Jacqui Oatley has been reporting on the women’s game since England hosted the Euros in 2005 – after the elation of this summer, she hopes the Lionesses’ triumph can be a platform for even more progress
A single moment can alter everything – it can change perceptions, break new frontiers and attract a whole new generation of fans. Alessia Russo’s semi-final backheel against Sweden was that kind of moment.
I watched that incredible goal with my daughter, and suddenly had the feeling of being in a car dropping over the crest of a hill. My stomach turned over. I just thought, ‘Wow, something special is happening here’. Nobody mentioned ‘women’s football’ when that goal went in – it was just football. The barriers were down.
Euro 2022 provided a whole summer of extraordinary moments like that. England supporters had the privilege of seeing the Lionesses lift the trophy on July 31, but fans from every nation were treated to a tournament of high-quality displays, intense competition and scintillating action. With Wembley packed to the rafters for the final, and a reported 17 million people watching on television across the country, it was clear that people of all ages, genders and backgrounds were proud to call this England team theirs.
To be totally honest, I’ve always felt that women’s football would get to this stage some day. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of times when I’ve seen just how far behind the game has lagged, and how it’s been derided for not being good enough. But it was obvious to me that perceptions would eventually change once players turned professional, as many are now. That’s not to say women weren’t talented in the past, but how could they have been expected to maximise their potential while holding down jobs on the side?
This summer, more so than ever before, women have dazzled. We saw talents like Lauren Hemp, just 22 years old, flourishing on the biggest stage after honing her craft on the training pitch at Manchester City. People who might normally criticise the technique, quality or goalkeeping have been impressed – from Beth Mead’s lethal finishing to Mary Earps’ rock-solid stops. Euro 2022 has felt like a genuine breakthrough. But then, we’ve been here before…
After we hosted the tournament in 2005, reached the final in 2009 and packed stadiums for women’s games throughout London’s 2012 Olympics, organisers spoke of turning a
