Chloe Kelly has described her yellow card in the Euro 2022 final as 'the best she's ever received' following her iconic celebration on Sunday evening.
The 24-year-old forward whipped her shirt off after scoring the winner in the 2-1 triumph against Germany at Wembley, securing England's first major honour in women's football. It instantly became one of the most iconic celebrations in English football history.
As per the game's rules, Kelly was booked for her celebration but didn't care as England became champions of Europe. Yet the famous celebration almost didn't happen. The Manchester City star initially hesitated before swinging her jersey high into the air.
Discussing her celebration on Good Morning Britain, Kelly revealed she hesitated because she was unsure if the referee had allowed the goal. Once Kateryna Monzul confirmed the outcome, the Lioness was free to take her shirt off and go "wild" at Wembley.
Kelly recalled: "I was looking at the ref and thinking: 'What's she calling here? Is she calling a free kick? Is it a goal?' And I think with everything to do with VAR and things like that, you're thinking: 'I don't want to celebrate too much, I want to make sure'.
"I was still holding my shirt then thinking: 'Is it coming off or what?' I didn't want to take it off and then they cancelled out the goal. But [once it was confirmed] then I was ready to take it off and go crazy."
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Kelly added: "Just that moment, everything is a blur and you celebrate for what the moment is and not: 'Am I allowed to take my shirt off?' I'm taking my shirt off and going crazy because a male footballer would be doing exactly the same. As women, why can't we?"
England's hero went on to joke: "[It's] the best yellow card I've ever received!"
Kelly was introduced in the 63rd minute of the final, shortly after Ella Toone opened the scoring for England. Germany midfielder Lina Magull equalised for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side before Kelly poked home the winner in extra-time.
England supporters were fearing the game would go to penalties before Kelly saved the day. Their male counterparts suffered heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final last year after losing to Italy on penalties... and they've lost to Germany on penalties before.
Yet the Lionesses had no intention of going to penalties. "I don't think the girls ever thought of penalties, even against Spain [in the quarter-final]," added Kelly. "We thought we were going to win in extra-time, we were going to win it in normal time.
"We weren't really looking at penalties. But I did say to the goalkeeper coach at half-time of extra-time: 'I'm not fancying a penalty'. And he said to me: 'Well win it then'." Hemper, she went out to take the corner and I said to her: 'Make it count, let's make this count'. And everything after that is a blur - until I took my shirt off!"
