Football Has Come Home - The Lionesses’ Road to Glory
The England Women’s team in a huddle after a victory.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
After a year of delay due to the knock-on effect of the pandemic, the Women’s Euro finally kicked off in England at the start of July, in which 16 national teams fought for the most prestigious international trophy in European soccer. After the 2018 World Cup, where the men’s team got knocked out of the semi-finals, and in the 2020 Euros, the men’s team lost the final on home soil, and the Lionesses were looking to do something the men’s team couldn’t: bring football home.
England and Austria walking out to the field for the opening game of the tournament.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
England entered the tournament as one of the favorites, alongside other European giants such as Spain, Sweden, and reigning champion Netherlands. Even though the odds don’t exactly favor them, the Lionesses were determined to reach the top on home soil.
England players celebrating after the goal against Austria.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
England opened the tournament against Austria. They looked shakey and weren’t able to convert their chances. Nevertheless, they were able to come away with a 1-0 win. Their second game was against Norway. Norway was not one of the heavy favorites, but they still have world-class players such as Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg. However, England did not hold back.
A Beth Mead hattrick, Ellen White double, Georgia Stanway penalty, Lauren Hemp tap-in, and Alessia Russo header locked in an 8-0 win for England. This dominating victory also guaranteed England’s progression to the knockout stages. England closed out the knockout stages with a 5-0 win over Northern Ireland, securing the top spot in the group.
England’s quarter-final opponent, Spain.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
England’s quarter-finals opponent was one of the favorites, Spain. The Spanish team has improved significantly in recent years with the rise of FC Barcelona Femení, the Barcelona women’s team which nurtured many young Spanish talents.
However, some of the best Spanish players were unable to play due to injuries, such as the most recent Ballon d’Or winner Alex Putelles. Nevertheless, even though Spain was not at full force, they gave England a tough time.
Toone running off to celebrate after scoring the equalizer against Spain.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
There had been a few good chances before England’s White put the ball in the net. However, the goal was ruled out because she was offside. The first goal came in the second half when Esther Gonzalez gave Spain the lead. Spain was defending fiercely until the dying minutes of the game. Ella Toone came on as a substitute and leveled the scoring for England, sending the game into extra time.
Just five minutes into extra time, Stanway released an absolute rocket at the edge of the penalty box to give England the lead and eventually the win for England. They then went through to the semi-finals to face another favorite, Sweden.
Russo scored an outrageous backheel goal against Sweden in the semi-finals.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
Sweden has always been one of the major talent suppliers in Europe. They always have a well-rounded team with players playing for European clubs, but England was not intimidated at all. Mead, Lucy Bronze, Fran Kirby, and Russo combined to put four through Sweden. Russo scored an amazing backheel goal as the cherry on top.
Once again, England was headed to the Wembley Stadium for a major international trophy. The only obstacle standing in their way was eight-time women’s Euro winner Germany.
England faces Germany once again one year after the men’s Euros tournament.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
The Germany-England rivalry in soccer is a story as old as time. If there is any team that England doesn’t want to lose to, it will be Germany. However, England had a bit of luck as Germany’s top scorer Alexandra Popp got injured during the warm-up before the game. Therefore, one of Germany’s most significant threats was out of the equation.
Both teams had their chances in the first half, but both weren’t able to capitalize. Germany was very close to getting the ball across the goal line in a scramble after a corner. The ball touched England captain Leah Williamson’s hand, but the referee decided no penalty was necessary.
Toone chipped the ball over Frohms for the lead.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
England barely escaped the first half unscathed, and Germany continued the pressure in the second half.
As a German goal looked closer and closer, Keria Walsh sent Ella Toone through the German defense and set Toone up for an audacious chip pass the German keeper Merle Frohms. The Wembley crowd erupted in cheers as England took the lead, once again at a Euro final. However, Germany was not going to give up easily.
Their constant attempts to break through the wings tired out England’s left-back Bronze, resulting in a lot of space for Germany to form their attack on the right side of their attack. Tabea Waßmuth set Lina Magull up for a brilliant finish to equalize. Once again, the game was sent into extra time, similar to the men’s Euro final one year ago.
England took the lead in that match, the opposition equalized, the game went into extra time, and they eventually lost in the penalty shootout. Every single England fan in the stadium still remembers that pain vividly. They were so close yet so far in the tournament a year ago. However, the Lionesses were willing to do anything to prevent history from repeating itself.
Kelly celebrating her extra-time game-winning goal with her teammates.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
10 minutes into extra time, England earned a corner. Hemp swung the ball in from the right, Bronze had a touch on the ball for a weak attempt on goal, and Chole Kelly blocked out German defender Felicitas Rauch and tried to redirect the ball. Kelly missed the ball, but Frohms and German defender Kathrin Hendrich couldn’t clear the ball.
The ball bounced out to Kelly, and she made her second attempt count, poking the ball across the line. Again, the Wembley stadium roared, and the England bench cleared out as players rushed to embrace Kelly. England had the lead once again, and they refused to give it up this time.
Bright and Williamson embracing each other after the full-time whistle was blown.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
As the final whistle was blown, emotions were high. England had not won an international trophy since the men’s team’s World cup victory in 1966. Back then, women were banned from playing soccer. 56 years of pain later, the women’s team brought home what the country was longing for, international glory. As the English say, “Football is coming home.”
The England women’s team lifting the Euros trophy.
Credit: Twitter @leahcwilliamson
Earlier this year in England, it was found that girls don’t get equal access to playing soccer in their PE curriculum. That sparked a huge debate in England as girls should be able to choose what they want to do. This Euros triumph is the best proof. If these women could not make their own choice to play soccer, England would still be waiting for that international trophy.
This is why it matters. Representation. My daughter doesn’t have to have an interest in football. She just has to know that it’s an option. That she can become anything she sets her little heart on. From a princess to a lioness. And everything in between. #Lionesses #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/TIkWuD4gxu
— Kevin Windsor 💙 (@Reni_Von_Skwid) July 31, 2022
England captain Leah Williamson gave an emotional interview after the game, saying, “I’ll tell you what? The kids are alright!” The center back also said, “It [winning the Euros] is the proudest moment of my life, until the day I have kids I suppose.”
Williamson celebrating in England’s game against Spain.
Credit: Twitter @leahcwilliamson
When asked about how this moment could affect women’s sports, Williamson said, “The legacy of this tournament is to change the society, it’s everything that we’ve done. We’ve brought everybody together, we’ve got people at games, we want them to come to WSL(Women’s Super League) games, but the legacy of this team is winners, and that’s the start of the journey.”
This Women’s Euro tournament broke multiple attendence records.
Credit: Twitter @Lionesses
This Women’s Euro became the best-attended tournament in Women’s Euro history. Just the final itself attracted 87,192 fans, so it is safe to say this is the most successful Women’s Euro tournament yet. The tournament was a huge step forward for women’s sport; this is just the start.
