Women's Euro 2022: Host England gets campaign underway with hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria

By Matias Grez, CNN

Updated 2213 GMT (0613 HKT) July 6, 2022

Beth Mead's goal was the difference between the sides on a tense night at Old Trafford.

Old Trafford, Manchester (CNN)It was nervy, it was a grind and, at times, it wasn't pretty, but England got the job done against Austria in the opening match of Euro 2022.

Beth Mead's delicate lob after 15 minutes was all that separated the sides in a tense 1-0 England win at a raucous Old Trafford, as Sarina Wiegman's side secured a hard-earned three points that will no doubt settle the early tournament nerves.England certainly improved as the match went on and perhaps could have extended its margin of victory, but a lack of care and cohesion in the final third meant a number of good opportunities were squandered.Austria provided enough of a threat to ensure the match was never comfortable and Wiegman will know how much her team will need to improve if it is to live up to the hype of pre-tournament favorite.There was little celebration from England's Dutch head coach when the final whistle blew, but her players remained on the pitch to take in the adulation of the home crowd on a historic night. In total, 68,871 fans came to Old Trafford to watch the game, setting a new attendance record for a match at the Women's European Championships.Read MoreWith the final on July 31 scheduled to take place at Wembley Stadium, it's likely that record will be broken again. After Wednesday night's performance, however, the most pertinent question is whether England will be one of the teams that make it there.The match set a new record attendance for the Women's Euro.«The atmosphere speaks for itself,» Player of the Match Georgia Stanway told reporters after the match. «The occasion is