‘Bigger and Larger’: The March of the Lionesses Inspires the Next Generation | Women’s European Championship 2022

Welcome to Moving the Goalposts, the Guardian’s new (and free) women’s football newsletter. Here is an excerpt from this week’s issue. To get the full version once a week, just enter your email address below:

Euro 2022 is almost over. If it were up to me, it would take forever. All the while we saw great energy in the stands, great football and all of England rallying behind Sarina Wiegman’s side. The idea is to keep the momentum going into next season. When the Football Association announced the fixtures for the 2022-23 Women’s Super League, it specifically said it would be “the greatest ever” because of the home championships.

Even after all the records and successes, there is still so much more to achieve. Anita Asante wrote last week about the lack of diversity in the England team and brings up a really important point – where are people looking for talent? Especially at a time like this, when visibility is high and more girls and women dream of playing football, it’s important to think about the future of women’s football in England.

Bloomsbury Football Academy manager Josh Arnold said he has seen an increase in the number of girls and boys looking to join their team in central London since the tournament began. “We often say you have to see it to be it. Maybe we’re missing an opportunity. It would be fantastic to see the diversity that really represents the young people playing the game. However, I believe that the current group of players has really inspired the next generation of young footballers.”

Founder of East London’s Victoria Park Vixens, Morgan Brennan, sees not dropping the ball after the EURO as the biggest challenge. For her, the legacy needs to be thought of in terms of making a broader impact on women’s football beyond professional football and major events. She said the Vixens have received many messages from women wanting to join and believes this will continue into the 2023 World Cup. “It’s getting bigger and bigger – record numbers of young girls playing football in the UK – so we expect that to continue.”

At academy and amateur level, it is hoped that the FA will increase investment in women’s football; that regardless of the results, women’s football in England becomes a source of joy, money and inspiration. Arnold and Brennan’s teams have screened games and some of their players have gone to the stadium to support England, which helps them deepen their relationship with the game.

Young fans in Trafalgar Square for the semi-finals of Euro 2022 in England. Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters

“I think if we continue to relate to the players like we do with the men, that interest will increase,” Arnold said. “We all have a relationship now with those people on the team and how they brought us together as a country, so now we should be counting down to the next competition, promoting tickets to their games and making sure they’re accessible.”

Brennan agrees. “You have young girls from all over the UK who can watch one of the games at the stadium and it wasn’t limited to London. Because it’s accessible and affordable, I think that really helped turnout. It was also amazing to see it on the ` and also to see it on billboards across the country. It’s definitely the greatest moment for women’s football that I’ve ever experienced.”

conversation topics

African awards After the Africa Cup of Nations Women’s title went to Banyana Banyana, many of the other awards went to South Africa. Andile Dlamini was the tournament’s best goalkeeper, Hildah Magaia’s two goals in the final made her woman of the match and South Africa won the fair play award. Player of the tournament, however, went to Ghizlane Chebbak, captain of runners-up Morocco.

Joy for South Africa after beating Morocco in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations – Women in Rabat. Photo: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

South America Brazil and Colombia secured their spots at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after reaching the Copa América Feminina final. On Saturday, 17-year-old Linda Caicedo will look to lift the trophy for the hosts as Debinha and Brazil seek their eighth continental title.

quote of the week

South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis after winning the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations: “I’m so happy. It took a long time. We worked so hard to get here. We came to this tournament knowing we had to take it one game at a time and here we are as African champions. Congratulations to all players and the team staff. This is for you, South Africa!”

Recommended view

England were already on their way to the EURO final but Alessia Russo had to do it. The combination of hoe and nutmeg was simply too much for Hedvig Lindahl in the semi-final against Sweden. Does Russo have eyes in the back of his mind?

Moving the Goalposts is taking a short summer break and will return on Wednesday 17th August