For the Lionesses, it’s not all over – it’s only just beginning

To be there in the stands surrounded by 87,000 overjoyed others as the final whistle blew and the roof of Wembley came off truly was a privilege, writes Ben Burrows

The victory was no more than England deserved after an unforgettable tournament (PA)

When England last won a major international tournament, they thought it was all over. This time, you sense it is just the beginning.

That’s how The Independent’s man in the press box, Mark Critchley, summed up the Lionesses’ historic, Euro 2022-winning feat at Wembley on Sunday evening after Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal proved the difference to see off Germany.

As 23 special players now bask in the afterglow of a truly momentous achievement, it’s impossible to disagree with those words.

This team has inspired a nation over a wonderful month of football, with the jubilant peaks of Norway and Sweden only serving to set up the true high point at the very end – a first tournament win since 1966 and a first-ever for the women’s side.

This group, masterfully guided by the steady hand of Sarina Wiegman, had already done so much, thrilling the country with a whirlwind run all the way to the final.

But ahead of Sunday’s showpiece there was no doubt from those at the heart of it that they had to win it to truly make all their hard work worth it. And win it they did.

The victory was no more than England deserved after an unforgettable tournament in which they played like the best team throughout and were ultimately crowned exactly that. To be there in the stands surrounded by 87,000 overjoyed others as the final whistle blew and the roof of Wembley came off truly was a privilege, and a moment I will remember for a long time.

What comes next after such events is often a sore subject – the long-term impact or lack thereof of London 2012 is still being debated 10 years on – but there is wide acknowledgement that women’s football and women’s sport in general, at both the elite and grassroots levels, must be allowed to use this as a springboard so that the achievements of this special group shouldn’t be in vain.

The women’s game isn’t perfect by any means: the issue of diversity is a live one, while there is a recognition that the record-breaking attendances at this tournament must filter back down domestically when the Women’s Super League kicks off again next month.

Talk of legacy can wait just a little longer, though. Football has finally come home. No more oh so nears, as the song goes. No more years of hurt. For this brilliant team the future is only bright.

Yours,

Ben Burrows

Sports editor