The Lionesses may not have produced the perfect, free-flowing performance they were hoping for in their Euro 2022 opener against Austria at Old Trafford, but they could hardly have wished for a better atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams on 6 July.
A crowd of 68,871 – a record attendance for a European Women’s Championship match – watched Sarina Wiegman’s side get their campaign under way with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Beth Mead’s first-half strike.
Fans of both sides – including a large number of families – gathered outside the ground hours before kick-off, while the opening ceremony featured a spectacular pyrotechnics display. When Mead settled the home supporters’ nerves with her chipped finish off the crossbar, bedlam ensued among the home faithful.
“It was incredible. No more words,” Wiegman said when asked about the atmosphere, which set the tone for what has been a memorable tournament both on and off the pitch.
Sunday’s final crowd could break the crowd record for any Euros match – men or women – with the current landmark standing at 79,115 for the 1964 men’s final at Madrid’s Bernabeu.
Tickets have sold out for Wembley, which has a capacity of 87,200 for the Euro 2022 showdown between England and Germany.