Football finally came home, and in style, as England won Euro 2022 at Wembley on Sunday.
It was a stunning route to the final, where they dispatched eight-time winners Germany; scoring 22 goals and conceding just twice along the way.
The dramatic finale was watched by a crowd of 87,192 at the national stadium - the biggest-ever attendance for any Euros game, men’s or women’s.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman signed off her post-match press conference with the simple statement: “We changed society today.”
Here’s how they did it...
Group stage 1-0 v Austria (July 6, Old Trafford)
England underwhelmed on the opening night but a tense win gave them lift off.
A good finish from Beth Mead was a sign of things to come, as was a smart save by Mary Earps.
Group stage 8-0 v Norway (July 11, Amex Stad)
A dazzling display established the Lionesses as the team to beat.
Georgia Stanway got things going with an early penalty, Lauren Hemp got the second, Mead netted a hat-trick, Ellen White scored twice and Alessia Russo came off the bench to score on a record-breaking night.
Group stage 5-0 v Northern Ireland (July 15, St Mary’s)
With qualification secured, England continued their sparkling form.
Fran Kirby struck first, Mead scored again, Russo made another impact as a substitute with two goals and Kelsie Burrows’s own goal sealed victory.
Quarter-final 2-1 (aet) v Spain (July 20, Amex Stad)
Having been just six minutes from a calamitously early exit, England fought back to propel themselves into the hearts of a nation.
Ella Toone volleyed in an equaliser to send the match into extra-time before a rocket from Stanway settled an absorbing contest.
Semi-final 4-0 v Sweden (July 26, Bramall Lane)
After three semi-final defeats in a row, England powered past Sweden to reach Wembley.
Earps was called into action early on but England dominated once Mead scored her sixth goal of the finals. Lucy Bronze added a second, Russo scored an outrageous backheel before Kirby made it four.
Final 2-1 (aet) v Germany (July 31, Wembley)
Eight-time winners Germany provided a true test of nerve but the Lionesses joined the World Cup heroes of 1966 with an historic victory.
Toone scored the opener before Lina Magull finally breached the England defence, but Chloe Kelly pounced in extra-time.
