In the end, all the fireworks at Old Trafford took place before the opening match of Euro 2022.
England are off and running, thanks to a goal from Beth Mead, but for large parts against Austria they failed to click into gear.
There were flashes of brilliance, such as Fran Kirby’s excellent pass for the goal and Mead’s lovely dinked finish, but the Lionesses lacked the fluidity they have shown in their 15 games unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman.
“We were a little rushed in the final third,” said Wiegman. “We did create lots of chances, but the final touch or the choice on the ball to shoot or to cross, we can do that better.
“We have shown different phases — some good, some not so good. We should have scored more and made it easier.”
If England’s performance was at times flat, the same cannot be said for the atmosphere at Old Trafford. Off the pitch, the Euros kicked off with a bang, as the stadium was filled with smoke following a pyrotechnic display during the opening ceremony.
A record crowd for a Euros of 68,871 created an almighty din before, during and after the game, with people singing Sweet Caroline so loudly at full-time that the England players could not hear Wiegman in the huddle she did on the pitch at the end.
“We need to delay Sweet Caroline next time because everyone gets a little too excited,” joked midfielder Georgia Stanway.
The FA want this tournament to be a landmark moment for the women’s game in this country and the scenes last night suggested that can most definitely be the case.
Old Trafford was packed with families and young children, and the memories made will undoubtedly have a lasting impact.
Sold-out crowds and party atmospheres are one way to grow the game, but the Lionesses will know that success on the pitch must back that up.
If England’s performance was at times flat, the same cannot be said for the atmosphere at Old Trafford
They will have to play much better than this if they want to go all the way, and a nervy display will not have struck fear into their rivals, but this opening win can be viewed as a steady enough start.
Getting off to a winning start is vital in the group stage, particularly in a 16-team tournament like this, and England will look to grow as the Euros progresses.
Often sides who sparkle in the group stages fizzle out in the knockouts, with those who build steadily having more success.
“Of course we want to win all the games, but it is very nice to have the three points in the pocket to go to the next game,” said Wiegman. “A good start really helps the team.”
This felt like a case of job done for England as opposed to laying down a marker, but there were elements of the performance that will have pleased Wiegman.
Kirby, who has had to battle to get fit for the tournament, excelled as a No10, while Lauren Hemp and Mead carried threat out wide. The midfield look solid too, with Stanway covering so much ground that she looks like a nailed-on starter for Monday’s match against Norway.
At the back, centre-back Millie Bright did not give Austria any change and right-back Lucy Bronze put in the kind of performance that showed why she has just joined Barcelona.
Wiegman has continually called for England to be more ruthless in attack and that feels like the biggest area for improvement, though.
England created enough chances to kill the game last night, with Alessia Russo and Ellen White guilty of missing good opportunities, and they will want to address that with tougher tests ahead.
England’s steady start can partly be put down to opening-night nerves. Captain Leah Williamson said on Tuesday that there would be a few nerves — and that was evident early on.
There were some loose passes and touches, but the Lionesses settled down and improved as the game went on.
England will hope that improvement carries on against Norway and they can match the fireworks off the pitch by creating some on it.
