The English fans felt vindicated after the Lionesses’ opening win against Austria. Your team is the big favorite for the European title – it would be the first in their history. Group victory and participation in the final are firmly planned, the tickets have long been bought.
The opening game of Euro 2022 in front of a record crowd of 68,871 spectators at Old Trafford? No interest! A little blond boy with his bright red noise protection headphones was mentally somewhere else. While all the fans around him greeted their team and caused a deafening noise, he was not distracted by his smartphone game. Bent over the screen, he preferred to play “Animal Revolt Battle Simulator”.
Before the game there is nervousness
But hardly anyone was as relaxed as he was on the day of the opening game at Old Trafford. Five hours before the start of the game, the streets in the district had filled up noticeably. Everywhere booths were opened where food, drinks and fan articles were sold. A middle-aged man even straight from the garden of his house.
“I’m really nervous,” said Phil from Birmingham, who was traveling with his daughter and her girlfriend, at the fan fest outside the stadium. At the same time, he made no secret of his expectations: “We’ll win our group, go to the final and beat Spain there.” And so nervousness mixed with great anticipation.
Old Trafford becomes a nationwide place of pilgrimage
Especially since the audience was completely different from what is usually found in professional football stadiums. Many families and groups of children and young people made the pilgrimage to Manchester from all over the country to watch the first game on the way to the big goal. Because they had so much time, nobody bothered to queue up in endless queues everywhere.
“The vibe is great,” said Emily from London. “It’s my first time here in 15 years, so Manchester is just so fun.” She and her friend have already bought tickets for the Wembley final. “It’s coming home – 100 percent. It’s definitely going to happen – we’ve waited long enough for it,” Rosely said. “We should avoid Spain and Germany for as long as possible. But with home advantage it will work.”
Organizer provides thick pyro smoke
Although rain was forecast for the whole day, the fans were lucky. Only when the stadium gates were already open did the thick gray clouds open their floodgates. In Old Trafford, unlike what is usual in Germany, the organizers themselves caused thick smoke – by burning pyrotechnics during the opening ceremony.
But even if the fans made as much noise again and again as a result. Overall there was a lack of atmosphere. Too often there was devout silence in the football temple. On the one hand, this was due to the brave fighting Austrians. On the other hand, England just couldn’t keep the sparks in the stands for the full season – and they didn’t always seem comfortable in front of the impressive crowd.
Joy and relief after the game
In the end, however, it was enough for the hosts to narrowly win 1-0 – and everyone who supported the “Lionesses” was satisfied. “England will make it all the way to Wembley,” said Josh from Hull, along with many others who left the stadium, beaming with joy. And: “I prefer to look at the women than the men. It’s more back and forth here.”
And he was not alone with this opinion: “The women’s game is more honest. There is no cheating, there are no swallows,” said Vince from Oxford, adding: “I’ve seen the team a few times and they have played better. But they won. And if you win six times, you have the title, right?”
The English fans have every reason to be in a good mood.
“The atmosphere was just incredible, I loved it – and I think England will make it to the final,” said Cath from Ulverston. “Come on girls!”
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that England can do it”
In the end, the blond boy also watched the game. However, his parents had “forced” him because they had taken his smartphone from him after a good hour.
“His big sister is a football fan. When we bought the tickets, we didn’t know that she was on a class trip. That’s why we had one ticket left over,” explained the mother, laughing.
It had taken the family an hour and a half to drive from Barnsley to Manchester. “He wouldn’t look when the men were playing either,” added the North Englishwoman: “We still have tickets for the semi-finals and the final. But then his sister will be back too. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that England can do it. “
There are more important things than football in the stadium.