From FA ban to double Euros winners - Lionesses reach 500 games

Spor dünyasında son dakika haberi: From FA ban to double Euros winners - Lionesses reach 500 games Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fifty-three years after playing their first international match (left), England women were crowned European champions for a second time (right) By Ciara Fleming Sport journalist Published 14 minutes ago England's Lionesses are no strangers to making history. The past decade has been rich in landmark moments; a first tournament medal, a first major trophy, and a first title defence - on foreign soil to boot. When Sarina Wiegman's side play Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday (17:30 BST) they will reach another milestone - the 500th fixture for England's senior women's team.

The game is important for securing qualification for next year's World Cup in Brazil, with England keen to win more silverware in the famous white shirt. But regardless of the result, the match will be etched in history as a reminder of how far the English women's game has come. In 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women's football, considering the game "most unsuitable for females" , external .

Maçın Detayları

The decision consigned women's football to park pitches and small venues for half a century before the decision was overturned in 1971 . To mark 500 not out, Sport takes a look at 11 defining moments in the history of England's women. First official game (1972) Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The England women's team trained at Wembley Stadium before heading up to Greenock for their match against Scotland The moment it all began - officially.

Although an unofficial England side had played in front of 90,000 fans in Mexico's Azteca Stadium in a global women's tournament in 1971, this was the first proper Women's Football Association (WFA) England team. It was November 1972 and England travelled north to face Scotland at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock. In front of 400 fans, the Lionesses edged a thrilling game, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 victory.

A year later, the teams played again for England's first official home match and the Lionesses claimed a resounding 8-0 victory in Nuneaton. First European final (1984) Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The Uefa competition for national representative women's teams predated the Women's Euros England made their major tournament debut in 1984, competing as one of four teams in a Uefa competition that was a precursor to the Women's Euros. After overcoming Denmark 3-1 over two games, they faced a two-legged final against Sweden.

The Swedes won the first encounter in Gothenburg thanks to teenager Pia Sundhage's strike, but Linda Curl's goal settled the second in England's favour at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road. The trophy was decided by a penalty shootout, with Sweden prevailing 4-3 after Curl was unable to convert her spot-kick. First Wembley fixture (1989) England women played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 1989, taking on old rivals Sweden to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the WFA.

Spor dünyasında bu gelişme gündemin üst sıralarına yerleşti. Taraftarlar ve uzmanlar konuyu yakından takip ediyor.