The Queen led tributes to England's Euro 2022 winners after Sarina Wiegman led the Lionesses to a momentous 2-1 victory over Germany at Wembley.
It gave England's women a breakthrough moment and led to acclaim from across football and far beyond, with Harry Kane, Boris Johnson and David Baddiel among those joining in the celebrations.
Baddiel famously joined fellow comic Frank Skinner and indie band the Lightning Seeds in creating the 1996 Three Lions hit song, with the 'It's coming home...' lyric weighing heavily for over a quarter of a century.
In a letter to the England team, The Queen said they would serve as inspirational figures for generations to come.
She wrote: "My warmest congratulations, and those of my family, go to you all on winning the European Women's Football Championships.
"It is a significant achievement for the entire team, including your support staff. The championships and your performance in them have rightly won praise.
"However, your success goes far beyond the trophy you have so deservedly earned. You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.
"It is my hope that you will be as proud of the impact you have had on your sport as you are of the result today."
England men's captain Harry Kane, whose side were beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley in last year's European Championship final, said the scenes this time around were "absolutely unreal".
The striker spared high praise for Ella Toone, whose precise lob gave England a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute, saying the Manchester United forward should "take a bow for that finish".
His England colleague Raheem Sterling hailed the group as "history-makers". Kane and Sterling will be among the England team targeting World Cup glory later this year.
Former England defender Gary Neville called it "a seismic moment for sport in this country" while outgoing Prime Minister Johnson said it was a "stunning victory".
Gary Lineker, who reached the World Cup semi-finals with England in 1990 and won the Golden Boot at the 1986 tournament, harked back to a famous comment he once made about German success.
Appropriating it for the Lionesses, he wrote: "Football is a simple game. 22 women chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, England actually win."
The Three Lions anthem might have to be retired now that England have triumphed on such a major stage.
Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds have had good mileage out of that summer smash hit, from back when England hosted the men's Euro 96 tournament.
Baddiel wrote on Sunday evening: "It's come home. A sentence I thought I'd never write. I've gone. Thank you Lionesses."
Buttler to miss England's third T20 with Pakistan for birth of child
Jos Buttler will miss England's third T20 against Pakistan in Cardiff on Tuesday, with his wife due to give birth.
The skipper has left the squad to be with wife Louise for the birth of their third child.
Buttler produced an inspired performance in the second T20 at Edgebaston on Saturday, with his contribution of 84 from 54 deliveries helping the hosts to a 23-run victory.
The 33-year-old's knock, which included eight fours and three sixes, marked the second-highest score by an England captain in a T20I, behind Eoin Morgan's 91 against New Zealand in 2019.
However, the hosts will have to make do without their white-ball skipper in Cardiff, while he could potentially miss the fourth T20 at The Oval on Thursday and some matches at the T20 World Cup, which begins on Sunday.
Moeen Ali will captain England in Buttler's absence, with either Phil Salt or Jonny Bairstow set to deputise as wicketkeeper.
England will begin the defence of their T20 World Cup title against Scotland in the Caribbean on June 4.
Williamson signs new Arsenal deal
Leah Williamson has put pen to paper on a new deal at Arsenal, extending her 19-year stay with the Gunners.
The England defender, who was eight years old when she had her first trial at the club, has agreed fresh terms with the Women's Super League side.
Williamson returned to action in February following a lengthy lay-off with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which forced her to miss the Lionesses' run to the 2023 Women's World Cup final.
The 27-year-old, who skippered England to Euro 2022 glory, has made 232 appearances for Arsenal, winning the Women's Super League as well as the FA Cup and League Cup on two occasions.
"Everyone knows what Arsenal means to me, but I think every time I sign a new contract, I feel that love ignite all over again," she told the club's official website.
"I'm very happy to be staying. This is a place where I can still continue to grow, develop and be challenged. As a group, we're all very focused on bringing more silverware to this club and I can't wait to get started again when the new season comes around."
"Leah is an essential part of our team, so we're delighted she has signed a new contract with us," Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall added. "She brings us so much on and off the pitch - leadership, accountability and commitment.
"Leah has a special bond with Arsenal, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work together to bring more success to this great club."
Clare Wheatley, the club's director of women's football, said: "Leah's connection with Arsenal runs so deep. I can remember her as a girl in our academy many years ago, and I'm so proud of the determined, passionate woman she has become.
"We're thrilled that Leah has signed a new deal here, and I know our supporters will join me in congratulating her today."
Ancelotti lauds retiring Kroos as Madrid midfielder bows out of Bernabeu
Real Madrid were fortunate to call upon Toni Kroos for a decade, said Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti, after the Germany midfielder bade farewell to a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu.
Veteran Kroos played his final league game for Madrid on Saturday, with a goalless draw against Real Betis hardly befitting of his illustrious time with the LaLiga champions.
The 34-year-old will still have one more appearance to come for Los Blancos in next Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
Yet having played for a final occasion at Madrid's storied home ground, Ancelotti was quick to praise Kroos.
"One of the greatest, obviously," Ancelotti told a press conference. "A very high-quality midfielder, with a fantastic character, with a small ego, very humble and always at the service of the team, very altruistic. What luck to have had him for 10 years.
"To do better than Kroos has done, in this team, is very complicated. He has made a very strong decision [to retire], because nobody could have imagined it, but he has shown a lot of character and to say goodbye like that is great.
"It is the farewell of a great football character and, I repeat, we have been lucky to have him here. Football has enjoyed a great player."
On his 306th LaLiga appearance, a tally bettered by only one other German (Bernd Schuster, with 316), Kroos bowed out in typical style, having the most touches (122), creating the most chances (three), playing the most passes (110) and completing the most passes (107) of any player on the pitch.
"I can only say thank you to all the Madridismo, to the club, to my team mates, to the stadium," Kroos told reporters after his Madrid farewell.
"I've always felt at home during these 10 years. I couldn't ask for more. They have been 10 unforgettable years.
"I was pretty strong until I saw my children, that moment killed me."
Kroos will end his playing days with the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, where he will hope to guide hosts Germany to glory on home soil.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
