England's Euro win inspires new generation

"Football is a simple game," Gary Lineker said over 30 years ago after England suffered yet another tournament defeat to a familiar foe. "Twenty two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win."

The former England striker was happy to amend his famous quote on Twitter on Sunday, when the England women's team secured a historic 2-1 victory over Germany in the finals of the Euro 2022 championship.

Women's soccer has enthralled the UK over the last month as England progressed through the tournament to claim the first major trophy for any senior English national team since the men's side lifted the World Cup in 1966.

The victory has also caused many to reflect on inequalities in the English game. Currently, just 44 percent of English high schools offer girls and boys equal access to football within the school day, according to a survey from the English Football Association, or FA. Just one in three girls are offered the chance to play soccer in high school each week, meanwhile 91 percent of girls say they want to play.

"Whatever happens in the final now, if girls are not allowed to play football just like the boys can in their PE(physical education) lessons after this tournament, then what are we doing?" ex-England player Ian Wright said on the BBC broadcast following England's dominant 4-0 semifinal win over Sweden.

FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham said that the victory could be a catalyst for change and inspire a new generation of fans and players.

"Each and every member of this squad has left an indelible and enduring mark on women's football in England," Bullingham said. "Not only have they captured the hearts of the nation, but they have also broken down boundaries."

English women's soccer was popular at the beginning of last century, before women were banned from FA pitches between 1921 and 1970, when the association claimed the game was "quite unsuitable for females". The ban effectively killed off the women's game in England, and school girls interested in team sports were mainly encouraged to play netball or field hockey.

Today, the women's game is once again popular, with over 2.5 million female players registered with the FA. The crowd of 87,192 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday broke the record for attendance at a men's or women's European championship final, and 17.4 million tuned in to watch the match, making it the most watched TV event of the year.

Even so, discrimination, lack of exposure and underfunding are frequently cited as barriers to participation in the women's game at the grassroots level. Bullingham said he hopes that the trophy win will lead to more opportunities for female players, as has been the case for the United States, whose women's national team has won four World Cups, and in Germany, whose side has claimed eight European trophies.

"They have left a lasting legacy that will positively impact women's and girls' football in this country for generations to come," Bullingham said.