Bramall Lane was rocking last night as England booked a place in the final of Euro 2022. More than 28,600 fans were in attendance as the Lionesses secured a stunning 4-0 victory against Sweden, with Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby on the scoresheet.For many of the adult female fans in the stands, the evening would have been a marked departure from their own experiences of playing and watching football while growing up in England. Thousands upon thousands turning up to watch female footballers? Millions more tuning in to watch on TV? Women celebrated, not ridiculed, for playing sport?Twenty years ago, this would have seemed an unrealistic fantasy. Girls never played football in PE at school, and a local team could be an hour’s drive away, if not more.Women’s football was not on TV, and although there were occasionally impressive attendances at matches, it never reached the records currently being set at Euro 2022. Things have certainly changed, but that doesn’t mean that Ian Wright’s post-match plea about the tournament’s legacy was any less important.  “Whatever happens in the final now, if girls are not allowed to play football in their PE, just like the boys can, what are we doing,” Wright implored on BBC One.“We have got to make sure they are able to play and get the opportunity to do so.“If there’s no legacy to this – like with the Olympics – then what are we doing as this is as proud as I’ve ever felt of any England side.”Despite the euphoric mood at Bramall Lane, Wright was completely correct to discuss the reality of the situation. 

Video: Watch Ian Wright's impassioned plea after England's semi-final win against Sweden

Yes, women’s football is gaining in popularity at a rapid rate, and yes, there’s more opportunity for girls to play football than ever before.

But only 63 percent of schools currently offer girls’ football in PE lessons, and 91 percent of girls without access to football in PE want it. 

There’s a clear message behind those statistics – there are a large percentage of girls in England who want to play football, but are not given the opportunity to do so at school. 

The FA is taking action to change this. Indeed, their strategic ambition is to give all girls equal access to play football in school by 2024, and they launched the Let Girls Play campaign last year to support this.

In the FA’s own words, Let Girls Play aims to inspire and empower communities and schools to make change, unlocking equal opportunities for girls to participate in football. 

Wright’s pertinent words could certainly have sped this process up. 

The former Arsenal star is a huge supporter of women’s football, and this is significant because of the respect he commands in the sporting world. 

That’s not to say that women’s football can’t be deemed credible without the involvement of male stars, but Wright’s continued promotion of the women’s game is only a good thing. 

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His message about the lack of opportunity for girls to play football at school could well have reached a new audience last night, changing attitudes and contributing to change. 

After all, Wright was right. Euro 2022 has been game-changing, record-breaking and unparalleled, but if we can’t look back on it and see it as the moment everything changed for girls' football in England, then what was the point? 

More girls than ever will want to play football as a result of Euro 2022, and they must be given the chance to do so. This is a golden opportunity to change things forever, and it can’t be squandered. 

Watch Euro 2022 at your local Stonegate pub with We Love Sport.