Sitting on the toilet praying for the Lionesses to score. Seconds to go. Divine intervention is needed. Surely it can’t work but suddenly there is a roar from next door, and they have done it. The teenager Agyemang has scored, England are through to the semi finals if they win a penalty shootout against Sweden. This is a comedy of errors, no praying needed, just watching in disbelief as the pressure becomes too much for each spot kicker and the goalkeepers are getting better and better. Up in Liverpool, rushing back for the semi final second half. Again behind, this time to the underdogs Italy. We don’t look like scoring, Italy are being cynical, delaying, fouling. I get in the hotel lift, go downstairs, go outside. Still no goal. It isn’t going to happen this time. I ascend back to my sweeping apartment, turn on the Telly. Still playing but it all looks forlorn. I give up watching. I give up on the lionesses, but then I think, one last moment, to the toilet and really pray, for the people who this means so much too, all the fans, my partner especially. I’m on the BBC sports app, then suddenly a 1 appears by England’s score. You must be kidding.I do believe in god. Incredible. I turn the TV on again and watch extra time where Italy give us a silly penalty, Chloe Kelly steps up, the penalty is saved but she gobbles up the rebound. No worries. Spain will surely beat us in the final, so technical, passing patterns. We start well for a change, matching them but gradually they take the ascendancy and score. Lauren James looks lost and injured. Kelly comes on again, and immediately there is more drive and impact. 1-0 at half time is a good score. We will come back, we do, Alessia Russo planting an almost identical header to the Spanish opener. We drive on but can’t add a second. Extra time, Spain start to take control again. We defend for our lives. Penalties again, all of our senior players off exhausted, injured, wounded. But Hannah Hampton, notes written up her sleeve, she knows the score. No praying needed. Chloe Kelly to win it. Of course it is. Struggles with her club, a loan transfer back home to Arsenal, redemption, a European cup, back with the Lionesses. No nerves. Loving the moment. Repeating her act of three years before. The game changer, the finisher. Incredible. The story was always going to end this way wasn’t it.
