A curious sight appeared in the London skyline late on Monday evening. Tower Bridge stands 43 metres high at its centre and for a few moments its entire span was emblazoned with an image of England’s captain, Leah Williamson: bedecked in brilliant England white, a ball at her feet. This was not an isolated phenomenon. Around the same time giant light‑show Lionesses started popping up all over the capital: Lucy Bronze on Battersea Power Station, Demi Stokes on the Thames Barrier, Keira Walsh on the façade of the National Gallery.
Coming two days before the biggest women’s sporting event to be held in England, the symbolism was clear enough. For decades these women – and the thousands before them – have scrapped and striven and suffered for the simple privilege of being seen. For the next 25 days, as Sarina Wiegman’s team and their 15 rivals serve up a feast of football on prime-time television, it may be hard to avoid them. Now – and with the greatest of respect to the Commonwealth Games, Wimbledon and the rest – comes the real jewel of the British sporting summer.
