Lionesses

We've come a long, long way together
Through the hard times and the good
I have to celebrate you, baby
I have to praise you like I should

I have to praise you
I have to praise you
I have to praise you
I have to praise you like I should

(Fatboy Slim, Praise you)

Norman Cook is on the loud speaker and the 77,000 + crowd dance in unison. Children with foam hands point them skywards, parents cradling infants bounce to the beat, and my family shuffle with a choreography reminiscent of Jackson 5. What some in the crowd might not be aware of is the profundity behind the dance track.

In 1921 the women’s game was banned with claims that it could cause ‘infertility.’ It took fifty years for this to be lifted, allowing women to play competitively again. In 1989 the national team played their first fixture at Wembley with around 500 people in attendance. This year 12.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the women’s team’s semi-final with USA, making it the biggest television event of the year. Today, I’m in a stand flanked by a six-year-old boy who knows all the players names; the players’ families who’ve supported their partners, daughters, sisters through thick and thin; and my brother, up just above me, in the press box, an expert on the sport.


From being banned from the game to paying to play these women have come a long, long way together. The invitation that went out to former players to be guests at this fixtures feels deserved. They were the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. They were the ones who played without financial support. They were the ones who were sneered at for kicking a ball. They were the pioneers who made all of this possible.

The 1971 team.

Since their semi-final defeat to USA, England’s form has been woeful. Subsequent defeats to Sweden, Norway and Brazil have made the side go from world beaters to also-rans. On top of this, their solitary victory against Portugal was unconvincing. Conversely, Germany have scored 31 goals in the last four games. Many have come here expecting an England victory. It’s understandable. They still see that tackle by Steph, and when White scored, Bronze belting the ball and Nobbsy dancing (in the studio). That was the World Cup party though; the hangover has kicked in; there’s doubts whether manager Phil Neville is the paracetamol or the poison.


The game does not start well. Some intricate German passing leads to a centred cross that's headed in by Alexandra Popp. Much like the business end of the World Cup, England have got off to a poor start. Germany are unlucky to add to their lead. The England passing is clueless and wayward; Germany, on the other hand, are moving with rhythm and fluidity. Their coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg has only been in the job for twelve months – months fewer than her opposite- yet her team seems to understand sequence, dancing to her direction.

At the game.

England are thrown a lifeline when a gorgeous Ellen White pass leads to Beth Mead being fouled in the box. Nikita Parris steps up to the spot. She missed two penalties in the World Cup. To miss one may be regarded as misfortune, to miss both looks like carelessness. Her wild lash down the middle of the goal is saved by the stray legs of the keeper. Perseverance does sometimes lead to success, but here it seems Neville’s persistence on Parris from the spot is another shovel to a deepening hole.


The team do draw level on the stroke of half-time though with an eye of the needle pass from Keira Walsh leading to Ellen White slotting home. In all honesty England do not deserve this. They’ve been outplayed, passed and manoeuvred by the young German team. But we don’t care. The children scream, the mothers beam and the dad’s dance. Football is coming home.


After the break England perform better, the intensity is upped, adopting a firmer press and an in-your-face approach to the German side. Off-the-ball things improve, yet on the ball there’s still a pinball game of possession-dispossession. The team’s approach seems mirrored in the touch-line. Neville is in and out of his technical area, appearing unsure what to say and do. The passion is there, but the tactical know-how of how to change things seems missing.

Under pressure. Pic. Getty Images.

As we enter the final minutes, Germany score. Steph Houghton, an inspiration in so many ways, on this occasion is found wanting. Instead of locking Buhl down, she gives her the key to Wembley; it’s not long before the centre forward escapes to celebrate.


With the rain bucketing down and England defeated, it should be a source for sorrow. But it isn’t. People came in their thousands. Paying to watch world class athletes on the biggest stage of all. They saw the marauding monster of Lucy Bronze and the fox-in-the-box Ellen White. Household names. With a better manager, these individuals have the chance to become a great team – like Germany were today. Come rain or shine though there’s a feeling that these women are going to be supported regardless. With Team GB in the Olympics next year and the Euros coming to England in 2021, the focus will only grow, the glare intensify.


From mocked to praised. From anonymised to popularised. We’ve come a long way.

Now, let’s go further.


England’s next game is on BBC 4 on Tuesday, kick off 7.15.