Home of football statistics and historyThe potential is there for 2022 to be quite the year for England’s national football teams, with two major tournaments set to be played out in the space of six exciting months.
A global audience will lock collective gazes on Qatar throughout November and December, as another World Cup final takes place in the men’s game, but prior to that there is a UEFA European Women’s Championship to enjoy on English soil.
Said tournament promises to be as competitive as ever, with major silverware very much up for grabs in a continental event that leaves reigning world champions from the United States and Olympic gold medallists from Canada on the outside looking in.
Host nation England have every reason to believe that their time has come, with tales of ‘so near, yet so far’ becoming as prevalent in the women’s game as they have been in the men’s. The Lionesses figure prominently in betting on football markets at the moment. Anyone looking to bet on Women’s EUROs can back them at 4/1 to claim the ultimate prize.
The talent is certainly there in Sarina Wiegman’s squad to suggest that a long wait for tangible success can be brought to a close, with few sides able to match the potential and pedigree of Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson, Ellen White, Beth Mead and Ella Toone.
A golden generation for England will, however, need to buck a concerning European Championship trend in order to get their hands on a prestigious prize.
All or nothing
The Lionesses have been hit and miss throughout their Euros history, with an all-or-nothing theme first set in motion during a maiden outing on such a stage in 1984. Back then, an agonising penalty shootout defeat was suffered at the end of a two-legged final encounter with Sweden.
Three years later and the same opposition inflicted a semi-final setback after extra time, while in 1995 – after missing out on three tournaments – old adversaries Germany proved too strong in the last four.
Moving things on into the 21st century and there has been more of the same from England. Group stage exits were endured in 2001 and 2005 before coming good again to finish as runners-up to Germany in 2009.
A place in the knockout rounds proved out of reach in 2013, before once again reaching the semi-finals in 2017 only to find eventual winners the Netherlands blocking their path.
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To put all of that into context, the Lionesses either make at least the semi-finals of any European competition or bow out without making any kind of impact. The last four stagings of a star-studded event have delivered group stage elimination or a sustained bid for ultimate glory – there has been nothing in between.
That sequence of results suggests that home supporters should not get too excited about goings-on this summer, with a sporting rollercoaster apparently on its way back down, but the potential is there to make history rather than more unwanted headlines.
The Lionesses are capable of baring teeth and roaring their way to victory, with now the time to start booming instead of busting as another opportunity to become legends over also-rans presents itself.
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