The Lionesses' roaring success has inspired a whole generation of girls
They have become champions, role models and pioneers. They've inspired a generation of girls to lace up their boots and believe that football truly is for them. Yet amid the flags and face paint, we still find ourselves singing about 1966 – and a goal scored by a man who, if he played today, might be astonished by the speed, skill and sporting spirit on show in the women's game.
We rightly celebrate the rise of women's sport. But perhaps it's time we stopped framing their achievements in relation to the men's game and simply recognised them for what they are: history-makers in their own right.
Shaun Fenton
Headmaster, Reigate Grammar School
Reigate, Surrey
SIR – What a pleasure to see our girls win, and in what style: no arguing with the referee, and no on-pitch arguments or bust ups.
In an age in which it seems that everyone with a voice chooses to denigrate this country, it was also a joy to have Chloe Kelly saying she is proud to be English.
Andrew Segal
Hampton, Middlesex
SIR – The Lionesses' male equivalents, with their ridiculous pay awards, reveal themselves to be either wimps or posers with their on-pitch antics. Give me women's football to watch every time.
David Rhys
Budleigh Salterton, Devon
SIR – What an excellent success – and Spain were every inch as good, bar one kick.
At Wimbledon there would have been a mutual handshake congratulating the losers.
Alastair Milne Home
Banbury, Oxfordshire
SIR – Camilla Tominey (July 28) rightly describes the Lionesses as the pride of the nation.
A pride of lions consists of lionesses – they are the primary predators, requiring speed, coordination and teamwork – and dominant male lions, whose job is to protect the pride's territory with their greater size and strength. This may explain why the English Lionesses are more successful than their footballing male counterparts.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor, Berkshire
SIR – The BBC claims that television licence fees need to increase in order to maintain production standards.
If costs are an issue, why was it necessary for the newsreader Reeta Chakrabarti to be sent to stand outside the football grounds in Basel when the sports editor Dan Roan was already there?
John Davenport
Sutton Coldfield
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gray coy on Triantis return
David Gray says a return to Hibs for Nectar Triantis was always a "potential opportunity" but insists the club have other transfer targets to pursue if a move doesn't reports suggesting Triantis won't be returning to the club this summer from Sunderland, Gray remained coy but was keen to emphasise he is not their only transfer target."If that's what the lie of the land is…" Gray commented on the added: "I think I've been very consistent in saying that, quite clearly, Nectar has done so well for us last season, we know that."We've also been very clear that it's not just Nectar Triantis, we can't put everything into one position or one player, we know that, so the hard work has been going on."And while it was still a potential opportunity, you'd always look to try and explore it because of how well he'd done. But it was always going to be that, with it being his second loan spell here, how well he'd done, his parent club getting promoted and what his situation was going to be."Naturally, so we are constantly looking to see what can be done to try and improve the squad, but clearly my focus right now is tomorrow night and the game."Gray also said new recruits Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan's previous Scottish football experience has been key to their immediate impact at the Aberdeen midfielder McGrath scored in the first-leg win over Midtjylland last week and ex-Dundee player Mulligan also made his debut, with Hibs hosting the Danes tomorrow night in a tie locked at 1-1."It's been great. Clearly they were playing in our league last year so you can get a sense of what they're like pretty quickly," said Gray."They are two quality players that can add straight away to what we're looking to do and then I also think that's a reflection on the group that have been here, the core that welcome new players, make them settle quickly."Gray also said he won't rush record signing Klidje into action, adding: "There is not too much expectation from me in terms of demand to try and get him minutes straight away."
The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
Premier League to introduce ref-cam THIS SEASON after lawmakers give new feature the green light
REF-CAM is set to be introduced in the Prem this season after the green light from lawmakers. The eye-level cameras, allowing TV viewers to see goals and other incidents from the referee's perspective, were a massive hit during the Fifa Club World Cup won by Chelsea. Now the International FA Board, which sets the laws of the game, has 'approved the extension of the trial to both domestic and international competitions worldwide'. And Prem bosses plan to ask clubs to agree to sign up to the technology, potentially for the first weekend of the new season. Ifab had been awaiting feedback from Fifa before deciding whether to approve wider use of the cameras, in case any negative issues had been thrown up. Instead, Fifa refs' head Pierluigi Collina hailed the impact as being 'beyond our expectations', adding: 'We were asked: 'Why not in all the matches?' and even more: 'Why not in all sports?'' That made the Ifab decision a simple one. The Zurich-based body said: 'Other competitions have the option to test such systems and provide valuable information and feedback. 'Competitions wishing to participate in the trial must seek permission from The Ifab and Fifa, who will support participants by providing detailed recommendations and technical specifications to ensure smooth implementation.' And that opens the way to the Premier League applying to conduct a league-wide test across the season after two previous trials. Referee Rob Jones was the first to be wired for pictures, when he took charge of the July 2023 game between Chelsea and Brighton in Philadelphia, which was part of the Prem's Summer Series pre-season tournament. In May 2024, Jarred Gillett also donned the special camera as Crystal Palace slammed Manchester United 4-0 at Selhurst Park. Unlike during the Club World Cup, none of the images from Gillett's camera were broadcast at the time although Prem bosses released some footage just four days later before a 25-minute show was produced in December. Prem bosses are keen on any developments that enhance the match-day experience for fans, both at home and inside stadiums. A further test could now be held in the final round of this year's Summer Series in Atlanta on Sunday, when Bournemouth play West Ham and United face Everton. Prem club bosses will still have to agree how often the ref-cam should be used - which may be at only one or two matches in each fixtures round. But it is not expected that the idea will be a difficult one to sell and it means TV viewers are set to benefit within weeks.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
India captain Shubman Gill labels pitch exchange with Oval groundsman 'absolutely unnecessary' as he backs coach Gautam Gambhir in spat
Shubman Gill insists India 's treatment while assessing the Oval pitch was 'absolutely unnecessary' after tempers frayed once again on the eve of the Test series finale against England. Twenty four hours after Gautam Gambhir was involved in a finger-wagging spat with Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis, his captain Gill weighed in with unequivocal support. 'What happened yesterday, I thought is just absolutely unnecessary. It's not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket and we have been here for almost two months,' Gill said. 'A coach has every right to be able to go close quarters and have a look at the wicket. I didn't think that there was anything wrong with that. I actually don't know why the curator would not allow us to go have a look at the wicket.' Gill pointed out that India's inspection was 'from three metres away' and that it was normal to be able to stand on the square in either rubber soles or bare feet. However, Mail Sport understands that Fortis was unhappy that members of the Indian dressing-room were using parts of the main square he was keen to protect, as well pulling their equipment across it during their net session. VIDEO | Indian team's head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having verbal spat with chief curator Lee Fortis at The Oval Cricket Ground in London ahead of the last Test match of the series starting Thursday. After having drawn the fourth Test at Old Trafford, India have a chance… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2025 Fortis had warned England's support staff to carry and not drag their bags across the playing expanse, concerned about potential damage caused by boots and the bags' wheels given that the Oval has already hosted 60 days of cricket this summer. Gambhir did not take kindly to the request, with Indian media reporting that he told Fortis: 'You don't tell me what to do.' Fortis, who in 2024 was named ECB groundsman of the year for the third year in succession, was then spoken to in more conciliatory fashion by Indian batting coach Shitanshu Kotak. Images of England coach Brendon McCullum standing alongside the pitch then began being circulated around the world, although it is understood that they are from two years ago.
