Euros will raise bar for women

THERE have been promises made about taking the women’s game to another level before.

Promises which have either proved false dawns or a message lost in the rush towards a new Premier League season.

But at Old Trafford last night something felt different.

It was evident beforehand in the streets around this storied stadium, it was in the crowd of 68,871 (a new UEFA womens’ Euros record) and, most importantly of all, it was out on the pitch.

England and Austria kicked off a tournament that if this is anything to go by is going to be a cracker. It was fast, skilful, physical and it was very good.

Women’s football has in the past seemed unsure whether to promote itself as something different to men’s football or the same game. And in the past it has been easy for detractors to push the narrative that the two remain miles apart.

Yet, there can be no doubt that the gap has narrowed.

And if England go far in this tournament or even make the final at Wembley on July 31 this will be a game changer.

It took five minutes or so of last night’s Euro 2022 opener for nerves and adrenaline to work through the system, but after that England played by far the better football, dominating possession.

There was no mistaking this night had a different feel stripped of booze and testosterone.

There was frenzied dancing in the crowd at half-time which lent a feel of a concert.

But they were not here for the DJ, they were here for the football – thousands of young girls proudly taking ownership of a sport which until far too recently was just borrowed when boys took a break. More than 2.63million over the age of 16 play football in England, making it the top participation sport for women and girls.

Last night’s match and the remainder of what promises to be a superbly-supported tournament, will hope to hook in as many again.

‘Not Women’s Football. Women play football’ read a slogan on the advertising hoardings. It seemed to hit the nail on the head.