There is already worries about the legacy that Euro 2022 will leave, after the government failed to guarantee girls can play football in PE lessons.
Sarina Wiegman and her squad finally brought football home, when they beat Germany in the final of the Euros last Sunday at Wembley.
Advert
There were incredible scenes inside the national stadium after Chloe Kelly's winning goal secured the first major piece of silverware in football England have enjoyed since the World Cup in 1966.
Whilst the hope is that the success can help take women's football on to another level in the country, despite Richard Madeley's one man mission to make a mockery of it, there's worries about the government's role.
The department for education have decided against the chance to guarantee girls in schools equal access to playing football, as boys have.
Instead of being guaranteed equal PE lessons in football, girls will only be given 'comparable activities' in other sports instead, and the same is said of boys only football teams, with girls only given access to 'opportunities to participate in comparable sporting activities.'
Advert
At the moment, only 44% of schools in the country offer the same football lessons to both boys and girls and not guaranteeing an increase gives a chance that things won't improve.
That would see the government failing to make sure there is a positive legacy left over from such a successful tournament at the first hurdle.
The Euros final saw the highest attendance at a UEFA tournament final, men or women, the opening game was the largest attendance for a Women's Euros game, later beaten, and records for most attended none host game and overall attendances were also broken.
Advert
Now the Euro 2022 squad have sent an open letter to Conservative leader candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, one of whom will actually become Prime Minister.
"Dear Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss," the letter began.
"On Sunday evening history was made. The dreams of 23 women came true. England became European Champions for
Advert
the first time in history.
"Throughout the Euros, we as a team spoke about our legacy and goal to inspire a nation. Many will think that this has already been achieved, but we see this as only the beginning. We are looking to the future. We want to create real change in this country and we are asking you, if you were to become Prime Minister on 5 September, to help us achieve that change.
"We want every young girl in the nation to be able to play football at school.
"Currently only 63% of girls can play football in PE lessons. The reality is we are inspiring young girls to play football,
Advert
only for many to end up going to school and not being able to play.
"This is something that we all experienced growing up. We were often stopped from playing. So we made our own
teams, we travelled across the country and despite the odds, we just kept playing football.
"Women's football has come a long way. But it still has a long way to go.
"We ask you and your government to ensure that all girls have access to a minimum of 2hrs a week PE. Not only should we be offering football to all girls, we also need to invest in and support female PE teachers too. Their role is crucial and we need to give them the resources to provide girls' football sessions. They are key role models from which so many
young girls can flourish.
"We have made incredible strides in the women's game, but this generation of school girls deserve more. They deserve to play football at lunchtime, they deserve to play football in PE lessons and they deserve to believe they can one day play for England. We want their dreams to also come true.
"This is an opportunity to make a huge difference. A change that will impact millions of young girls' lives.
"We - the 23 members of the England Senior Women's EURO squad - ask you to make it a priority to invest into girls' football in schools, so that every girl has the choice.
"Regards,
"The 2022 UEFA Women's EURO England Squad."
Topics: Women's Football, England, Football
Ryan Sidle