Lionesses Ella Toone loving life after Euro triumph

It was the most Mancunian phrase Ella Toone could have come out with. Asked after the match how she felt about England winning the Euros, her response was simply: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing me head off!’

Toone, who turned 23 on Friday, became a hero after scoring the Lionesses’ first goal in the final against Germany. In her hometown of Tyldesley, there is a mural on her local pub, the Union Arms, which shows her celebrating the moment she had fired England in front. And nearly five weeks on from that historic day, she is still on a high.

‘I think I always will be,’ Toone tells Sportsmail. ‘Every time I think of the Euros, it’ll always bring back unbelievable memories. ‘I’m buzzing me head off’ has stuck. The woman at the pub in Tyldesley bought loads of bucket hats and they all got printed ‘I’m buzzing me head off’ on them, so I think everyone loved that interview!’

Toone’s chip over Germany goalkeeper Merle Frohms was one of the best goals of the tournament and the forward says she watches it back every night before she goes to bed.

‘It felt like a lifetime before it hit the back of the net and I’d already started celebrating before it went in. I just ran more towards the families and the bench so that we could celebrate with everyone.

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‘I saw all my family going mad and then everyone was on top of me so I didn’t see much after that. I’m just so glad it went in. I’ve watched it back so many times, my mum and dad have as well. I’ll continue to keep watching it back because it’s probably the best goal I’ve ever scored and one that will stay with me for a long time.’

Toone made an impact every time head coach Sarina Wiegman brought her on at the Euros. Her 84th-minute equaliser in the quarter-final against Spain turned the tide in England’s favour when they were close to crashing out.