Is it ever okay to support the Lionesses in football?
England’s women’s side triumphed 2-1 over Italy on Tuesday in the semi-final of the UEFA European Women's Championship.
While it is fair to say most Irish people were probably rooting for Italy during the match, CorkBeo.ie Editor Joe O’Shea is one of the few to admit he has a soft spot for the Lionesses.
“The drama was incredible, the skills are great,” he explained to The Hard Shoulder.
“Actually, I did find myself routing for England because they went the goal down and because the Italians, they started time wasting, they started kicking the ball.
“If the England’s men’s team are playing the Taliban XI, I’m shouting for the boys from Kabul - you better believe it.
“But it's just different with the women, it's very strange and maybe it’s something to do with the fact that there weren’t very many women in the Black and Tans.”
An incredible journey 🙌
Next stop: #WEURO2025 final 💪
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 24, 2025
Also on the programme, Off the Ball journalist Katheleen McNamee said while living in London during Euro 2022, she too had begun to cheer for the team.
“I was working with ESPN, I followed the team for the whole time I was there,” she said.
“You were really wrapped up in how excited everyone was to see them doing well.
“They’re a good group of players as well; they’re very socially conscious, they stand up for a lot of good things.
“I fully did back them and I did get behind them.”
A message from The King to Sarina Wiegman, the mighty @Lionesses and all in their support team, following their success in this evening’s Women’s Euros semi-final.#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/KqjjnOsm7H
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 22, 2025
Despite this, last night she found herself cheering for the Italian underdogs.
“Now that I am back, my Dad was laughing at me so much last night at how viciously I was supporting Italy and how much I wanted them to win,” she said.
“They’re also just such a great story; they didn’t have a professional league until three or four years ago; they had such passion.
“They have these great players like Girelli, they’ve worked all their lives in Italy and they’ve grown their careers in Italy.
“Despite the league not being what the league in England is like.”
Main image: The Lionesses celerate. Picture by: Alamy.com.
