On 31 July 2022 the Lionesses made historical past, Chloe Kelly’s aim in further time incomes a 2-1 win over Germany to safe a primary main title at Euro 2022. The house Euros had swung the nation behind the staff and girls’s soccer has not seemed again. What did the day of the ultimate appear like? Forward of the Lionesses starting their title defence, that is the within story of English ladies’s soccer’s best day.
Waking up on the morning of the ultimate, there was an eerie air of calm and confidence within the England camp.
Lucy Bronze, right-back: We stayed at The Lodge, at Tottenham’s coaching floor. It was the one evening we moved accommodations. The blinds had been computerized they usually opened on the hour, each hour, from one o’clock within the morning. So everybody got here to breakfast with luggage underneath their eyes and we had been like: “Oh my God.” It wasn’t an important begin. Fran Kirby was livid. She was so drained as a result of she hadn’t had a great evening’s sleep. I distinctly do not forget that.
Leah Williamson, captain and defender: The blinds broke, opening and shutting all evening, and I’m considering: “If we lose right this moment it’s going to be due to the blinds.” And we had been at Spurs, The Lodge, I had some emotions about that.
Jorge Bronze, Lucy’s brother: We drove down the evening earlier than and stayed in Twickenham. I’ve an enormous soccer-mom-style van, so it was me, my spouse, our on the time three-year-old and one-year-old, and my mum and pop. My one-year-old, Alzira, took her first steps. That was fairly an thrilling begin. You’re already nervous however you then’ve had this pretty large youngster milestone in amongst it.
Alex Greenwood, defender: In case you’d have come into our camp within the morning, you’d have thought it was a day without work. It was so relaxed, so chilled, you wouldn’t assume we had been about to play a Euro last. I’ve by no means felt a extra assured staff. I’ve by no means been round that earlier than. It was fairly particular. Even once I went all the way down to breakfast and I seemed across the room, I used to be considering: “We’re going to win right this moment.” I might really feel it. Not in an boastful manner in any respect, simply in a extremely assured manner.
Robyn Cowen, BBC commentator: Waking up, I didn’t really feel nervous, I felt actually calm really. I’d carried out plenty of work, so I felt ready, which isn’t at all times the case, particularly after changing into a father or mother, looking for that point to do all of the prep, however I felt calm and assured.
Chloe Kelly, ahead: I despatched my household a message that stated: “Let’s get pleasure from this big day, we don’t know what number of of those moments we’ll get to spend collectively,” and I actually bear in mind messaging them saying: “Think about we have now one other Bobby Zamora second, nevertheless it’s me.”
Olympic Means was flooded with followers arriving at a sold-out Wembley, a report crowd for a European Championship last of 87,192.
Williamson: I used to be very, very emotional, I obtained a textual content from [former Arsenal and England player] Kelly Smith, we had been driving to Wembley and the helicopter was following us. It was all very thrilling. I’d been very excited for each sport however I used to be nervous for the ultimate. When Kelly despatched me, that was what set me off.
Deborah Dilworth, head of ladies’s soccer on the Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation: It was essentially the most magical day. Attending to the Wembley steps and feeling the ambiance, wow. Not that anyone frightened that there’d be the identical state of affairs because the yr earlier than [when fans without tickets forced their way into the men’s Euros final] nevertheless it was so starkly completely different to really feel the ambiance, a good looking buzz, as you went as much as the stadium. There was simply a lot vibrancy and color. It was like a effervescent pleasure, not pressure.
Cowen: Round 1pm I arrived. I used to be in a Winnebago with our staff, [BBC presenter] Gabby Logan, mystic Fara Williams [who had correctly predicted England’s semi-final scoreline], Alex Scott, Ian Wright, Kelly Somers after which Rachel Brown-Finnis and plenty of the individuals who had been taking care of us, and it was weirdly calm. Rachel was your typical footballer – very superstitious. One in all her superstitions was we’d at all times have a pizza earlier than the sport, she had one earlier than the Spain quarter-final, so she wished one once more.
Lucy Bronze: I don’t bear in mind a lot till the warm-up. I can’t even bear in mind travelling to the sport. I believe, once we sat on the bus, we had been simply type of with one another.
Jorge Bronze: We took the household and associates bus that was placed on for us, an old-school doubledecker, and it was a ridiculously scorching day. It had no air-con and we had been caught in visitors for hours on the way in which in. There was the choice of going to a little bit pre-party however my abdomen can’t take the nerves on a day like that so we had been within the stadium whereas it was empty, earlier than 4pm, proper behind the dugouts. We’re all in with all the opposite family and friends. You at all times know who’s associates and households as a result of they’re carrying shirts which might be too tight, as a result of they’re carrying certainly one of their daughter’s precise worn shirts and we’re not as match because the gamers.
Akua Opong, a volunteer with the Group London Ambassadors programme: I spent a lot of the Euros at both King’s Cross or Piccadilly, serving to followers with data to make their manner throughout London to matches, however had an occasion conflict as I used to be additionally volunteering on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham. After ending the shift I raced to discover a tv. I watched the ultimate with a pal and it was chaotic. All over the place was packed. We went from place to position in search of someplace to look at it. We finally ended up watching it in a Weatherspoon’s.
Sophie Downey, author and co-founder of Ladies on the Ball: It was 10 years to the day that we’d been at Wembley for Group GB towards Brazil, the place Steph Houghton scored to beat Brazil in entrance of 75,000 individuals on the Olympics. That was one of many actual first catalysts for the expansion of the sport, the second England woke as much as the game a little bit bit, and the sport that triggered Ladies on the Ball, so to be there 10 years later was unbelievable. The distinction was stark. There was such a buzz across the place.
Simply earlier than the 5pm kick-off, information that the Germany ahead Alex Popp had injured herself throughout the warm-up solely furthered perception.
Lucy Bronze: Sat within the altering room, the massive speaking level was that Popp wasn’t enjoying. [Head coach] Sarina [Wiegman] got here in and stated: “Popp’s not even within the beginning XI.” An enormous a part of our gameplan was tips on how to cease her, however we had been a bit like: “OK, it doesn’t actually change a lot, we nonetheless need to play towards good gamers.” That gave us a lift, although, understanding that the most effective gamers within the match wasn’t enjoying.
Downey: It was England v Germany and something might occur, however once we obtained the information that Popp was injured I had a sense that perhaps, perhaps this is likely to be England’s time. Dilworth: Because the gamers got here out for the anthem, I simply thought, no matter occurs, that is an iconic second in ladies’s soccer and I hope the gamers get pleasure from it, however equally, the followers had been large in that match and deserve that second simply as a lot because the gamers. I assumed: “That is it, that is ours, we’re going to win.” The hope and pressure at kick-off had been palpable.
Cowen: Normally at Wembley, tv commentators get an important view. For some purpose, as a result of it was a match, the broadcasters had been shuffled round a bit and we had been in a radio seat with a extremely dangerous view. That was my first “oh no” second. This was a bit too low. We had been additionally proper in entrance of [BBC Radio] 5 Reside, and since I’m very small, I’ve to face up for 98% of video games, but when I stood up right here 5 Reside couldn’t see. So I spent many of the match in a kind of half-squat place.
Within the first half, Germany had been aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty for handball in twenty fifth minute when the ball appeared to strike Williamson’s raised arm.
Williamson: I bear in mind Rachel Daly shouting at me: “What’s the VAR examine for?” I knew that it was going to be an in depth name. I nonetheless stand by the principles, it hit me on the highest a part of my arm, above my sleeve. Genuinely, after that, there’s solely a few ideas I bear in mind, primarily that my c ousin was pregnant and I actually hoped we wouldn’t go to penalties as I didn’t know if she was going to make it by that.
Lina Magull’s 79th‑minute equaliser cancelled out Ella Toone’s second-half chip over Merle Frohms and compelled the ultimate into further time.
Jorge Bronze: I didn’t even really feel nervous, as a result of we had been nonetheless on the suitable trajectory. We had been fairly in management all through I felt, like there was going to be a second and it was coming. I had no worry of penalties coming. I used to be calm, which as a member of the family just isn’t often my expertise. Usually I’m kind of near a gentle coronary heart assault watching Lucy play. However not at that last.
Rachel O’Sullivan, co-founder of Ladies on the Ball and a photographer at Wembley: I used to be sitting subsequent to a German photographer. I don’t converse German, she didn’t converse English, however we had been each dwelling the other feelings. Each time Germany got here ahead, I used to be tremendous confused, and he or she was tremendous excited, and vice versa. Even with out actually talking, we knew what every of us had been going by.
Cowen: When it went to further time, I used to be considering: “OK, I do know what’s going to occur right here.” I began to attract out a penalty shootout grid. I’ve saved that web page as a memento. I did really feel that penalties was the place it was headed; it was Germany, it will have been so “England” and there had not been a shootout within the match.
Within the a hundred and tenth minute, England gained a nook and Chloe Kelly urged the gang to make extra noise.
Kelly: Utilizing the house crowd for our benefit, I at all times try this if I can; gee up the followers a bit, and I attempted in that second to essentially get the gang up and going.
With penalties looming, Kelly pounced, delivering from shut vary and pandemonium ensued.
Khiara Keating, watching along with her household from the stands,now a member of the Euro 2025 squad: I might have cried. I used to be speechless. I checked out my mum and was like: “Has that really simply occurred?” Then the entire stadium erupted and I assumed: “Wow, we’re really going to do it!”
Kelly: My job is to be there for the drop-downs and to assist get the keeper to remain in her aim, and because it dropped to me, I simply thought: “Get this in!” Then I used to be simply completely buzzing.
Jorge Bronze: Lucy would declare an help for Chloe’s aim. I believe there was at the least sufficient nudging across the field that Lucy’s presence brought on some havoc for Chloe to then stick it in. All of us principally began crying at that time.
Dilworth: I hugged my dad and I used to be near tears. I used to be simply tingly on the truth we had been moments away, it was a shocked feeling, of fascinated with what this second was in historical past for ladies. The larger that means was greater than the sport.
O’Sullivan: For these video games, as a photographer, you by no means know which finish to take a seat in goes to be the very best finish to be at to get the important thing aim. I used to be on the improper finish for the Chloe Kelly aim, nevertheless it didn’t matter. I used to be capable of get far more of the gang and far more the response. It was a kind of video games the place it felt like issues labored out the way in which they had been alleged to work out.
Cowen: After Chloe Kelly scored, I used to be sure Germany weren’t coming again. It was only a masterclass by England to maintain the ball within the nook. Gamers like Jill Scott particularly had been completely good and he or she had that iconic swearing second [Her outburst went viral.
Greenwood: I love how we kept the ball in the corner, I loved those bits of the game the most. After the goal, we were so good.
Lucy Bronze: I was like: “Yeah, we’re England. We can see this game out. No problem at all.” I’ve not watched the game back, [but] I bear in mind Chloe shouted at me at one level as a result of she obtained a yellow card for taking her shirt off. Keep in mind, I performed the entire sport and he or she hadn’t, and he or she was like: “You’re going to need to waste time on the throw-in and get a yellow card as a result of I can’t.” I used to be like: “You bought a yellow card since you scored and I’m going to be the fool getting a yellow card for losing time?” I didn’t in the long run, however I bear in mind her saying: “You might want to waste time for the staff. I can’t do it.”
The ultimate whistle and trophy carry prompted an outpouring of emotion in addition to reflection how far ladies’s soccer had come.
Williamson: Seeing everyone’s faces, I felt like I used to be on that pitch for ever. I’ve watched the sport again yearly nevertheless it’s an out-of-body expertise. All we saved saying to one another was: “We did it.” That was the emotion. It was a factor to be carried out, and we did it.
Jorge Bronze: The match felt like the primary time in my expertise the place help for the ladies felt far more honest, relatively than: “Oh, aren’t the ladies doing effectively?” There was a transparent narrative shift, the place really profitable the match turned actually necessary to everyone. That felt like a second in historical past. In the meantime, my son, Freddie, sat together with his iPad, headphones on, completely uninterested. He’d carried out effectively, it was a scorching day, and my poor spouse, Charis, had Alzira in a sling, roasting – not perfect. I bear in mind then the prospect of being again on that sodding bus for one more hour, however moods had been elevated at that time.
Cowen: I’m actually proud that it’s my voice on the commentary of it however, as a result of I used to be so centered on getting it proper, I did barely miss out on the “going berserk”, as a result of it was extra of a aid that I hadn’t stated something mad. On the finish, I turned to throw to Rachel [Brown-Finnis] for some phrases and he or she was simply crying. It was a beautiful second, as a result of she, like all of the ex-Lionesses, is so supportive and I’m in awe of them; how none of them are bitter that they didn’t have these benefits, the pay gamers get these days, of their time. As a substitute they’re simply so humble and simply so proud to have performed for England, so I used to be so happy for her, particularly.
Downey: I used to be only a wreck. I used to be sitting subsequent to a journalist from the lads’s sport who I believe had are available considering it was simply a mean day on the workplace however by the tip, as I used to be sobbing into my arms subsequent to him, he went: “Take pleasure in this second, they don’t occur fairly often,” and he actually understood the gravity of it and the way a lot it meant to these of us who’ve been plugging away within the sport for a really very long time. Then you must then go and work, which I discovered actually onerous and odd. I needed to put the sport face on once more to do the quotes piece for the Guardian. So I went and sat in Sarina’s press convention and that was completely loopy as a result of the gamers got here in, Mary Earps obtained up on the desk and danced and the gamers had been all singing. Very, very particular reminiscences.
Greenwood: The second the ultimate whistle went, it was like an out-of-body expertise. After I recall that sport, I take into consideration nothing however the last whistle and that pure aid. I don’t know whether or not I ran forwards, backwards, perhaps I went to Leah first. I don’t know. All I do know is it was the most effective moments of my complete life. The stadium sounded unbelievable.
Celebrations on the evening spilled into Trafalgar Sq. the next day.
Kelly: It was good to spend time with each household, it was such a particular evening. The ladies created particular reminiscences. To do it on house soil was unbelievable, having all my household within the stands. All my brothers, my sister, my little nephews, my nan, my mum and pop, my now husband Scott, had been all there.
Cowen: Again within the Winnebago, it was whole euphoria. Fara Williams had by some means managed to acquire a bottle of prosecco from someplace, and he or she popped the cork inside a really small Winnebago, which most likely wasn’t the most secure factor. We placed on music and danced round for a little bit bit, earlier than going for some meals and a bit to drink, however I had a toddler at house. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have gone house so early, however even within the second, I assumed: “I need to go house to see my household.” After which, for my sins, I do love a KFC, I solely deal with myself to 1 when it’s a extremely good sport and I assumed: “Robyn, you deserve it,” so I had rooster and chips round midnight.
Jorge Bronze: We went into the resort and waited for the gamers to reach and there have been crowds of individuals on the resort. We stayed there till about 1am. Georgia Stanway obtained some Maccies [McDonald’s] in, since you’re not allowed to eat shit throughout the match, so the very first thing was like: “get some Maccies”. So, I’ve obtained some nice pictures of Luce sat with a trophy and Freddie stealing some chips, carrying the medal. I put them [his children Freddie and Alzira] of their automotive seats to return to the resort they usually each fell asleep immediately.
Opong: Once you get to expertise sure moments in life, take it. In case you can go, go. They’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so I simply needed to be on the parade in Trafalgar Sq.. I can’t put it into phrases. I bear in mind leaving the parade considering: “I don’t even know what I’ve simply witnessed.” Each single a kind of ladies who gained the Euros have given a lot again to communities. They confirmed what you’ll be able to obtain with teamwork and cohesion. They’re such a particular unit.
England begin their defence of the European Championship towards France on Saturday 5 July.
