The sporting year of 2025 will be remembered as one defined by resilience, dominance, and history-making success on the global stage. Across football, rugby, and golf, teams representing England and Europe rose to the most significant occasions, delivering performances that combined elite skill, tactical intelligence, and remarkable mental strength. Whether overcoming adversity, rewriting record books, or prevailing in hostile environments, these teams produced moments that will live long in sporting memory. Further, they cemented their status among the world’s elite.
Last year, the Team of the Year prize was awarded to all-conquering rugby league side Wigan Warriors.
England Women’s Football Team
England were once again crowned European champions after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over World Cup holders Spain, showcasing composure and nerve under the highest pressure. This historic triumph saw the Lionesses become the first England team to win a major international trophy on foreign soil, adding another milestone to the remarkable era under head coach Sarina Wiegman, who has won the Euros for the third consecutive time.
They lost their group stage opener to France, and the fear crept in that they would make it out of the group, something the holders, the Netherlands, could not do in the tournament after they won it.
Their route to glory was anything but straightforward. England conceded the opening goal in all three of their knockout matches and became the only team in European Championship history to take three separate matches to extra time.
Throughout the knockout stage, England only led by 4 minutes and 52 seconds in the semi-final against Italy after Chloe Kelly scored on the rebound from her penalty save.
Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, highlighted that the team "never give up".Both the quarter-final against Sweden and the final against Spain were decided by penalty shootouts, showcasing England's composure under immense pressure. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made crucial saves in both shootouts.
The team set numerous records, including becoming the first English national team to reach three consecutive major tournament finals and the first team to score with 11 different players in a single Women's Euro tournament.
Time and again, they were forced to dig deep, displaying a resilience that defined their campaign. Impactful substitutions and tactical flexibility proved decisive, while the leadership shown in key moments ensured England remained composed when momentum swung against them.
Ultimately, their refusal to yield and their collective belief carried them through, making England only the second nation to defend a Women’s European Championship title successfully. The victory further underlined the Lionesses’ status as one of the most formidable sides in world football and reinforced their reputation for thriving under pressure.
England Women’s Rugby Union Team
The Red Rose wanted to emulate what the lionesses had done in 2022, winning a major competition on home soil in front of a sold-out crowd. England’s Women’s Rugby Union team delivered a truly dominant World Cup campaign, culminating in a convincing 33–13 victory over Canada in the final, played in front of a world record crowd of 81,885. The triumph marked the Red Roses’ first World Cup title since 2014 and served as the ultimate reward for years of sustained excellence and consistency at the top level of the sport.
The final at Twickenham set a new world record for a standalone women's rugby match with 81,885 fans.
Along the way, England continued to shatter records. Their quarter-final win over Scotland saw them surpass their own world record for the longest unbeaten run by any international rugby union side, men’s or women’s. That run was extended to an astonishing 33 matches without defeat by the time they lifted the trophy, with their last loss coming in the 2022 World Cup final.
Earlier in the year, England had already demonstrated their dominance by securing a fourth consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam and a seventh straight Six Nations title. Combining physical power with attacking flair and defensive solidity, the Red Roses set the standard for international rugby.
European Ryder Cup Team
Europe produced a memorable Ryder Cup triumph on American soil, claiming the famous trophy in the United States for only the fifth time and the first since 2012. Under the leadership of captain Luke Donald, the European team demonstrated exceptional unity and tactical discipline in the face of a passionate, hostile New York crowd.
Europe laid the foundations for victory with a commanding performance across the opening two days, dominating both foursomes and fourballs to establish a record-breaking seven-point lead. While the United States mounted a fierce comeback on the final day, the Europeans held their nerve when it mattered most, securing a hard-fought 15–13 victory.
The win marked back-to-back Ryder Cup successes for Europe and continued a period of sustained dominance, with six victories in the last eight contests. It was a triumph built on teamwork, experience, and mental resilience, further reinforcing Europe’s reputation as the benchmark in modern Ryder Cup competition.
How to get involved?
Voting will close, and the winner will be announced during the live show on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Thursday, 18 December.
Follow this link to vote- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/ckgdke2r7w3o
Add comment
Comments