What an incredible performance from the Lionesses last evening.
The introduction of new coach Sarina Wiegman seems to have spread confidence like confetti throughout the squad.
Whilst other teams have struggled in the second half throughout the tournament Weigman’s substitutes seem to just make the side better.
In last night’s Semi-Final it was Sweden who started the strongest and were denied by a sensational save in the first minute, then the crossbar and later again by Mary Earps, who was once again in fine form between the posts.
Once Beth Mead scored the opening goal, the game opened up a little, although England will have been relieved to go in at half time one nil up.
Very quickly into the second half Lucy Bronze settled nerves by adding a stunning headed second goal. Now the momentum was truly with England and Wiegman introduced Alessia Russo, she was immediately into the action, posing a threat and the goal she eventually scored was totally audacious. Breaking through and shooting the ball rebounded off the keeper, the Swedish thought they had nullified the immediate threat by ushering her away from goal, they were wrong. With back to goal and at a sharp angle Russo back-heeled the ball through several sets of legs and into the far corner. In interview after the game she said she was trying to make up for missing a sitter!
By the time Fran Kirby broke through to score the fourth the Swedish team didn’t seem to know what had hit them. Many had tipped them to be tournament winners, so they carried a weight on their shoulders. They had started the game more brightly but this England team had found a way to break them down and, more importantly, had taken their chances. It’s a cruel game of winners and losers but last night belonged to the Lionesses.
It was very special for me to watch the bright talent that is Alessia Russo because several years back I did a few pieces on the England U17s and their faithful supporters, who travelled from tournament to tournament to support them. Alessia was one of those players and I managed to get the view from her father – I wonder if back then he would ever have imagined the starring role his daughter would be playing at the EUROs or that they would get to see her play in the final at Wembley.
Huge credit has to go to the new coach but also to the ones that have gone before who have all played a part in creating the England set up and of course to Baroness Sue Campbell the FA’s Director of Women’s Football. Just this week the FA has announced 60 new Emerging Talent Centres for girls.
But as Ian Wright said in commentary there is still more to do and unless there is a real legacy from this tournament then it won’t have achieved anything, although I am sure that Sue Campbell will be planning the next steps to capitalise on this success.
Now, onto the Final but who will England face – France or Germany?
