Womens Football: England 3 Finland 2 Euro 2005

By European Football
June 6 2005

It started when someone pointed out that I am the editor of a European Football site and there was actually a competition going on at the moment. Instantly assuming I had managed to get even more drunk than normal and popped out of existence for a year, I checked my bank Balance.

No nothing unusually there, no sudden year’s worth of wages, so it wasn’t 2006 and I shouldn’t be in Germany.

I was of course aware that there was a women’s football tournament going on, much in the same way I am aware somehow I am made up of atoms, I just hadn’t given it a lot of thought. I mean why should I? I have never watched the woman’s game.

But the thought nagged at me, as I began to realise, that with or without my participation (and it would have to be mine, as all my usual publishers declined, complaining of various things, pressure of work exams, and in one case rabies) it was going to go ahead. And its was going to be a big event, so putting my usual preconceptions in a bag, I prepared to watch it.

Preparation for all true fans begins in the pub, mine was no different, but I left early in order to try and just watch one screen.

‘Where are you going?’ A voice called out as I prepared to leave the pub before the landlord unleashed the Dobermans.

‘I am going to watch the football.’ I replied feeling a tad uncomfortable.

‘What the woman’s? Replied my very soon to be ex-friend giving me a look like I had just asked to sleep with his pet wombat.

I left and watched. My hopes were not high, even my usually loyal offspring, questioned his dad’s questionably attuned at the best of times sanity, but watched it with me, when he realised it meant going to bed an hour late.

But here is the thing. Its was a bloody good match. I don’t mean that in a patronising, well they were good for girls sort of way I mean a good match. Ok it’s not up to the men’s standard, in the speed, but I can honestly say I have seen worse performances by the men’s side.

A close game which saw England take an un-deserved 2-0 lead into the Interval witnessed a second half fight-back by Finland who looked like they had managed to grab a probably deserved point clawing it back to 2-2 with 90 minutes played.

But they had not counted on Karen Carney (my woman of the match by a mile), who had been a constant thorn in Finland’s side, with her set pieces and tricky play.

Mopping up a move she began, and slotting the ball coolly into the top corner, to give England the win and allow them to top the group.