together football fans across the country. Their incredible performance deserves accolades from everyone on the team.”

British stars from the worlds of showbiz and broadcasting have shared messages of appreciation for the Lionesses who lost to Spain in the Women’s World Cup final.

Spain secured a final 1-0 win in Sydney on Sunday after Olga Carmona’s goal in the first half, but Sarina Wiegman’s side still managed a best-ever second-place finish.

To comfort the team, who appeared visibly emotional after the final whistle, former footballer and pundit Chris Kamara tweeted: “England were proud of us, great tournament and getting to the final was amazing.”

The 65-year-old added: ‘I got that horrible feeling in my stomach. But well done Spain worthy winners on the day.’

Gary Lineker, 62, former England footballer and presenter of the match of the day, tweeted: ‘Moved for the @lionesses who gave their all but congratulations to Spain on winning the World Cup.

“They were the better team and deserved their victory.”

The Apprentice star Lord Alan Sugar tweeted, “Unlucky ladies, you gave it your all. You did so well to make it to the @Lionesses World Cup final.”

Meanwhile, former Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis, 76, said the Lionesses “played with guts and made us proud.”

The 63-year-old added: ‘Not their day in the final, but a great tournament for them anyway.’

TV presenter Rylan Clark, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2012, tweeted: ‘The @Lionesses hold on until the last seconds. We are all proud of you!!!!’

British stand-up comedian Mark Steel also joked, “Now, to prove that the English women have achieved equality with men, they should all trash the local tapas bar.”

Similarly, Victoria Coren Mitchell, writer and host of BBC’s Only Connect, tweeted: ‘Ah. Useful lesson in disappointment for our kids there. It’s no use having hope in life.’

Further tributes poured in today from other politicians, celebrities and members of the royal family.

Prince William, who is president of the FA, has faced backlash in recent days over his decision not to attend the historic match in Sydney, but Kensington Palace confirmed he watched the game at home with wife Kate and children George, Charlotte and Louis. in Sandringham, Norfolk.

In a personal message to X, formerly Twitter, the heir to the throne wrote: “While it’s the result none of us wanted, @Lionesses, you have made yourself and this nation proud.

“Your spirit and drive have inspired so many people and paved the way for future generations. Thanks for the football memories. Congratulations to Spain. W.’

Meanwhile, King Charles praised the Lionesses’ “skill, determination and team spirit” for reaching the final stages of the tournament and sent his “sincere thoughts and sympathy for the outcome” – but appeared to miss the match itself.

The monarch said the lionesses’ achievements “would serve as an inspiration to future generations – and your place in the history books is assured for that”.

But the King and Queen seemed to have missed most of the televised match.

Charles and Camilla were pictured arriving at Crathie Kirk for a Sunday service as the England side were put to the test in the tense clash in Sydney.

A Palace source had said on Saturday: “Both Their Majesties will be following Sunday’s events with the greatest interest.”

Charles, head of the Church of England, drove the couple’s car on Sunday, while Camilla sat smiling in the front passenger seat.

Last year, fans were furious after just four members of England’s Euro 2022 winning team were recognized on the New Year Honors list.

Captain Leah Williamson was awarded an OBE, while Beth Mead, Ellen White, and Lucy Bronze received MBEs.

But despite their role in winning England’s first major football trophy since the men’s World Cup success in 1966, the rest of the side has been overlooked.

When asked why not all England sides have been recognized following their European Championship victory, Sir Hugh Robertson, chairman of the honors sports committee, said: “The approach we’ve tried with this is that when we have these events there is a danger in kind of a carpet bombing of the entire squad, because then you get people who have been on the field for five minutes and get an award.

“So what we’ve tried to do is stick to the principle of the awards, which is to recognize excellence and recognize outstanding contributions.”