Opening game: England starts EM mission with victory against Austria

Cautious start in the “Theatre of Dreams”: The English footballers shed the burden of high expectations with some effort and won the opening game of the European Championship on home soil against Austria 1-0.

68,871 spectators at Old Trafford in Manchester did not get to see any football fireworks from the big favorite for the title at the start on Wednesday evening (July 6th, 2022). In the duel between two semi-finalists from 2017, however, the “Lionesses” showed a solid performance against the Austrians in the Bundesliga – and above all that they did not let the euphoria in the host country roll over them. “It’s indescribable. What a great night,” gushed goalscorer Beth Mead into the BBC microphone. “It’s great to start the tournament with a win.”

The English FA has proclaimed the Euros in football’s motherland as the “biggest European women’s sporting event in history”, set to break all records and bring England their first major trophy. At the start, more fans came to a European Championship game than ever before, but the atmosphere in the stands and the sporting performance of the protagonists could be improved.

Austria with Billa as the only leader

While the fans of the hostesses only debated the amount of the opening win before kick-off, the main question for neutral spectators was: What would the Austrians counter the “wall” at Old Trafford? After the short-term absences of Maria Plattner (broken collarbone) and Lisa Kolb (corona infection), national coach Irene Fuhrmann sent a 4-1-4-1 formation onto the field, with Nicole Billa from TSG Hoffenheim as the only leader.

Mead puts England on course

But the outsiders didn’t touch concrete. On the contrary: In the early stages they had more possession and put the English side under pressure a few times. After a good quarter of an hour, the “Lionesses” got the game under control. Beth Mead chested a high pass from Fran Kirby at the penalty spot and lobed the ball over Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger. Ex-Bayern defender Carina Wenninger tried to save on the line, but the video assistant’s check brought the final certainty: the ball was in the goal, 1-0 for England (17th). For the Arsenal winger it was the 15th goal in the last 15 international matches.

Kirby strong midfield engine

Even if no further goals were scored before half-time, everything in England was now in flux. The defense stood solid and midfield engine Fran Kirby initiated the dreaded wing play of the Wiegmann team with precise passes to Mead and Lauren Hemp. Goalscorer Ellen White was a bit unlucky when she dived into one of Hemp’s dreaded crosses, but her header just missed the target (26′). Hemp himself failed in stoppage time against Zinsberger (45+1).

Austria defends itself bravely

The fact that team boss Sarina Wiegmann would not be satisfied with a 1-0 lead at the start was made clear with a three-way substitution after a good hour. Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo should boost the offensive game. In addition to goal scorer Mead, the strong Kirby and White also had to give way, who is probably not fully recovered after a corona infection in the run-up.

The Austrians, who lost their debut at the European Championship five years ago in the semi-finals to Denmark on penalties, for a long time posed almost no goal threat. In the 78th minute, however, England goalkeeper Mary Earps had to stretch for the first time after a long-range shot by Barbara Dunst. In the end, the outsider didn’t manage to win in the eighth game against the “Lionesses”, but in the other games against Norway and Northern Ireland Austria is not without a chance in Group B. England are now unbeaten in 15 games.