After being greeted by cheering fans for their arrival on home soil, the Lionesses went to Downing Street for a celebratory reception following their Women’s European Championship triumph. England successfully defended its title by beating world champion Spain in a shootout in the final in Basel,

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.