The sound is becoming more familiar after every Lionesses triumph, a cacophony of ABBA blasting from the changing room that even the band’s Bjorn Ulvaeus conceded had helped to soften the blow of Sweden’s semi-final collapse.
England’s camp has been “electric” since reaching the final of Euro 2022, and Lauren Hemp admits “there were tears at full-time”. The Manchester City forward has spent more of the tournament grinning than crying, including during the national anthem.
“I just think whenever the camera’s on me, I just giggle to myself,” she says. “I’m obviously always focused on the game, but that’s my way of relaxing – just being myself, the smiley person I am.”
It is part of the reason that England’s success has become so infectious. Yes, there are underlying meanings behind all this, 101 years on from the FA’s decision to ban women’s football. Millions have been converted and it appears to be an ever-increasing minority that maintains this is a sport “quite unfit for females”, as it was put in 1921.
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Wembley beefs up security for England's Euro 2022 final despite trouble-free tournament30 July, 2022The societal significance of lifting a first major trophy at Wembley on Sunday would not be lost on Sarina Wiegman’s side, but they do not make it their raison d’être.
They are to here to win football matches and by that count, they have already fulfilled Wiegman’s promise to “make the nation proud”. How often do you hear England fans talk about Kieran Trippier’s free-kick in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals; now think about how often you’ve rewatched the Croatia goals that followed.
The 8-0 record-breaker against Norway. Alessia Russo’s backheel. The opening ceremony at Old Trafford. Georgia Stanway’s rocket. “TOOOOONNEEE”. None of this will be forgotten, whatever happens in north London this weekend.
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England Women have long had a hardcore following, but these players are now household names. Football fans who would have struggled to name the starting XI at the turn of the year now have strong views on whether Russo should be starting (her current rate is a goal every 39 minutes from the bench), why Wiegman was right to put Leah Williamson in defence, and on how Lucy Bronze will slot into the Barcelona defence.
Rocketing numbers of girls will join grassroots clubs and the 90,000-seater Wembley Stadium will be sold out. The last time England and Germany played in the final in 2009, the occasion was taken in by just 15,000 fans.
We have slowly been getting there, and Sunday feels like the final destination. In England’s way stand Germany, the eight-time European champions who have conceded one goal all tournament (the same number as England) and yet the hosts are still favourites.
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England went into this tournament as the eighth-best team in the world, and have blown the official rankings out of the water. There was never any doubt that they had the players. Millie Bright is a powerhouse in defence, Russo is one of the WSL’s great prodigies in the last two years; Ellen White is one of the greatest goalscorers in English history and with a brace against Germany, she can surpass Wayne Rooney at the top of the list.
What was up for debate was whether all these elements would come together.
“I think we’ve just been the England that we want to show, and we’ve done that, we haven’t changed anything,” Hemp says.
“Whenever we’ve come up against teams that have played different styles, we’ve just stuck to what we do, and I think that’s important and that will be important for the final as well. We’re just going to make sure we show the country what we’ve shown so far – and hopefully put on a show.”
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