Instead, it waited for its chance, taking the lead after half an hour through tournament leading scorer Beth Mead. That might have been a cue for the other teammates to sit back, hunch their shoulders, and grit their teeth. But that’s not Wickman’s way, and it’s not England’s way.
At half-time, the stadium announcer announced, “As things stand, England will go through to the final”. It felt a little hubristic, the kind of remark that could be seen as a source of regret, if not for a long time. Less than four minutes into the second half, Lucy Brons doubled the lead when her header curled gently past Lindale’s die.
That goal, in retrospect, would have been enough, but at the time it wasn’t, not enough to be sure. Russo’s improvisational, instinctive intelligence can only help crowd-players relax. Minutes later, England’s creative heartthrob Fran Kirby raced through on goal. She also had one of the biggest games of her career. She also knew it was serious.
But still she chose the happy option, lifting a soft, curved chip past Lyndall’s grasp and tucking her gloves into the net behind her. It’s the kind of thing a player tries when they’re in a situation where they’re having fun.
