England football fans have gone wild outside Wembley and across the country after winning the Euro 2022 final.
Crowds roared while cars tooted their horns near the 90,000-strong stadium as the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 after extra time, securing the first major tournament title for any England team since 1966.
Trafalgar Square erupted into celebrations as England won the match, with chants of "it's coming home" belted out as a light drizzle came down.
The large TV screens had to be temporarily turned off after revellers went into the fountains.
Pubs were also packed as the nation was gripped by the nail-biting final, which saw Chloe Kelly score a late winning goal, while a record TV audience of around 20 million were glued to their sets back home.
As the players celebrated on the pitch everyone at Wembley was up on their feet, singing along. And while there was disappointment for Germany, their fans stood up, waving flags as Sweet Caroline began to play.
England fans were at the edge of their emotions. Emma Baring, 31, from Brackley, Northants, was at the match with other members of her women’s football team, Halse United.
She said: “I cried twice today. When I was at school I wasn’t allowed to play PE with the boys, I wasn’t allowed to play football.
“To see the Lionesses, full-time, earning a living from it, is so good. The whole atmosphere and everything here is amazing. And now we are going to be celebrating like mad.”
Emma Harmeston-Taylor, 40, from Chessington, Surrey, took her son Lennon, 12, and football-mad twin daughters Maddy and Millie, 10.
She said: “The Lionesses are incredible, They’re such great role models for my daughters. They love Millie Bright. My Millie was told a little while ago that she wasn’t allowed to be on the boys-only team at school and she was very cross about it. Getting girls into the game is so important.”
Stockbroker Stuart Jones, 42, from Sevenoaks, Kent, was with his daughter Araya, seven, who sported a glittery England heart on her cheek.
Stuart said: “I’m a massive sport fan in general and have been following the women’s team for a long time. It’s really important that my daughter has been able to see these great role models for the women’s game. This win means a lot.”
The day had started with a feel-good, party atmosphere.
The atmosphere in the tube to Wembley was electric, everybody singing Football’s Coming Home, Vindaloo and playing vuvuzelas. At the stadium itself, fans were dancing and singing outside, and queuing up to get temporary tattoos and their faces painted with the England flag.
Some Sweden fans were even sporting the St George’s flag on their cheeks, even though England had knocked them out 4-0 in the semis.
Inside the ground, the mostly-female crowd – the largest at any women’s or men’s Euro final – danced to Becky Hill and Ultra Nate, and then let out a roar as the team came on.
Young girls waved their flags, and their giant blue foam fingers.
All were tense by half time, with a 0-0 score. Then, just a few minutes after coming on as a sub in the second half, Ella Toone scored England’s first goal, and the crowd went wild, dancing and waving GOAL! signs.
The man next to me said: “That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard Wembley.” An impressive save by keeper Mary Earps three minutes later raised the roof again. The England ‘barmy army’ were on hand to play the Great Escape.
But the tension returned in a humid Wembley when Germany’s Lina Magull scored an equaliser.
In the nail-biting half an hour of extra time, the fans around us were largely quiet and on the edge of their seats... until another substitute, Chloe Kelly, scored a storming goal.
In Wembley there was celebration, but also that sense of disbelief, which only grew as the last second of the clock ticked down.
Norwich-based couple Marcella Voetig, 33 and Tim Brown, 42, were sitting together, despite Marcella being German and Tim English.
Tim said: “We’ve enjoyed the tournament together, but today there’s been no love lost. A friendly, but fierce rivalry has developed.”
Evie Hatton, an eight-year-old footie fan, from Derby, said: “An amazing atmosphere and a brilliant achievement for the girls.
“I’m so happy.”
With fireworks going off and glitter falling on to the pitch as the Lionesses hugged each other and did victory slides, the crowd roared their new adopted football anthem Freed from Desire, changing the words to England’s On Fire.
Thousands also watched the thrilling game on open-air big screens and many more tuned in at home, with the TV audience expected to smash the previous record of 11.7million who watched England’s World Cup semi-final against the USA in 2019.
In Manchester, the gates were closed at the 2,000 capacity fan park and hundreds more clambered onto walls outside to get a view of the two big screens.
Jeanette Dixon, 45, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was with her two excited children, Callum, 14, and Ellie, 10.
Ellie, who a midfielder for her local team Stalybridge Celtic under-11s, said: “It has been brilliant.”
Carly Grace, 36, from Oxfordshire, was visiting family in the North West with her daughters Elissa, 13, and Lauren, 10.
Lauren said: “I like to play football but I don’t normally watch it. But I’m really excited about the women. It has been brilliant.”
Sister Ellie added: “Normally it is the men who are on the big screens but now it is the women and lots of people are watching it.”
Emma Mooney, 43, from Loughborough, was visiting Manchester with her son Dylan, 14, and Lily, 12.
Perched on a wall to get a better view of the action, Lily said: “The tournament has made me a lot more interested in football, especially the women’s game. It has been so exciting.”
She added: “I wanted the Lionesses to win but it didn’t really matter if they lost because they did still so well."
One of the youngest in the crowd was four year old Yasmine Doe waving an England flag with her dad Sahr Doe, from Droylsden, Greater Manchester.
“I noticed she liked to watch the football on TV so I thought I would bring her here and she has really enjoyed it” he said.
Dozens of youngsters gathered Aylesbury United WFC, the former club of Lionesses forward Ellen White, in Bierton, Aylesbury, to watch the game.
And fans enjoyed the sunshine and the big screen entertainment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s Central Park and at Tamworth Castle, Staffordshire.
Meanwhile, nine-year-old England fan Emily Pritchard from Lichfield donned face paint and waved a St George’s Flag as she cheered on her heroes for the first time at Wembley.
Emily, one of the new generation of footy fans and a player for Lichfield City girls’ team, said: “I can't believe what a thrill it’s been to come here and see England win - I'm so excited!
“The crowd and the noise has been fantastic. It has made me love football even more. It’s been a brilliant day."
Dad Jon Pritchard, 41, an Aston Villa fan, added: “I bought our tickets for the final for £60.
"It has turned out to be the best money I have ever spent. The tickets were selling like hot cakes before the match, for hundreds of pounds.
“But I would not have missed this for the world. It was an unforgettable experience, especially for all the children in the crowd."
Soccer-mad saleswoman Paris Cooper, 32, of Portsmouth, Hants said: “I always thought that the women would bring it home.
"What a great day for the game in this country, the tournament has changed how we view theh women's game.
"I bought my ticket for the final months ago. But I always thought it would be a England v Germany final.
"It’s fantastic that it’s been the women who have finally ended
England’s 56 years of hurt.
“I only follow women’s football because the atmosphere at games is so brilliant. You get all fun and no aggression and fans who all genuinely love the game.
"The atmosphere before, during and after the match was incredible.”
Nurse Dionne Carroll, 44, of Bournemouth, Dorset joined thousands of fans celebrating in the streets around Wembley.
She said: “I am so proud and it is such a privilege to be here. I've never been to a football match before today but what a great experience.
“The fans helped our girls bring football home. Let’s hope our men can play as well at the World Cup.”
Fans spotted Harry Kane, captain of Gareth Southgate's side, in the crowd and believed he would "see how it is done".
The 87,192 attendance set a new record for any men or women's Euro final, beating the 79,115 at Real Madrid's Bernabéu for the 1964 men's Spain v Soviet Union clash.
In Ella's local, the Union Arms in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, they belted out 'Umbrella', the Rihanna song featuring the line 'Ella, Ella, Ella.'
Sharon Mattin, the landlady, showed the action on six TVs with the staff wearing 'Come on England' T-shirts.
In Wembley, the fans celebrated her goal with a Mexican wave and raised the roof as the ball dropped into the German net to put England 1-0 up.
Within a matter of seconds, the Germans broke forward and hit the bar - only this time, unlike 1966, the ball did not bounce over the line.
The nation came to a standstill as Sarina Wiegman's side sealed their place in history.
Streets and town centres emptied as bars, clubs and beer gardens were packed with millions of jubilant supporters.
It gave shops and businesses a huge boost. Some 4.6 million fans watched from pubs, bars and restaurants, spending £46.1 million and supping 8.7 million pints.
Those watching from home are estimated to have splashed out £92.1 million on booze and snacks.
