We’re sure we weren’t the only ones on our feet shouting ‘GOOAAALLL!’ when Lucy Bronze scored an absolute belter of a goal in yesterday’s game against Norway! England won a Women’s World Cup knock-out game for the first time EVER, making history that we will never forget.
While Solveig Gulbrandsen gave Norway the lead in the second half, England struck back with Steph Houghton’s header and Lucy Bronze’s stunning long-range strike in the final 14 minutes, securing a 2-1 win and a place in the quarter-finals (get in!). Seriously, we can’t stop hitting the replay button on that beauty of a goal! It’s incredible!
The substitutes charged on to the pitch in celebration with the team in their glorious victory, and we as a country were right there with them. ‘The team have made history’ and ‘deserve all the credit in the world,’ said a very proud Mark Sampson, Manager. England ‘delivered for the country.’ We couldn’t put it better ourselves, Mark.
Initially it was a shaky start for England losing 0-1 in their first game against France, but the women have certainly stepped up and shown us what they’re made of. Their triumphant victory means that they’ll be playing against host nation Canada in the quarter-finals, and we’re confident that Bronze will bring home the gold for England.
Having always been in the shadow of men’s football, this game has really put women’s football back on the map, reminding the world of the high levels of strength and talent within women in sport.
And this isn’t just in football – Britain’s Laura Robson has been given a wildcard for Wimbledon since her return from a wrist injury, and Heather Watson was victorious in her match against Varvara Lepchenko in the Aegon International. Talk about girl power!
As if that wasn’t enough, the Women’s Ashes Series 2015 kicks off in July, with the ECB stating, ‘Women’s cricket in England & Wales has undergone a transformation over the last two decades with more than 600 clubs nationwide now offering cricket to women and girls.’
If there’s a time to celebrate women in sport, it’s now! Alongside the This Girl Can campaign, women and girls are getting more involved in fitness and sport, proving that sisters really are doing it for themselves.