Something big is about to happen in English football – and this time it’s got nothing to do with the usual culprits
SOMETHING big is about to happen in English football.
England’s women open the Euros, here on home soil, against Austria at a sold-out Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Twenty-five days later, the final will be at Wembley, and you would not bet against England being there to win it.
They are unbeaten under their Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, winning a dozen of her 14 games in charge.
In the three warm-ups, they were patient in getting past Belgium; occasionally frightening going up through the gears to beat reigning champions the Netherlands; and the Swiss were eventually beaten at a canter on Thursday evening.
England are not hot favourites, even though they are hosts. Sitting eighth in the world rankings, there are five European teams above them: Spain, Germany, Holland, France and Sweden.
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But we are right on their shoulders and with everything coming together bang on time, there is a lot to be excited about.
England have never been champions, but that could be about to change.
The senior members of the squad have put the agony of previous near misses behind them. The younger ones belong to a different era altogether.
This group have no monkeys on their backs. In front of them lies the thrilling possibility of being the first English women to win a major tournament.
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This England could do in England in 2022 what that England did in England in 1966.
We have some special talent at our disposal. Beth Mead is a force to be reckoned with and the way Lauren Hemp dances through defences is something to behold.
There is strength in depth, too. In the absence of Ellen White, Alessia Russo led the line brilliantly against Switzerland.
This team has grace about it, and no shortage of tenacity and grit.
Lionesses indeed.
Still not convinced? Women’s football not your thing? Well, I can’t change that, but I will say this: If and when England go all the way, you wouldn’t want to miss the party, would you?
Leah Williamson, the skipper, says she will suffer impostor syndrome when she leads her team out for the opener.
If she leads them all the way to the final at Wembley then you wouldn’t want to be jumping on the bandwagon then, would you?
Let’s get behind them from the start and join them on this journey.
Our Lionesses can make this a great tournament for all of us.
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And if you’re still in a grump, not having any of it, then just step aside, Grandad, and let your daughters and granddaughters and their brothers be enthralled.
Because, trust me, they’re all getting it, even if you’re not.