The Lionesses are heading back home to celebrate. England successfully defended its Women’s European Championship title by beating world champion Spain in a shootout in the final in Basel, Switzerland on Sunday.

Back-to-back triumphs have inspired “not just little girls, but little boys and grandads and grandmas and whole families”

Another day, another moment for these Lionesses that would have been scarcely imaginable for their forebearers. The back-to-back champions of Europe had won their crown on foreign soil -- the first England senior team ever to achieve such a feat -- and so perhaps could have been forgiven for underestimating the scale of affection for them back home.