UEFA Women’s Championship 2022. A Hair Raising Performance.
Me: Yesterday we all watched England Women win the UEFA Women’s Championship with a 2–1 victory over Germany.
1st Person: I didn’t watch the game.
Me: Neither did I. That’s not the point.
1st Person: Eh?
Me: A year on from the men’s team losing their Euros final at Wembley stadium on penalties to Italy, England celebrated the first piece of major silverware for a senior side since the men’s 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.
1st Person: It’s kinda unfair on the women to be bookended by the men’s team.
Me: How?
1st Person: In 1971 the FA lifted a half-century ban on women playing organised football and only supported the women’s game financially and logistically in 1993. You could argue that the women’s game has achieved more in a shorter space of time than the men’s. That’s a standalone success is it not??
Me: Anyway, Chloe Kelly scored late into extra-time and secured a victory over our greatest footballing foe.
1st Person: Germany have won the tournament 8 times. Technically they’re the rest of Europe’s greatest foe.
Me: Oh, kay…. Many saw yesterday’s game as a bit of a grudge match as we lost to Germany in the final of 2009.
1st Person: Germany has beaten Norway four times in finals so if anyone should bear a grudge it’s the Norwegians.
Me: Whatever. The UEFA Women’s Championship was the most successful tournament so far with record breaking attendances and viewing figures. It’s great that our girls….
1st Person: Women!
Me: It’s great that our women won the Euros. However, England is a rich diverse nation. We celebrate diversity. Our country prides itself on accepting people as they are. Unfortunately I look at the winning team, who look very similar, and can’t help but ask the question, “It’s 2022. Why are women still going blonde?”
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