Beth Mead’s sensitive lob after a quarter-hour was all that separated the sides within a tense 1-0 England win at a roudy Old Trafford, since Sarina Wiegman’s part secured a hard-earned three points which will no doubt settle the first tournament nerves.
England definitely improved as the fit went on and perhaps might have extended its perimeter of victory, yet a lack of care and cohesion in the final third meant a number of good opportunities had been squandered.
Austria provided sufficient of a threat to guarantee the match was never comfortable and Wiegman will know how much her team will need to improve if it is to live up to the hype of pre-tournament favorite.
There was little special event from England’s Dutch head coach once the final whistle blew, but her players remained on the frequency to take in the adulation of the home crowd on a historic night. As a whole, 68, 871 followers came to Old Trafford to watch the game, setting a new attendance record for a match in the Women’s European Championships.
With the final on July 31 planned to take place at Wembley Stadium, it’s most likely that record is going to be broken again. After Wednesday night’s efficiency, however , the most pertinent question is whether Britain will be one of the groups that make it there.
“The atmosphere speaks regarding itself, ” Gamer of the Match Atlanta Stanway told reporters after the match. “The occasion is enormous and, obviously, you will find going to be a bit of nerves.
“The noise [was the best thing about tonight], and even though it was hard to hear information, the noise just shows exactly where we’re at. Which is standard the supporters have set — bring the noise and we can rattle the particular opposition. ”
Stanway’s admission that her teammates struggled to hear Wiegman’s debrief in the post-match huddle gives some indication of the degree of noise inside Previous Trafford on Wed, as the players broke away prematurely to join in with the singing.
“Next period, we need to delay ‘Sweet Caroline’ [after the final whistle], ” she chuckled.
Neil Diamond’s classic song became the theme tune to England’s men’s run to the particular Euro 2020 final last summer as well as the women’s team may also be hoping to hear it a few more times in this tournament.
Excitement plus tension
Walking the particular four miles or so from Manchester’s Northern Quarter to Previous Trafford on the borders, there was very little sign that in a matter of hours the city would be web hosting the opening game of a major international competition.
Save for a handful of supporters in England shirts, it might be unlikely anyone visiting would have known there is even a match in any way.
Planners at the 2019 Entire world Cup in France were criticized pertaining to what some perceived to be a lack of advertising for the tournament, as well as for all the palpable pleasure there had been within the build-up to European 2022, the same troubles seem to still continue here.
Approaching Old Trafford, however , there was no lack of enthusiasm through supporters, thousands of whom had congregated throughout the ground more than 3 hours before kick-off.
These were confident, too. “Four-nil England, ” shouted one group, most of them wearing shirts having the name of Leah Williamson, the Lionesses’ brand new captain.
Their confidence is certainly not misplaced, as there is no doubting the planet class talent England has all across the pitch. The only concern coming into this competition was whether the gamers could cope with the weight of expectation to be favorite on house soil.
In the build-up towards the game, a number of the players spoke about the self-confidence that playing in front of home support would give them, but there have been some palpable nerves early on.
More than one errant move gifted Austria ownership in dangerous areas on the pitch, though a lack of end item meant England’s mistakes went unpunished.
‘Football’s Coming Home’?
It didn’t consider long for England to find its feet, nevertheless , as forays forward from wide gamers Lauren Hemp and Mead raised the decibels inside Outdated Trafford.
This was England’s 1st period of sustained stress and it was sufficient to break down Austria’s defense, as Fran Kirby’s lofted by means of ball found Mead, who coolly gathered the ball on her chest and lobbed the ball on the onrushing Manuela Zinsberger.
There have been slightly delayed celebrations inside the stadium because it initially looked as if Austria defender Carina Wenninger had managed to clear the basketball off the line, but a check of the referee’s watch and a strike of her whistle sent the Theatre of Dreams into delirium.
Lots of famous number sevens have graced the particular pitch at Aged Trafford — David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Cantona to name just three — and Mead’s finish was right for of the biggest online games to have been staged here.
The noise inside the stadium had been progressively rising since the end of the national anthems, but Mead’s objective ensured it was right now truly deafening.
This wasn’t long before the very first rendition of ‘Football’s Coming Home’ broke out in one small section of the stadium, though it failed to spread any further across the ground; perhaps followers were apprehensive of getting too ahead of on their own after the heartbreak of last year’s mens final against Italy.
Within the second half, Hemp began to show flashes of why she had come into European 2022 widely recommended as one of the star players to watch and with significant expectation on her shoulders.
The 21-year-old has been superb for club and country this year and her mixture of speed, close control and an eye to get goal have made her one of the most feared players at this tournament.
Hemp had been giving Laura Wienroither on the right of Austria’s defense the torrid time, yet an uncharacteristic lack of end product intended her twisting and turning came to absolutely nothing.
Along with just over 10 minutes staying, Austria created its best chance of the overall game and England had goalkeeper Mary Earps to thank to help keep the scores degree as she palmed away Barbara Dunst’s long-range effort.
That would be as good as it got for your visitor, which will without doubt be given a huge confidence boost after going toe-to-toe with this seriously favored England group.
When the Lionesses are to take a deep operate at this tournament, Wiegman knows the group will need more of the support that they received on Old Trafford.
“Incredible [noise]. It’s just unbelievable, ” the girl said. “We know where we originate from and playing here at Old Trafford, before 70, 000 people, bringing that sound. We hope they do that at other fits, we know we have sold-out stadiums. ”
Wiegman identifies the team has much room meant for improvement, but for at this point, she’s letting her players revel in a historic night.