Lucy Bronze (defender) 8
Barcelona’s new right-back revealed she’s still in pain after her fifth knee operation but, as she sprinted forward, you’d never have guessed it. He took too many defensive risks at times, but also dismantled a number of opponents.
Millie Bright (defender) 9
The central-defensive cornerstone. She set the tone for her tournament with a superbly determined and intelligent display in Old Trafford’s Group A opener against Austria. Strong on the ground, in the air and, at times, in attack, she complemented Leah Williamson perfectly.
Leah Williamson (defender) 9
An impressive captain who reverted to her natural central defensive role, pushing Alex Greenwood to the bench on the eve of the tournament. Her positioning with Franco Baresi proved so excellent that she rarely had to resort to tackles. The perfect partner for Bright.
Rachel Daly (defender) 7
He was preferred to Demi Stokes and Jess Carter at left-back and, a difficult game with Spain away, did well as a right-footer in a not entirely familiar role. No one would guess that Daly works as a forward for her club, the Houston Dash.
Kira Walsh (middle) 9
Strong player of the tournament contender. The midfield anchor held things together while also changing games with her defence-splitting passes. Without Walsh it is hard to imagine England winning the tournament.
Georgia Stanway (middle) 8
He enjoyed a box-to-box role alongside Walsh and, although not a natural No 8, did very well. He may have been lucky not to be sent off for a second yellow card in the final, but otherwise the new Bayern Munich midfielder has adapted seamlessly. And who can forget her winning goal in the quarter-final against Spain?
Fran Kirby (playmaker) 9
The Chelsea man didn’t have the desired impact in the final but played a huge part in England getting there. She produced many of their best moves after recovering from a fatigue-related illness that had threatened her participation. Beth Mead scored six goals at Euro 2022. Photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Beth Mead (front) 9
Another strong player of the tournament contender. Her six goals in five games helped England reach Wembley, a feat magnified by Meade’s position on the right. The Arsenal forward showed excellent control, a sticky touch and deft finishing, all of which terrorized opponents.
Ellen White (forward) 7
The goals dried up for England’s record goalscorer but she did a very hard job very well, pressing diligently and leaving defenders exhausted by the time she was replaced by super-prospect Alessia Russo. It wasn’t through emotion that every game started.
Lauren Hebb (forward) 8
By her own admission, the Manchester City left-winger hasn’t always been in top form, but her pace and impressive deliveries have consistently unsettled right-backs. A world class player she is, rightly, one of the first names on the team sheet.
Alessia Russo (forward) 9
The Manchester United player will always be synonymous with her goal against Sweden. Talk about a game-changing substitute. And to think that before the tournament critics were concerned about whether there was sufficient offensive coverage for White. He appeared in all six games off the bench, scoring four goals, with only Meade and Alex Pope (six each) scoring more.
Chloe Kelly (forward) 9
Whether the Manchester City winger will recover from the ACL injury that has sidelined him for almost a year has been a boon. She did, though, and Kelly gave a Brandi Chastain moment by taking off her jersey after scoring the overtime winner against Germany. Ella Toone’s cool finish against Germany after coming off the bench put England on the road to victory in the Wembley final. Photo: Leila Coker/AP
Ella Toone (forward) 9
Another game changer from the bench. Her 84th-minute equalizer in the quarter-final against Spain saved England, securing extra time, and her opening goal in the final was a superbly assured lob guaranteed to live long in the collective memory.
Jill Scott (middle) 7
The link in the team that lost the 2009 final to Germany in Finland, Scott is, at 35, the only survivor of that 6-2 defeat still playing for the Lionesses. She did well during her performances and thoroughly deserved the cheers that greeted her after coming off the bench in the final.
Alex Greenwood (defender) 7
The Manchester City centre-half looked set to start every game alongside Millie Bright, but the substitution of Leah Williamson when Greenwood was absent with Covid meant she lost her place on the eve of the tournament. She did nothing wrong in her regular, if brief, outings at left-back.
Nikita Parris (attacker) 6
Once a mainstay of the team, the Arsenal forward struggled to reach his peak form last season and paid for it. He spent most of the tournament on the bench, but was freed from it for the final five minutes of the final and also featured against Spain.
Jess Carter (defender) 6
Daly’s solidity at left-back ensured the Chelsea full-back was restricted to a solitary second-half appearance against Northern Ireland from the bench. Her day will come. Cast members who did not play Demi Stokes, Beth England, Ellie Roebuck, Hannah Hampton, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
