After another clinical display from England at the Women’s Euro 2022 on Friday night, beating Northern Ireland 5-0 in Southampton, two of the crowd chants stuck in the mind. The first related to the Lionesses winger who has now scored five goals in three matches, and went to the tune of Gala’s 1997 hit Freed from Desire. “Beth Mead’s on fire,” fans sang. “Your defence is terrified! Na-na-na!”
The other song, less original, will be familiar to England supporters over the past 26 years: “It’s coming home! It’s coming home! It’s coming … Football’s coming home!” The Lionesses, like the men’s team, have historically underperformed in major tournaments, but at this summer’s home Euros there is genuine, realistic optimism that this time will be different. In three games so far, England have scored 14 goals, conceded none. The next test of Sarina Wiegman’s squad is the quarter-final in Brighton on Wednesday evening.
