1
Cheerful young fans and nice atmosphere
An abundance of cheap tickets made Euro 2022 affordable for families, with children able to attend some group stage games for as little as £7.50. As a result, the stands were filled with many more children than is usually seen at international tournaments and the catering was doing as much trade in fizzy drinks and chips as it was in beer. It all made for a much friendlier atmosphere than you often get at men’s international matches. There was no booing of national anthems, no need for segregation, a much more minimal security presence and lots of dancing and singing.
2
Northern Ireland tournament debut
Northern Ireland’s qualification for their first tournament final meant that it was not just the hosts representing the home nations at Euro 2022. Northern Ireland, the lowest-seeded nation in the last 16, beat Ukraine in a playoff to reach the final. They only scored once in their three defeats in Group A, Julie Nelson’s goal against Norway, but midfielder Rachel Furness described being there as a game changer for Northern Ireland women’s football, she said that “the qualification for the European Cup has done wonders”.
Julie Nelson celebrates Northern Ireland’s first goal in a women’s tournament. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
3
A football lesson from France
Entering the tournament as one of the favourites, France fell short in the semi-finals. However, along the way they had dazzled Rotherham with a stunning first-half performance against Italy in their opening group game. Grace Geyoro became the first woman to score a first-half hat-trick in a Euro final as France led 5-0 at half-time. France’s first-half dominance was even more impressive than England’s 8-0 rout of Norway the following day. Italy’s eventual 5-1 defeat seemed to sap all confidence from the squad, who finished bottom of Group D.
Grace Geyoro prepares to put Italy to the sword in France’s opening game. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images
4
Alessia Russo’s scandalous heel
Georgia Stanway may be a little miffed that the all-out scorer in England’s tricky quarter-final against Spain was eclipsed as the Lionesses’ goal of the tournament by Alessia Russo’s stunning reverse against Sweden in the semi-final England had endured a tough opening against the Swedes, but when Russo had the audacity to try his heel back, it showed the arrogance with which the Lioness marches to Wembley.
Alessia Russo boldly scores England’s third goal against Sweden. Photograph: James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images
5
No heartbreak from the penalty shootout
Penalty shootouts may be the biggest drama a tournament can bring, but the Women’s Euros went through seven knockout games without them. England’s comeback against Spain and Linda Sembrant’s win for Sweden meant neither woman missed a fateful kick to send her nation home.
6
More good news for Neil Diamond’s bank account
Once again providing the soundtrack as England reached a final at Wembley, Neil Diamond has had a few more weeks to secure royalties for people performing Sweet Caroline. Even the Band of the Coldstream Guards from Buckingham Palace took part in the event.
Sweet Caroline played the changing of the guard before the Women’s Euro final – video
7
Alexandra Popp finally won a Euro
Terrible injury problems over the years have repeatedly robbed 31-year-old Alexandra Popp of a chance to shine in a European Championship final, despite winning more than 100 caps. But she had a tournament to remember when Germany arrived at Wembley, scoring six goals and becoming the first German player to score in five consecutive games in a final.
Alexandra Popp gives instructions during Germany’s semi-final win over France. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images
However, the Euro curse came back to haunt her when she was injured during Sunday’s warm-up and missed the final against England.
8
The stroller that could return
The first time a small remote-controlled car entered the pitch to deliver the ball to the referee before the opening match of the men’s Euro 2020 last year, fans were left wondering: “What are we doing to see?”
But it has since become a beloved staple of European tournaments. The car only appears in the opening game, semi-final and final, but was greeted with huge applause at Wembley on Sunday.
Volkswagen remote control car delivers the ball at Wembley. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/Uefa/Getty Images
The car, inevitably, has its own Twitter account. Don’t say that as soon as it’s out of bounds, someone unceremoniously grabs it and runs off, because obviously the little Volkswagen can’t be trusted not to return to the pitch during the game.
9
Chloe Kelly’s iconic celebration
Chloe Kelly’s gleeful run in the shirt to embrace the substitutes and England coaching staff after scoring what turned out to be the winner in the 110th minute was surely worth the subsequent yellow card for exuberant celebration . The referee who delivered it, Kateryna Monzul of Ukraine, had spent five days sheltering underground in Kharkiv while being shelled by Russian forces.
Chloe Kelly waves her shirt above her head after scoring England’s winner at Wembley. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
10
Audience record after audience record
The tournament had been talked about as a game changer in terms of attendance, and it broke record after record. The 68,871 for the opening game at Old Trafford, where England beat Austria, was a new record for the women’s game. Milton Keynes and Sheffield then in turn set new records for Women’s Euro games without the host nation.
On Sunday, 87,192 people watched the final. Held at the same venue as last year’s England men’s defeat to Italy, but without Covid restrictions, it became the best-attended Euro final in history, breaking a record that had held since 1964.