The evening after the night before, I’m still reconciling exactly what this England team has done over this last fortnight.
They lost their very first match to France and have, since then, found their form – and built momentum – as the tournament progressed.
In their Quarter Final and Semi Final matches they went behind. In the midst of the ecstasy of those wins, their post-match interviews were measured and honest. In interviews with Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Chloe Kelly, the tone was “we’re strong, we’re resilient, we know aren’t starting games in the best way, but we’re finding a way”.
Some of these individual stories have been remarkable.
Hannah Hampton being one of them. Her story and her performances through out the tournament, especially in these last three matches (two of which have gone to penalties), have been crucial. She she been a worthy replacement to her predecessor, Mary Earps.
Leah Williamson, who I’ve mentioned already, is another. I remember watching the live TV images of Leah Williamson and Billie Jean King chatting away, with passion and with focus, in the Royal Box during one of the Wimbledon Finals. I got goosebumps then, and I can’t help but wonder what words these two sporting powerhouses exchanged between them that day. (If you search their two names online, there are plenty of pictures and posts referencing this meeting of theirs).
And then there’s Lucy Bronze. Where to start? She has led by example from the back, running up and down the field from start to finish of every match, including these last 3 matches that have all gone beyond the 90 minutes. She revealed something yesterday that stopped me in my tracks:
“No one knew… but I broke my fibia before the tournament”.
Chloe Kelly, England’s heroine when they won their first major trophy, has seen herself frozen out of the Manchester City team in recent months. She created a move for herself to Arsenal, who won the Champions League this year. Last week, she celebrated the one-year anniversary of her marriage, calling it in a social media post “the happiest day of my life”. In an interview with The Times last year in which she opened up further on her wedding, saying:
“We’re in one room with everyone that you want to be there. I was more nervous than putting the ball in the back of the net against Germany. It doesn’t make sense.”
Coming off the bench yesterday, she created the equaliser that Alessia Russo beautifully rose for and headed into the net. Her words after the game?
“I knew I was going to score… I don’t miss two in a row!" She was referring to the penalty she initially have saved in extra time, before scoring with the re-bound, in the Semi Final against Italy.
I also think of Maya Le Tissier who, whilst is a rising star, had set up a WhatsApp group for the Euros tournament back in 2022 to celebrate images of their celebrations.
//
‘Clicking’ celebrations & group chats - how England are bonding, via BBC Sport
//
Something else I’ve noticed about this England team in an article I was reading in yesterday’s Times was many come from the middle and the north of the country, from rural towns and working class backgrounds. A marked difference from the backgrounds of those who find themselves playing sports like rugby and tennis, for example.
–
This England team are the first women’s team to win back-to-back Euro tournaments, and the first English side to win a major trophy.
~
I was heartened to see mentions of the love of wearing the English shirt, and the patriotism that shone through.
I find myself wondering how Thomas Tuchel and the England men’s team can feed off of this.
I think back to London 2012, the Olympics that saw a record medal haul, with investment being pumped into several sports following medal success. I think of Andy Murray who, up until that point, hadn’t won a Grand Slam. Beating Roger Federer in the Final in front of a home British crowd, he went on to win his first Grand Slam at the US Open a few weeks later, then won Wimbledon the following year (the first Men’s champions since Fred Perry in 1936), and went on to lift the Wimbledon trophy a second time, three years later.
There is much for the men to take from the example set by Lionesses' manager Sarina Wiegmann and what these players have achieved. Observing the post-match reactions on the pitch by the players and the coaching staff, morale is high (understandably) and, less obviously but more importantly (I would argue), the culture that has been created is strong.
I find myself thinking of the US women’s football team, and indeed of Mexico where the women’s football league there is one of the fast-growing in the world.
My Manchester United membership gets me a 1/3 off of women’s matches. I’m already casting my eye ahead to matches at Leigh Sports Village – and the likes of Maya Le Tissier, Grace Clinton (who came on as a substitute yesterday), Ella Toone and co.
And in London, you can watch 4 high-quality women’s matches at Chelsea’s iconic Stamford Bridge for as little as £55 with The Bridge Pass – including a fixture with newly-promoted side London City Lionesses.
The future of women’s football in the UK, and in England, is strong. I am looking forward to being a part of the story of the Lionesses and their counterparts, the Lions, over the months ahead and the years to come.
With the Women’s Super League growing year-on-year, there has never been a more exciting time for women’s football in England.
~
“I’m really proud to be English right now, and I’m proud to be part of an amazing group of girls."
– Chloe Kelly, post-final press conference (via BBC Sport)
