By Ode Idoko in London
It was a moment of glory at Wembley on Sunday when the British national women’s football team, the lionesses devour Die Nationaelf, the German national women football team.
The Euro 22 women championship victory which followed a dramatic extra time victory over Germany, was the first major tournament England’s women have ever won.
It was also the first tournament an England senior team, either male or female, have won since Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup in 1966.
The streets of London were extremely busy with buses and trains packed to full capacity with fans wearing the three lion jerseys going to the venue. Many trains had to divert from planned stations to Wembley.
The female team monumental achievement in taking the final step that Gareth Southgate’s side were agonisingly unable to do at Wembley last year felt like the lancing of a sporting boil.
All the years of hurt are over. The victory meant three teams to the English football. Firstly, football has finally come home. Secondly, English football has risen again after many unsuccessful attempts at major trophies. Lastly, it represents an unreserved determination as German has always had upper hands of precious encounters.
It was not only a fantastic result for Sarina Wiegman’s team but it could be a seismic one for the women’s game in this country which was banned on FA-affiliated grounds from 1921 to 1971.
Part of the team’s mission in these Euros was to raise its profile and create more opportunities for young girls to play.
They have emphatically achieved part one. Yesterday’s Wembley attendance of 87,192 was the largest for any Euros match – men’s or women’s – in history and millions watching on television.
Now comes part two. Thirty-seven per cent of schools do not offer girls’ football. The clamour from parents and children alike for them to do so, on the back of the Lionesses’ success, will be loud.
The domestic club game is primed for take-off too.
The average crowd for a Women’s Super League game last season was 1,931 but with heroes like yesterday’s match winner Chloe Kelly, from Manchester City, to promote it now there is also likely to be an explosion of interest when it restarts next month.
There can be no going back from this for women’s football in this country. And, who knows, the Lionesses’ triumph might even inspire Southgate’s England side at the World Cup in Qatar in November.
