Beth Mead goal earns England narrow win over Austria in Euro 2022 opener

Sarina Wiegman, England's head coach, emphasised the significance of a winning start as the hosts' hugely anticipated Euros campaign kicked off with a slender but valuable victory over Austria in front of a competition-record crowd of 68,871 at Old Trafford

Bidding to win their first major international trophy, England notched up a seventh consecutive win thanks to Arsenal forward Beth Mead's early goal but the relatively nervy nature of their victory will not have struck fear into their strongest European rivals.

England were below their best. In tournament football, though, victories are a priceless currency and Wiegman, who lifted the title five years ago with her home country, Netherlands, said: "The first game in a tournament, it's so important to win.

"A good start helps, it gives confidence to the team. We also had some hard moments in the game and we got through."

What will have made the rest of the continent sit up and take notice was the vastness of the home support. The cacophony of noise provided an atmosphere not seen here for a women’s football fixture since the 2012 Olympics, and the intensity felt worlds apart from the 2005 Euros, the last time England hosted. The build-up of eager fans outside the stadium several hours before kick-off gave an early hint of the excitable mood, the team bus was greeted with real fervour by deep lines of waiting supporters, and the sold-out crowd obliterated the competition’s previous largest attendance, when 41,301 watched the 2013 final in Sweden.

"Incredible, there are no more words, it’s just unbelievable," a rather awe-struck Wiegman added about the crowd, while match-winner Mead described the occasion as "beyond words". Mead said the celebrations post-match were so