Rishi Sunak has congratulated the Lionesses on their performance in the World Cup final but still managed to cause a stir after telling the footballers they “left nothing out there”.
Angela Eagle, a Labour MP, and Jon Sopel, the broadcaster, were among those questioning whether he had apparently mangled a sporting phrase, saying it should surely be “left everything out there”.
Managers tend to tell players to leave “everything out there” in a reference to the amount of effort and talent they bring to the pitch, while leaving “nothing in the locker room”.
However, supporters of Sunak pointed to a different usage by Andy Murray, who has previously said: “Give it everything you’ve got, leave nothing out there.”
Sunak, who watched the match from a pub in his Yorkshire constituency, tweeted after the match: “You left absolutely nothing out there @Lionesses. It wasn’t to be, but you’ve already secured your legacy as game changers. We are all incredibly proud of you.”
Others to congratulate the Lionesses for reaching the final, in which they lost to 0-1 to Spain, included Keir Starmer, the Labour leader.
Starmer said it was “heartbreaking” but that he was “so proud of the England team who inspired the whole country” and that this was “just the beginning for the Lionesses”.
Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, was sent to represent England, but James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, also flew out on behalf of the government and was part of the World Cup presentation lineup.
