England captain Leah Williamson was enthusiastic about the mood in Manchester after her team's 1-0 win over Austria at the European Football Championship.
"What an event," Williamson gushed to BBC Two after the game on Wednesday night.
"It was really something special."
Good ratings for the ARD
More than 68,800 fans, more than ever at a women's European Championship game, came to the opening game at Old Trafford, which, according to Williamson, also brought challenges.
"It's noisy, communication becomes more difficult," she said.
"Sometimes it's a hindrance, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.
It was a great atmosphere.”
Coach Sarina Wiegman thought so too.
"It's difficult to influence because the players can't hear you," Wiegman said.
"But that's what we want."
The Lionesses deservedly won 1-0 (1-0) against the Austria team in the first game of Group A thanks to a goal by Arsenal professional Beth Mead.
England confirmed their position as tournament favorites and are now unbeaten in 15 games.
"It was a good start," Williamson said with satisfaction.
This first football broadcast from the European Championship in England meanwhile gave ARD very good figures.
An average of 3.01 million viewers watched the opening game.
That is more than twice as many as in the last test match of the DFB players before the EM.
According to the broadcaster, the market share on Wednesday evening was 13.7 percent.
ARD and ZDF broadcast all 31 matches of the European Championship, most of them on traditional television.
The first game of the German team on Friday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship) against Denmark shows the second.