Thank you for the memories - Englands team behind the team

The team behind the team - England players family and friends gathered for a night out together on Friday

For fans watching Englands Euro 2025 journey, it has been a wild ride.

Spare a thought for the Lionesses loved ones out in Switzerland.

They have been there every step of the way on the rollercoaster journey with Sarina Wiegmans side, following five matches over three weeks, cheering every goal, kicking every ball and watching every penalty from behind their hands.

Before Sundays final against Spain, we hear Swiss stories from some of Englands nearest and dearest, who send their good luck messages before one last push in Basel.

Ella Toone is Englands joint-top scorer at Euro 2025 with two goals, along with Michelle Agyemang, Lauren James and Georgia Stanway

For England duo Ella Toone and Beth Mead, Euro 2025 has been particularly difficult.

It is the first major tournament both have played since losing a parent, with Mead losing her mum, June, to ovarian cancer in January 2023, while Toones dad, Nick, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in September 2024.

"We were talking about him only the other day as a family," Toones boyfriend Joe Bunney told BBC Sport. "Nick wouldve loved this.

"The inspiration Nick gave us to support Ella in the way he did was great. Hopefully one more step and we can win the Euros for him. Every goal she scores, every game, hes watching over her.

"For Ella, its really important the people she has around her. Beth Mead as well. Theyre going through a similar thing. Its nice for them to have each other and they are so strong to get through what theyve been through in a football season and then go to the Euros."

While Toone and Mead have been united by grief and bonded on the pitch, throughout Euro 2025 the Lionesses family and friends have been bonding off it, particularly celebrating Englands late goals.

"It was all a bit of a blur," Bunney said of celebrating Michelle Agyemangs 96th-minute quarter-final equaliser against Italy. "Michelles family were in front of me. The scenes were crazy.

"I was sat on row seven and I definitely didnt finish there, I ended up on row three. I was talking to Michelles family about how proud they must be. It takes us back to 2022 when Alessia [Russo] and Ella were making an impact on the games. Its massive for Michelle and her family are lovely and we get on really well."

Joes message to Ella: "You already know what I think about how inspirational youve been. I know your dads watching down proud of you, were all proud of you. Go and bring that trophy home."

Lucy Bronzes niece and nephew were mascots for Englands pre-Euro 2025 friendly against Jamaica

Euro 2025 is Lucy Bronzes seventh major tournament for England.

She has played a starring role for the Lionesses in Switzerland with her solid defensive displays, as well as scoring in the 79th minute against Sweden to help force extra-time, before converting a brilliant penalty in the shootout.

"My goodness the things they have put us through this tournament," Bronzes brother Jorge told BBC Sport.

"People keep asking me if I am having a great time out here and I say no! Its just trauma after trauma after trauma. Its been a brilliant time, exhausting, emotional, thrilling and everything in between."

Among the Bronze family out in Switzerland are Jorges two young children.

"Ive got a five-year-old and a four-year-old that Lucy absolutely adores, she loves playing silly games with them," he said.

"It was 1am [after the Italy game] and they were playing a bit of hide and seek with auntie Lucy in the ground after a pretty intense game of football."

Jorge said under Wiegman, players family and friends now play their part behind the scenes in Englands success.

"We have noticed a real shift," Jorge said. "Certainly under Sarina, there has been an approach to have the family and friends engaged but know what our role is.

"We took Lucy to a play park and gave her a half-eaten cheese sandwich that my four-year-old didnt finish. Everyone is having a slightly different experience but every player needs their own downtime in their own way.

"Our job as a family is to just give them that bit of normality. Whether thats smashing her at table tennis or Mario Kart, to remind her I am still her older brother, or if its just chatting things through. Whatever it is, that is what we are here to do for the players."

Jorges message to Lucy: "Lucy, you know what its taken to get to this point. You know you are a serial and born winner. You are already the most decorated English footballer of all time. Go and make that a full stop at the end of that sentence on Sunday and bring it home."

Alessia Russo has scored one goal and made three assists at Euro 2025

Alessia Russos brother Giorgio missed Englands first two group games of Euro 2025 because he was on Love Island.

He swapped Spain for Switzerland and flew out in time for the nervy quarter-final win over Sweden in Zurich.

"Me and her are best mates, we talk about everything outside of football," Giorgio said. "She was the first person I told about Love Island. Were really good friends and it helps her switch off from work."

All Giorgio has known at Euro 2025 is a rollercoaster. Missing the big wins over the Netherlands and Wales, the two games he has been to have seen a tense penalty shootout quarter-final win and a dramatic extra-time semi-final victory.

"Its been really hard. Im not used to this as a fan," Giorgio said. "The group stage started shakily and for the knockout its been tough, but elation at the end.

"There is a different type of emotion when its a family member, you really feel it from their point of view. For the penalty shootout [against Sweden] my mum, Ellas mum, Leah [Williamson]s mum, they all couldnt watch. Leahs mum makes me laugh so much its like she is in pain in the games.

"Its a tense environment. The girls can obviously feel it and when there is a goal, when we win, the celebrations are absolutely crazy but I wouldnt want to be anywhere else I dont think."

Giorgios message to Alessia: "Keep doing what you are doing, you make us proud every single day and I love you."

Euro 2025 final: England v Spain

Sunday, 27 July at 17:00 BST

St Jakob-Park, Basel

Watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, follow live text on BBC Sport website and app

Georgia Stanway scored against the Netherlands and Wales

Described by Giorgio as one half of the fun police alongside Joe Bunney, Georgia Stanways brother John-Paul helps to organise gatherings with the players friends and families.

Even when arranging a low-key meal with family, it turns into a team outing and JP said word spread about a meal the day after Englands semi-final win over Italy.

"We went for a Chinese meal the day after the Geneva game," he said. "A few of the team got wind of this meal so there was us, the Toones, the Walshes, Jill Scott joined us.

"We didnt really chat about much. Its just calmness. We talked about tickets to the final, a little bit of how the game was. Our job was to take her mind off it and bring some calmness and normality. We tried to just keep it normal and keep it real."

JPs message to Georgia: "I want to say thank you for the memories youve given us. Back-to-back-to-back finals. Not so thankful for the heart attacks youve given us for the past few games.

"Im so proud of what you and the rest of the team and the staff have achieved. Hopefully, we can continue to make these memories. Good luck."