While we ring in the New Year, most Lionesses fans will be sad to wave goodbye to 2022.
It was quite simply the most successful 12 months in the history of the England women's team, the crowing moment coming when Germany were defeated 2-1 at Wembley in the final of the European Championships. Over a magical month, the Lionesses captured the nation, as they brought football home and won their first-ever major tournament.
Their success has taken the profile of the women's game in this country onto a new level, with interest in the sport soaring amongst young girls and players becoming household names across the nation. Only five months on from that magnificent day in the late July sunshine a lot has changed around the England women's team, although they are still yet to lose under manager Sarina Wiegman, while the WSL has experienced record crowds and a post-Euros boom.
Here Mirror Football goes through the class of 22, one by one, to see where they are at now and what is on the cards for 2023.
Mary Earps - England's leading goalkeeper cemented herself as number one throughout the tournament and has backed up her performances with a superb start to the season at club Manchester United. If she maintains her form in the second half of the season, she will be one of the first names on Wiegman's teamsheet at the 2023 World Cup.
Lucy Bronze - Bronze was already one of England's most experienced and well-known players before Euro 2022, but has since continued to build her reputation as one of the best right-backs in the world. She ended her second spell with Manchester City before the tournament began, moving to European giants Barcelona. Bronze has settled quickly at the Spanish champions and helped them to the top of Liga F as we enter the New Year.
Rachel Daly - Since becoming a European champion Daly has returned to the WSL with Aston Villa and quickly become one of the standout players in the division. At Villa, she has been deployed as a forward and returned manager Carla Ward's faith by notching 10 goals in 12 games. This led to Daly playing a central striker role for England against Norway in November, where she scored in a 1-1 draw.
Keira Walsh - Few players have had a bigger change since the Euros than Walsh. After starring in England's run to the final, the player nicknamed 'Sat Nav' became the most expensive footballer in the history of the women's game, following her big-money move to Barcelona. She already looks at home at the Spanish Champions, helping them to the last eight of the Champions League and producing some impressive performances.
Alex Greenwood - Greenwood has helped Manchester City recover after a tricky start to the season and is currently wearing the armband with Steph Houghton on the bench. She recently signed a new contract extension to keep her at City until 2026.
Millie Bright - If anything has taken her game to an even higher level since the Euros, helping Chelsea to the top of the WSL table at Christmas. Scored a crucial winner against PSG in Paris that set the Blues on course to qualify for the last eight of the Women's Champions League.
Beth Mead - Mead has picked up numerous accolades since winning the golden boot at the Euros. Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, BBC Women's Footballer of the Year and England Player of the Year, also coming second in the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Sadly Mead's 2022-23 season has been wrecked by suffering an ACL injury, sustained whilst playing for Arsenal against Manchester United in November.
Leah Williamson - The Arsenal centre-half and Lionesses skipper has seen her off-the-pitch pitch profile skyrocket since the summer, with appearances on the front of GQ and Women's Health. On the pitch she successfully returned from two months out with a foot injury at the start of December, making her 200th appearance for Arsenal.
Ellen White - For England's record goalscorer the Euros proved to be the final act of a superb career. White called time on her playing days before the start of the new season, with a punctured lung suffered the previous year a big factor. She has since announced she is pregnant with her first child and is expecting a baby in April.
Georgia Stanway - Her goal against Spain will forever be remembered as one of the iconic moments from the summer. Immediately after the celebrations, Stanway joined up with new club Bayern Munich, her move from Man City agreed upon before the tournament. She has taken well to the Frauen-Bundesliga and scored a crucial double as Bayern won 3-2 at Benfica in the Women's Champions League.
Lauren Hemp - Since helping England to a first major tournament, Hemp has continued her good form for club and country. She started as a central forward and scored in the 2-1 win over USA at Wembley in October. Recently returned to the City starting XI after a month out injured. Should go to the World Cup as one of Sarina's most important players.
Jess Carter - The former Birmingham defender didn't get on the pitch during the tournament, but has since slotted back in at her current club Chelsea. Her versatility always offers a useful option, but she was left out of the final squad of the year by Wiegman in November and will need a strong start to 2023 if she is to make the World Cup team.
Hannah Hampton - Back-up keeper during the Euros, the Aston Villa shot-stopper has not been called up by Wiegman since the European Championships. Hampton rebuffed claims this was due to her behaviour and attitude, by claiming she had an injury problem. She returned to the Villa team before the WSL Christmas break.
Fran Kirby - Any doubts about Kirby's fitness have been swept away since the summer, with the number 10 putting together an excellent run of form to help Chelsea top the table. Her six goals in the league mean only England teammate Daly and Khadija Shaw have scored more in the WSL this season.
Demi Stokes - Has struggled for game time at her club Man City since the summer due to the arrival of Spain's Leila Ouahabi. She may need a loan move to reignite her international hopes in 2023, although arguably still England's best natural left-back.
Jill Scott - Like White, Scott decided to bow out on top of the women's game and called time on her career less than a week after the final. Although coaching could still be on the cards, her first post-retirement move was to head to the jungle for the 2022 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Of course, Scott was subsequently crowned queen of the jungle.
Nikita Parris - Parris has continued to be a regular in the England squad this season. After the Euros, she decided to move from Arsenal to Man United after struggling for game time towards the end of last season. So far it looks like a good decision as she has helped the Red Devils pursue a title challenge.
Chloe Kelly - Like Williamson and Scott, Kelly has seen a huge increase in her public profile, after scoring the goal that brought football home. The Euros super-sub has appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show and cover starred on glossy magazine Grazia. On the pitch, she has helped Man City climb to fourth place in the WSL after a tough start.
Beth England - England has had a tricky start to 2022-23, struggling for minutes at club Chelsea and being left out of the last two England squads. However, the striker did score twice in the 10-0 win over Luxembourg, the Lionesses' first game back after the Euros. Reports indicate she has agreed a move to WSL rivals Tottenham, in a bid to reignite her season, with a formal announcement expected once the transfer window is open.
Ella Toone - Manchester United through and through, attacking midfielder Toone has continued the good form she showed in her summer appearances for England with her club. She scored in the crucial away win at Arsenal and away from the pitch recently launched her own YouTube channel and started vlogging.
Ellie Roebuck - Although Roebuck still has to play second fiddle to Mary Earps at international level, she is having a strong season for club Man City, producing an excellent display between the sticks in a recent 1-1 Manchester derby draw. The 23-year-old missed much of last season with a calf problem but is back on form this year and has 18 months left to run on her contract.
Lotte Wubben-Moy - The Arsenal centre-back didn't get on the pitch at the Euros but is another player bouncing back with an excellent run of form at club level. In a season where she hasn't always had a regular partner with Williamson and Rafaelle Souza both spending time out injured, Wubben-Moy's reliability and consistency is admirable.
Alessia Russo - With Ellen White now retired Russo now has a great opportunity to become England's first-choice striker. She scored in England's first two games after the tournament, against Austria and Luxembourg. Although she was injured in October, Russo has managed to score four goals in seven WSL games so far this season, including a dramatic late winner at the Emirates as United stunned a previously unbeaten Arsenal 3-2.
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With a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.
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