On certain momentous occasions, the nation tends to store an image in its mental scrapbook for posterity. On election night in 1997, footage of a defeated Michael Portillo instantly came to symbolise an end to 18 years of Conservative rule. The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics is still fondly recalled by millions as a portrait of Britain as it could be at its best – optimistic, diverse and proud without being pompous about it. On Sunday, it was the turn of the Lionesses’ substitute hero, Chloe Kelly, waving her England shirt above her head in a state of near-delirium.
As Kelly wheeled joyfully away at Wembley, after scoring the winning goal against Germany, she did so before a record attendance for any Euros final – men’s or women’s. In the rest of the country, close to 20 million were watching the match on television, in pubs or in fan zones. In footballing terms, Kelly’s extra-time scrambled finish delivered a historic triumph – the first international trophy won by a senior England team since 1966. But the significance of the moment goes well beyond that immediate context.
