It was anti-climactic in the end. For a couple of weeks we were urged to get behind England’s women, who were hosting the European Championships. And we did. We did it in our droves, with millions tuning in and thousands turning out for England’s games in Manchester and Blackburn and hundreds booing Germany’s every kick.
And then it was over. Just when everyone had become familiar with the 11 names across the shoulders of the white and red shirts of England, just as people could have picked coach Hope Powell out of a line-up, just as — whisper it — people began caring whether a bunch of women playing football won or not, they were eliminated.
Some of the national press, who had sat in the stadiums typing with one hand while clutching the bell that would sound the death knell of women’s football in the other, couldn’t wait to get clanging. ”That’s the tournament ruined,” they cried. ”What now for women’s football?” they asked, in the kind of grave tones usually reserved for the prognosis of the terminally ill.
Well, let’s sort one thing out for a start. Of course it would have been nice had England been involved for longer — their appearance in the final would probably have filled Ewood Park — but the tournament is not ruined. The crowd at Ger-
many’s final group game, against France, attracted almost 4 000 people, more than their earlier match with Italy. And 15 000 tickets have been sold for the final as this tournament seems set to outsell its predecessor in 2001.
And what happens now for women’s football? It carries on growing, improving and being better supported … that’s what.
Football is the fastest growing women’s sport in the world, numbers in England have gone up by 30% in the past year alone. The young girls who raced down the stands to collect autographs at the beginning and end of each match [Powell and several team members couldn’t even watch Germany in peace] will be more interested now than ever.
They’ve seen the players in the flesh. They’ve felt the atmosphere inside the City of Manchester stadium where England walked out for their opener against Finland. They’ve been part of the hooting, whistling, we-love-you-England-ing madness of the crowd. They can put names to faces and have seen skills worth emulating. Those memories won’t fizzle out as quickly as England’s challenge did.
And for the team itself? Write them off at your peril. Faye White said before England’s all-important match against Sweden, ”We feel like this is our time.” It might not have been the right time, but this is certainly the right squad, and come the World Cup in China in 2007, even the likes of Germany will need to watch over their shoulders for England.
Powell’s was one of the youngest squads at Euro 2005, with an average age of 23 between youngsters such as 17-year-old Karen Carney and the more senior Vicky Exley (29). Rachel Unitt, Katie Chapman, Fara Williams and Amanda Barr are all under 23, while key players such as Faye White, Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey are 27.
Powell herself has a huge part to play in England’s success. The nation’s low ranking compared to other teams competing here means nobody will be calling for her head following England’s exit — and rightly so. She is an excellent coach who, unlike her male counterpart, is not afraid of experimentation when it comes to team selection or tactics.
She will always pick the best player, the player most likely to come up with a match-winning moment, over the player most tried and tested — as Jody Handley, who played on the wing throughout England’s friendlies leading up to the tournament only to be replaced by Carney, found out this month. Casey Stoney too has found herself on the bench more often than not after Powell picked out Everton’s Rachel Unitt as a livelier left-back. Powell has seven years in charge behind her, and the trust and respect between her and the squad will only improve between now and the World Cup.
And while Germany’s success relies on a well-oiled machine made of only the most stereotypically efficient cogs, Powell is lucky enough to count on the services of several players capable of coming up with the moment of magic that can turn a game on its head.
As we have seen, Carney is one of them, Smith and Yankey two more — they will be England’s trump cards in the World Cup, the next European Championships and, in the case of Carney, beyond. The young star already has the skills, the speed and the belief to rip a game wide open in the unlikeliest of circumstances, despite being a relative newcomer to Birmingham City’s line-up, never mind England’s. With another two seasons’ worth of experience under her belt, she can only improve.
The great thing is, these players have already got other countries worried. Denmark coach Peter Bonde admitted last week that, ”England have some of the best young players around — Carney, Smith, Yankey — on their day, they can beat anyone.”
Whatever happens to England in the coming years — and it’s certain Powell and her squad won’t be planning for the World Cup final just yet, they’ve done the hard work here this month.
Their positive play, their never-say-die attitude, Powell’s refusal to swamp the media with glib soundbites, has won the viewers over. Let’s face it, the more wholesome atmosphere and cheap tickets haven’t hurt efforts to get families of supporters into the grounds, but they could lose their next 10 matches and people would still watch, because they’re an exciting team. Every bit as frustrating as their male counterparts at times, for sure, but far more positive, and guaranteed to entertain. — Â