{"id":1271015,"date":"2022-08-01T18:56:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T17:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1271015"},"modified":"2022-12-14T23:05:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T23:05:42","slug":"england-lionesses-euro-2022-2009-past-present","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/england-lionesses-euro-2022-2009-past-present\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking back at England’s 2009 finalists who paved the way for Euro 2022 glory"},"content":{"rendered":"

England’s women have finally won a major international trophy after beating Germany in the final of Euro 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the closing minutes of the final, with England leading 2-1, commentator Robyn Cowen said: “This England team will be the ones whose names are remembered, but it’s imperative to remember the ones who came before,” she said. “The ones who struggled, the ones who had to pay to play, who sacrificed their time, their money and at times their dignity all because they wanted to play football.”<\/p>\n

Cowen recalled the words of an England midfielder: “As Jill Scott put it, ‘this is for them’ – If they get their hands on that trophy, it’s their hands on it as well.”<\/p>\n

Co-commentator Rachel Brown-Finnis, herself a former England international, added some specificity: “For Carole Thomas – the first-ever captain in 1984, Jill Coulthard – my first ever captain that I played under; and for so many Lionesses<\/em> whose names won’t be sung around Wembley but are never ever forgotten as to why they are here today.<\/p>\n

“The likes of Kelly Simmons and Rach Pavlou – never stopped fighting the fight. Hope Powell – first ever full-time England manager, who put so much of the infrastructure into place.”<\/p>\n

So, in honour of that sentiment, we’ve looked back at the last Lionesses<\/em> to make a final. The side that made it to the Helsinki showpiece of Euro 2009, where they faced Germany and lost 6-2.<\/p>\n

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That was a humbling defeat, in part because it was an England side absolutely loaded with talent, many of whom have now gone on to become familiar names in punditry and presenting.<\/p>\n

Making a final would be an incredible achievement worthy of praise and coverage, but as Faye White – England’s captain in 2009 – explained<\/a>: “We were told that there would be [some media coverage] and we’ve kinda come back to the airport and there wasn’t. It was very much ‘go back to your day job’ and you would have never thought the team had just come back from getting to a final.”<\/p>\n

So who were those Lionesses<\/em> that no one deemed worthy of coverage?<\/p>\n

Rachel Brown-Finnis<\/h2>\n

Position:<\/strong> Goalkeeper<\/p>\n

England caps:<\/strong> 82<\/p>\n

Rachel Brown-Finnis was a legendary goalkeeper and often an outspoken figure. She played in two FA Cup finals, one for Liverpool and another for Everton (winning the latter) and is currently working as a broadcaster. She was on co-comms for the 2022 final.<\/p>\n

Contemporary: Mary Earps<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even at the age of 29, Earps has already played for more clubs than Brown-Finnis did in her whole career. She’s currently goalkeeper for Manchester United, although she won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal with former club Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n

Alex Scott<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Position:<\/strong> Right-back<\/p>\n

England caps:<\/strong> 140<\/p>\n

The iconic Alex Scott has become a true powerhouse of broadcasting in recent years, to the extent that many won’t know she was actually a world-class Quadruple-winning right-back. Scott was Arsenal’s No. 2 as they swept all before them in 2006\/07, winning all four competitions available to them; most impressively the Champions League – where Scott scored the only goal of the two-legged final.<\/p>\n

Contemporary: Lucy Bronze<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott’s impossible charm gives her a unique rapport with just about everyone but she seems to hold a special affection for her successor at right-back, Lucy Bronze, shouting her out post-match. Bronze has had a masterful career, winning everything you could imagine (bar the World Cup) and she’s just signed for the all-conquering Barcelona so don’t expect that success to stop any time soon.<\/p>\n

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Bronze wins Gold. ?#WEURO2022<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/W4dYvkzyOk<\/a><\/p>\n

— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) July 31, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n