No other word will do but joy. The image of 24-year-old Chloe Kelly whirling her shirt above her head after scoring the Lionesses’ tournament-winning goal against Germany, pursued across the Wembley turf by exultant teammates Jill Scott and Lauren Hemp, exudes – and inspires – a sunny burst of delight.
The celebratory shot perfectly captures the story of the England women’s Euro 22 victory – a fiercely united team, an unswerving sense of purpose, a feeling of positivity that transcended even the sparkling successes on the pitch. In a time of division and real economic suffering for many, the Lionesses – with their infectious ear-to-ear grins captured for ever – have brought us all some unalloyed happiness.
