What was the first ever final like?published at 20:53 British Summer Time 2 July
Image source, Getty Images'Without the players of the past today wouldn’t happen'
Kerry Davis and Pia Sundhage both took part in the very first Women's Euros Final in 1984.
It was England v Sweden. Pia, who played striker for Sweden, told us it was fantastic, a “real landmark moment for women's football” and showed that the footballing authorities were really going to take the game forward.
Over 40 years later, Kerry remains England Women's third top scorer and Pia now manages the Swiss National Team.
The Euro ’84 final became known as ‘The Battle of the Kenilworth Bog’ due to the state of the host club, Luton’s, pitch.
Kerry told BBC Bitesize the ball wouldn’t really move across the pitch and you couldn’t play a passing game. Pia agreed and said no one else would have been allowed to play a final on a pitch in that state and it would not be acceptable in the game now.
Despite the state of the playing surface, Kerry and Pia both talk about how significant the 1984 tournament and final game still are for women’s football.
The final was played over two legs, England lost the first in Gothenburg 1-0. The full-time score at Kenilworth Road in the return leg was another 1-0, but this time to England. Then after the toss of a coin, it was decided to go to penalties.
Kerry and Pia both took a penalty. Pia ditched her usual penalty routine and said she "just hit the ball". Kerry told us she had a feeling as Pia stepped up that she would score and knew that would be it for England. And she was right.
