Euro 2022 win will empower England to reach new levels – Anita Asante

Former England international Anita Asante believes the “psychological empowerment” of winning Euro 2022 will push the Lionesses to new levels.

Chloe Kelly’s extra-time goal at Wembley sealed a 2-1 victory over Germany as Sarina Wiegman’s side claimed the first major trophy in their history.

It was also first major tournament triumph for a senior England team since the men’s 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.

Asante, who was a member of the side beaten by Germany in the 2009 Euros final, said winning a trophy changes everything.

“From a football perspective, psychologically it is really empowering to know you are the dominant team in Europe at the moment and can play anyone and win,” she told the PA news agency.

“That allows the team to feel they can strive to new levels. There are a lot of young players in this team, they have many years ahead of them and so many tournaments to come it can motivate them further to establish real dominance at international level.

“It shifts the narrative. We sing ‘all the years of hurt’ and that has been intrinsic to our culture of football as a national team, but I do think there is a massive shift now and winning a tournament reinvigorates that belief in what our football teams can do.

Psychologically it is really empowering to know you are the dominant team in Europe at the moment and can play anyone and win- Anita Asante

“The men got to the (Euro) final last year and that was a wonderful achievement as well but this is fantastic for the women’s game at the moment as they also have the World Cup (next year) so we can build on this excitement.”

The 37-year-old, who is a first-team coach at Women’s Championship club Bristol City, believes the impact of success will be just as