England take women's football to a new level as Austria win Euro 2022 as 68,000 fans go wild
There have already been promises to take women's football to another level. Promises that turned out to be false dawns or a lost message in the rush to a new Premier League season. But at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, something seemed different.
It was evident in the streets around this historic stadium beforehand, it was in the crowd of 68,871 - a new European Championships record, crushing the previous benchmark of 41,000 - packed into a full house, and above all it was on the ground.
England and Austria have kicked off a tournament that, if anything, will be a cracker. It was fast, skilful, physical and it was very, very good. Women's football has in the past seemed uncertain about portraying itself as something different from men's football or the same game. And in the past, it was easy for critics to push the narrative that the two stayed miles apart. each other.
Yet there is no doubt that the gap has narrowed as much as the physical differences between men and women would allow. And if England continue to go far in this tournament or even reach the final at Wembley on July 31, that will be a game-changer.
The opening ceremony had spewed fireworks and smoke into the stadium to the point that it looked like kick-off might be delayed. But when the mist cleared and the rainbow-coloured camper van delivered the match ball in the middle, England took matters into their own hands.
It took them about five minutes for the nerves and adrenaline to race through the system, but after that they played the best football by far, dominating possession. There was no doubt that this night felt different without alcohol or testosterone.
There was wild dancing in the crowd at halftime, which made it feel like a concert. But they weren't there for the DJ, they were there for the football - thousands of young girls proudly taking on a sport that until too recently was only borrowed when the boys took a break.
More than 2.63 million people over the age of 16 play football in England, making it the sport of choice for women and girls. Wednesday night's game and the rest of what promises to be a superbly supported tournament, hope to make up for as many.
"Not women's football. Women play football," read a slogan on the billboards. It seemed to hit the nail on the head.
Match Ranking by Neil SquiresEngland (4-3-2-1): Earps 7; Bronze 7, Brilliant 8, Williamson 7, Daly 7; Walsh 8, Stanway 8, Kirby 7 (Toone 63.5); Hemp 7, Mead 7 (Kelly 63, 6); White 6 (Russia 63, 6).
Austria (4-1-4-1): Zinsberger 7; Vienna 6, Wenninger 7, Schnaderbeck 6, Hanshaw 6; Puntigam 6; Dunst 6, Zadrazil 7, Feiersinger 7, Naschenweng 7 (Hickelsberger-Fuller 59, 6); Billa 5.
Woman of the Match: Georgia Stanway - Found space with smart runs from midfield and also won important tackles.
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spn) 7.
There have already been promises to take women's football to another level. Promises that turned out to be false dawns or a lost message in the rush to a new Premier League season. But at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, something seemed different.
It was evident in the streets around this historic stadium beforehand, it was in the crowd of 68,871 - a new European Championships record, crushing the previous benchmark of 41,000 - packed into a full house, and above all it was on the ground.
England and Austria have kicked off a tournament that, if anything, will be a cracker. It was fast, skilful, physical and it was very, very good. Women's football has in the past seemed uncertain about portraying itself as something different from men's football or the same game. And in the past, it was easy for critics to push the narrative that the two stayed miles apart. each other.
Yet there is no doubt that the gap has narrowed as much as the physical differences between men and women would allow. And if England continue to go far in this tournament or even reach the final at Wembley on July 31, that will be a game-changer.
The opening ceremony had spewed fireworks and smoke into the stadium to the point that it looked like kick-off might be delayed. But when the mist cleared and the rainbow-coloured camper van delivered the match ball in the middle, England took matters into their own hands.
It took them about five minutes for the nerves and adrenaline to race through the system, but after that they played the best football by far, dominating possession. There was no doubt that this night felt different without alcohol or testosterone.
There was wild dancing in the crowd at halftime, which made it feel like a concert. But they weren't there for the DJ, they were there for the football - thousands of young girls proudly taking on a sport that until too recently was only borrowed when the boys took a break.
More than 2.63 million people over the age of 16 play football in England, making it the sport of choice for women and girls. Wednesday night's game and the rest of what promises to be a superbly supported tournament, hope to make up for as many.
"Not women's football. Women play football," read a slogan on the billboards. It seemed to hit the nail on the head.
Match Ranking by Neil SquiresEngland (4-3-2-1): Earps 7; Bronze 7, Brilliant 8, Williamson 7, Daly 7; Walsh 8, Stanway 8, Kirby 7 (Toone 63.5); Hemp 7, Mead 7 (Kelly 63, 6); White 6 (Russia 63, 6).
Austria (4-1-4-1): Zinsberger 7; Vienna 6, Wenninger 7, Schnaderbeck 6, Hanshaw 6; Puntigam 6; Dunst 6, Zadrazil 7, Feiersinger 7, Naschenweng 7 (Hickelsberger-Fuller 59, 6); Billa 5.
Woman of the Match: Georgia Stanway - Found space with smart runs from midfield and also won important tackles.
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spn) 7.
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