England win Women's Euro 2022, but the tournament's biggest victor is the sport itself

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"Football's Coming Home" began to ring out from Wembley Stadium's sound system when the full-time whistle on England's 2-1 Women's Euro 2022. After so many heartbreaking near misses for the nation's men and women, England has a team of winners to celebrate.

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The women's game has taken on a whole new level with the performances of stars such as Captain and Golden Boot winner Beth Mead, and their success will ensure a future without them.

For the men, the wait to add to their solitary World Cup win in 1966 continues, but the women have ended their own long years of hurt. Two losing semifinals in the World Cup, in 2015 and 2019, and losses in the European Championship finals of 1984 and 2009, had been England's tale of woe.

The importance of the team's collective success can't be overstated for a country like England, which has historically been less than stellar. The Lionesses have accomplished more than just ending the country's wait for glory. They have allowed the game to rediscover its soul, on and off the pitch.

With both the men and women reaching a Euro final within a year, it is inevitable that both occasions will be measured against each other. The men's final was marred by fan violence outside the stadium, with ticketless supporters rushing the turnstiles and physically intimidating children in order to illegally enter the ground. There was excessive alcohol and drug consumption before and after the England game.

The women's final was completely different than the men's final. Young families were able to mingle without fear as it was welcoming. The crowd of 87,192 at the men's and women's European Championships broke the previous record for both the men's and women's tournaments. More than half a million people attended the tournament over the past three weeks, more than doubling the previous record. Football was shown that it can still happen in an atmosphere of civility.

News and features for women's Euros.

For which we can be eternally grateful, the louts that attach themselves to the men's game have not shown interest in Euro 2022, for which they are blamed. The fans have been huge according to the coach of the women's team. It hasn't been hostile.

There are many fixtures in the men's game that pass without incident and many clubs that are welcoming for families, but that has not been the case with the England national team. The English FA needs to find a way to make the men's game as welcoming and friendly as the women's game in order to build on the success of Euro 2022.

The final gave us a reminder as to why we fell in love with football. There wasn't anything going on on the pitch. The men's game has become a sideshow due to the anger and ego that has become a standard part of the game. It's not to say that the final was not competitive. The referee issued five yellow cards for over-physical tackles and fouls after both sets of players threw themselves into challenges. There was a refreshing honesty to it all, as well as an acceptance that the officials were in charge and had the final say.

There's a beautiful game here. You can watch tournaments and teams.

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