It has felt like a lifetime since England lifted the European Championship trophy at Wembley, a mere two and a bit months ago, but suddenly walking into the national stadium, breathing the memories of that warm July evening, it felt like no time at all.
A rendition of “God Save The King” pre-match reminded everyone inside the stadium of how much can change in so little time, as once again a close-to-capacity crowd crammed into Wembley to watch the new champions of Europe take on the number one team in the world and the current world champions.
And it was befitting of the tag too. Some games get hyped and fail to deliver, this one didn’t. There was no “friendly” about it, as Emily Fox sadly found out when she got introduced to Georgia Stanway midway through the first half and had to be replaced by Hailie Mace.
Mace. Stanway. Everyone. All of them in the thick of the action during a pulsating 90 minutes under the lights at Wembley.
Sarina Wiegman is very rarely a woman to throw in a curve ball, but there was much discussion leading up to the game as to who would lead the Lionesses in the absence of Euro starter Ellen White and the injured Alessia Russo.
Could it be Rachel Daly? Finally? Would it be the young gun Ebony Salmon, who knows the…
