No bank holiday if England win World Cup

The government has no plans for an extra bank holiday if the Lionesses win the World Cup.

Public calls for a day off to celebrate have often preceded potential sporting achievements.

Even coach Sarina Weigman backed the idea at a press conference yesterday, saying: “Yes, I can see all the English here want it.”

But a government spokesperson has told the BBC the current pattern of bank holidays “is well established and there are no plans to change this”.

Demands for a bank holiday came in the run-up to the Lionesses’ Euros win in 2022 and during the men’s 2020 competition in the event that they won.

The Lionesses have become the Wizards of Oz – and Wiegman’s speech encapsulated their magic perfectly

By Rob Harris, sports correspondent 

Just what it all means to Sarina Wiegman comes to life in the moments of victory.

Emotion replaces the necessary pre-match caution from the England manager.

And despite winning the Euros last year, she perfectly encapsulated the sense of disbelief that the Lionesses had reached a World Cup final.

After the 3-1 victory over Australia, she asked: “Am I in a fairytale or something?”

The Lionesses have become the Wizards of Oz.

Six successive wins in Australia have taken them into Sunday’s final against Spain – back at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

“I feel like as a team we have got such an inner-belief and also so much confidence as the group,” said England forward Lauren Hemp – the semifinal’s player of the match.

“No matter what happens on the outside, no matter who we come up against, every challenge we’ve managed to solve.”

They solved Sam Kerr being fit to start for Australia for the first time at the World Cup – initially with a spot of physicality.

They solved conceding a stunning long-range strike from Kerr in the second half that cancelled out Ella Toone’s rocket of an opener.

They solved the need to suppress late Australian resolve with Alessia Russo popping up with the third to ease any late anxiety.

And above all they solved losing top-scorer Lauren James for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Hemp and Russo have stepped up – now matching the three goals from James before her suspension for a stamp against Nigeria.

The Chelsea forward will be available again for the final – a welcome selection quandary presented to Wiegman.

“I feel like this team is so special,” Hemp said. “You saw last year how successful we were. We want to do the same again, and we want to go one step further.”

A step England’s footballers have only taken once before – winning the World Cup in 1966.

That came on home soil at Wembley – as did the Lionesses’ European Championship success last year.

Now they’ve got this far, they do not want to leave without the biggest prize in world football.

“We have all got a dream,” Hemp said. 

“We’re pushing each other to be the best that we can and we know that whenever a player gets beaten by their opponent, we know there will be someone there, having each other’s backs, no matter what.”


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