Record crowd as England win at Euro | The Express Tribune

MANCHESTER:

England supervisor Sarina Wiegman hailed a report crowd of 69,000 as a testomony to how far the ladies’s sport has come, because the Lionesses began Euro 2022 with a 1-0 win over Austria.

The attendance smashed the earlier greatest for a match on the girls’s European Championship by practically 30,000.

The overwhelming majority contained in the Theater of Desires acquired what they wished to see as Beth Mead’s early purpose ensured the hosts claimed victory regardless of a sub-par efficiency.

“It was unimaginable, (there are) no extra phrases,” mentioned Wiegman. “It’s unbelievable, from the place we have come from, to be taking part in right here at Previous Trafford in entrance of 70,000. I hope they hold coming and they’re going to as a result of we have bought out stadiums.”

Residence benefit is simply one of many the explanation why England are thought of among the many favorites to win their first ever main event within the girls’s sport.

Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to victory at Euro 2017, is now unbeaten in 15 video games since taking cost in September.

The load of expectation appeared heavy on the hosts in a nervous begin.

Nonetheless, they kicked the event into life in type on 16 minutes when Fran Kirby’s lofted cross picked out Mead and the Arsenal ahead calmly lifted the ball over her membership teammate Manuela Zinsberger.

Carina Wenninger made a determined try and clear however the ball had simply crossed the road earlier than she intervened.

England then settled into the rhythm that has seen them rating 85 targets and concede simply three within the Wiegman period.

Ellen White ought to have added to her report 50 worldwide targets for England when the Manchester Metropolis striker headed huge a tempting supply from Lauren Hemp.

Zinsberger then confirmed why she is among the greatest goalkeepers on the earth with an important cease to show Hemp’s effort over in first-half stoppage time.

England’s power in depth shone by in complete pre-tournament pleasant wins over Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

But this time, a triple change from Wiegman on the hour mark to introduce the youthful legs of Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo made little impression.

As an alternative, simply as when the edges met in World Cup qualifying in November, England needed to accept a slender margin of victory as Austria stood agency and will have even snatched a shock level.

Mary Earps was compelled to show Barbara Dunst’s curling effort from outdoors the field behind earlier than making a extra routine save from Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller as England held out.

“An important factor is profitable that first sport,” mentioned England midfielder Georgia Stanway, who gained participant of the match.

“It places you in a great place, having the ability to settle ourselves into the event. There may be room for enchancment.

“The event was large, after all there have been some nerves.”

England face Norway subsequent in Brighton on Monday in what is anticipated to be their hardest take a look at of the group phases.

Austria tackle event debutants Northern Eire on the identical day in Southampton.