Evolution of Football: Key Takeaways from England’s Lionesses in Switzerland
As the summer months draw to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what we’d call the second greatest achievement in football this year - just behind the launch of Fabric of the Game, of course. We’re talking about England’s Women’s Football Team and their exploits at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
For us, the tournament wasn’t just a welcome distraction from long evenings of website building - it directly inspired our latest design, Evolution of Football. But more than that, it inspired a nation, and it inspired my eight-year-old son. So even if we’re late to the party, now feels like the right time to pause and take stock of a few key lessons.
The women’s game is football in its purest form
As I write, The Overlap Fan Debate plays in the background: the same tired arguments about players being overpaid, diving, and the men’s game losing its soul to money. And they’re not wrong - at times, the Premier League feels more like a soap opera than a celebration of spontaneity, skill and tactical brilliance.
That’s why women’s football at its best feels so refreshing. It hasn’t yet been tainted by excess. These players aren’t coasting - they’re proving something. They play with fire, pride, and an honesty that feels sometimes harder to find in the men’s game. It feels pure, and that purity is worth protecting.
Leadership, the Wiegman way
It would have been easy for Sarina Wiegman to panic when things didn’t go to plan. But she never wavered. Her belief in her players and her calm, unwavering leadership was a lesson for us all. She didn’t just manage a squad - she built trust, resilience, and unity. That’s the kind of leadership every team, in sport or life, should aspire to.
Players who embody inspiration
From Lucy Bronze strapping her leg, to Hannah Hampton battling on through a bloody nose, the Lionesses created iconic images akin to Stuart Pearce or Terry Butcher. Moments that will endure in football history.
Michelle Agyemang, so young yet carrying the weight of a nation with composure beyond her years, has become a role model for every generation. Chloe Kelly’s swagger and belief lit up the pitch. And the truth is, you could write paragraphs of praise about every single player. They all deserve their flowers.
England vs Sweden: a classic for the ages
One match in particular stood out - England versus Sweden. For sheer drama, intensity, and entertainment, it deserves to sit among one the most captivating games of the last 20 years, men’s or women’s. That's before we even got to the penalty shootout!
Football is football
There will always be the naysayers: “It’s not like the men’s game, though.” Frankly, it’s one of the most ridiculous takes out there. As a grassroots coach, I never find myself praising a young player and then qualifying it with, “But of course, it’s not like the men’s game.” Football is football. It can be brilliant in every form, and the women’s game deserves to be celebrated on its own terms.
So why do some men feel threatened by its success? That says more about them than it does about the sport.
Back to where it began
All of this brings us back to the inspiration behind our Evolution of Football range. It’s not just about clothing. It’s a celebration of the women’s game - its purity, its leadership, its role models, and its power to inspire.
Football is evolving. And we think that’s something worth celebrating and wearing with pride.
Shop the evolution of the game tee, sweat and hoodies here
