2022 & ALL THAT

Lionesses are the pride of a nation's football-mad girls

- NATASHA WYNARCZYK

THE mighty Lionesses lifted the Euro 2022 trophy knowing the biggest winner of this glorious tournament is women's football.

And for many in the 87,000-strong mostly-female crowd, the future for their game was what really mattered.

Emma Baring, 31, from Brackley, Northants, was at the match with other members of her football team, Halse United.

She said: "I cried twice today.

"When I was at school I wasn't allowed to play PE with the boys, I wasn't allowed to play football.

"To see the Lionesses, full-time, earning a living from it, is so good. The whole atmosphere and everything here is amazing. And now we are going to be celebrating like mad." And what celebrations they were.

For England fans in Wembley Stadium seeing that final 2-1 score was followed by a second of almost disbelief. An England football team had won their first international silverware since 1966 and against Germany at Wembley to boot - just like the men's World Cup win.

As the players celebrated on the pitch, everyone was up on their feet, singing Football's Coming Home. And while there was disappointment for Germany, their fans joined in as Sweet Caroline began to play. England fans were at the edge of their emotions.

Emma Harmeston-Taylor, 40, from Chessington, Surrey, was with her son Lennon, 12, and football-mad twin daughters Maddy and Millie, 10.