Lego, lash lifts and Reggie the dog – inside England’s Euro 2025 success

From penalty shootout heroines to late goals from substitutes, England’s on-pitch success at Euro 2025 has been well documented.

However, there are also tales of a four-legged friend using Lego, and one Lioness turning her room into a beauty salon.

Leah Williamson, England’s captain, called it “a home away from home,” and the Football Association did everything in its power to make it happen.

The Dolder Grand, a five-star hotel that sits atop a steep hill overlooking Zurich’s city center, was hailed as a “Disney Castle” by BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Katie Smith.

To reach it, many would ride on the funicular – a type of cable railway – which had a stop just for hotel residents.

Players would socialize with family members in the reception areas while drinking coffee or a particular Lionesses-branded Yorkshire tea.

In their spare time, they went to Lake Zurich, explored the nearby hills, and used the hotel’s lavish spa to unwind and unwind.

When thunderstorms struck, midfielder Jess Park would watch and listen from her hotel balcony, overlooking the stunning views below.

There was attention to detail everywhere, with shirts with the players’ names emblazoned all over the media center and a framed letter from Wiegman thanking journalists for their coverage.

After falling to France in their opening game and knowing they needed to beat the Netherlands in their second group game to stay in the tournament, England were “really calm,” according to defender Lucy Bronze.

Beth Mead, Michelle Agyemang, Keira Walsh, Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, and I were playing Monopoly all day while working on a puzzle with Maya Le Tissier and Michelle Agyemang, according to Bronze.

“We were pretty calm, we knew what we had to do. We had a great training session, and we weren’t overly focused on the French game. It was successful.

Bronze joked the jigsaw had been left in a “mess” but there were plenty of other hobbies to keep the Lionesses entertained.

Aggie Beever-Jones began photography as a way to reflect Alex Greenwood’s style and added images to her journal to create a memory book.

Lauren Hemp has spent years making Lego, which is a forward move. She proudly carried a Beauty and the Beast castle with her as the Lionesses checked out of the hotel before returning home on Monday while she was in Switzerland.

Hemp managed to get others on board too, with teenager Agyemang also getting involved.

Agyemang, who was the breakout star of the tournament, said, “We can make this so much better” as I was building a really tiny stadium the other day because I was bored.

“When it came to Lego, I didn’t realize she had really good skills. We made a replica of the stadium and now she wants to make it a tradition, so I think we’ll have to do Geneva next time”.

Agyemang certainly enjoyed her time, driving an instrument that the England kitman had brought over.

“I play the drums, bass guitar, and piano.” I have my piano in my room so I’m spending a lot of time in there just playing and chilling”, she told BBC Sport.

It’s full-sized, but not a grand piano because it has 88 keys. It is very significant. I don’t think that there’s a day that I go without playing it because it’s right in front of me.

I probably spend about two hours playing and enjoying myself, especially on game days.

There is a lot of time in the day to just chill out, and that is what I do with evening games, where they are six o’clock or nine o’clock [kick-offs]].

Agyemang’s piano playing has been so impressive it put off Williamson from playing, who performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios in December 2023 when she was recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

I did bring a portable keyboard because I had a feeling that some of the other girls on the team were playing theirs, Williamson said.

“I left it because I felt too far behind.” There’s so much socialising to be done I don’t have time for hobbies. When I return, I’ll pick that up.

In the interim, defender Esme Morgan offered to produce basketball trick shots for a group stage social media video.

Chloe Kelly told BBC Sport that Morgan turned her room into a beauty salon to ensure the Lionesses looked their best on the big stage.

We really like to spend time together away from the pitch, Kelly said.

“Whether that’s watching Love Island or Esme [Morgan] opening her beauty salon for lash lifts.

Because Wiegman meticulously planned everything, it was necessary. She had brought objects into camps with the Netherlands that reminded her of home and used them as motivation. Before England’s semi-final victory over Italy, she revealed it, but she wanted to keep it a secret.

Wiegman urged players to share their experiences with personal battles, their footballing backgrounds, and how they made it to the Euros.

Each player was given a journal to write notes in and Beever-Jones kept a log of each morning’s inspirational quote from the physio.

Family members played an important role, spending time at England’s hotel and travelling across Switzerland to support them at games.

There has been a significant change, we have observed. According to Bronze’s brother Jorge, there has been an approach to getting the family and friends engaged but they are aware of what our role is.

” We took Lucy to a play park and gave her a half-eaten cheese sandwich that my four-year-old didn’t finish.

Every player needs their own downtime in their own unique way despite the fact that everyone is experiencing a slightly different experience. We as a family have the sole responsibility of providing them with that extra normality.

” Whether that’s smashing her at table tennis or Mario Kart, to remind her I am still her older brother, or if it’s just chatting things through. Whatever the situation, we are doing for the players.

John Paul, Georgia Stanway’s brother, claimed that their discussions brought “quietness” rather than “football.”

Former England midfielder Jill Scott, who retired after winning Euro 2022, said it was” so important for the families to be there”.

You and your family can have coffee, but there is no pressure to see them either. According to Scott, “the families tend to grow into families after the pitch.”

” It’s so nice they are having such a great time, it’s like they are on holiday. They might prefer to spend a beer outside with the other families than camp.

In Switzerland, Scott played a significant role by keeping Williamson and Walsh’s attention while imparting wisdom.

” We can’t get rid of her. This tournament, I had a few conversations with Jill. She is a funny character and one of the less serious, Williamson said.

” She has so many experiences of her own, but also this incredible perspective. She does a lot for us. We pleaded with the FA to employ her when she retired just to bring her along, so I’m glad she is now. She is one of the greatest team-mates I have ever had. “

Scott claimed that she had the same job in the squad when she played, but Wiegman’s spirit of camaraderie was evident this time around.