The England women’s team clinched their first European Championship title as goals by Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly guided it to a 2-1 win against Germany.
The England women’s team clinched their first European Championship title as goals by Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly guided it to a 2-1 win against Germany.
Ella Toone of England opened the scoring in the 61st minute after being fed a lovely through ball. She kept her calm and beat Germany keeper Merle Frohms with a delicious lob.
Wembley was roaring and England was marching on towards a historic win but Germany was not about to give up without a fight.
Lina Magull, in the 79th minute, finished a well-worked Germany move by rifling the ball onto the roof of the net to equalize for the Germans.
There was no separating the teams in 90 minutes and the match went to extra-time. Both teams tried for the winner but the first period did not see any goal.
The game-defining moment came in the 112th minute when Chloe Kelly poked the ball inside the net from close range from a corner to give England a 2-1 lead.
There was an attacking surge from Germany in the dying minutes of the match but Sarina Wiegman’s team held on to clinch their first Euro title.
This title is England’s first major international trophy since the men’s team won the World Cup in 1966.
England’s Mead named player of the tournament
England forward Beth Mead was named Player of the Tournament after the 2-1 victory against Germany in the final on Sunday.
The 27-year-old played all six games in the tournament and won the Player of the Match award in two matches.
Mead also won the tournament’s Top Scorer award having netted six goals and made five assists, followed by Germany’s Alexandra Popp and England’s Alessia Russo.
German midfielder Lena Oberdorf, 20, won the Young Player of the Tournament award.
England Women’s side are just one game away from winning the European Championships as Germany stand in their way in a sold-out Wembley Stadium this evening. The Lionesses will hope to win their first ever major honours with a win after an incredible tournament.
England have been excellent throughout the tournament, winning all three of their group games before beating Spain and Sweden on their way to the final. Germany have been similarly impressive, with a stout defence, after they defeated France in the semi-final.
Whatever happens for Sarina Wiegman’s team this evening, it’s fair to say that the Lionesses have been incredible throughout the tournament.
It will be the Lionesses first appearance in a final since Euro 2009 as they attempt to win their first ever major trophy. Will football be coming home after all?
Dreaming of singing ‘It’s coming home’ at Wembley this year? Well were giving you the chance to do just that – By entering our competition to win 2 x tickets to the England v Germany match on September 26th, 2022.
Make sure you get a copy of our 48-page special celebrating England’s fantastic victory over Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO Championships featuring all the final action, celebration pictures, the road to Wembley glory, tournament wallchart, stats and facts and a fantastic centre spread souvenir poster.
But Kelly provided the perfect finish for England after coming on as a substitute, scoring in the 110th minute to give the Lionesses their first major tournament triumph and England’s first for men or women since the 1966 World Cup. Lauren Hemp’s corner fell to the Manchester City forward, who poked past Germany keeper Merle Frohms at the second attempt. After a brief moment of confusion, Kelly ripped off her shirt and celebrated wildly.
England captain Leah Williamson called the title the “proudest moment of my life” in emotional post-match scenes at Wembley.
“I just can’t stop crying,” Williamson said. “We talk, we talk and we talk and we finally done it. You know what, the kids are alright. This is the proudest moment of my life.
“Listen, the legacy of this tournament is the change in society. The legacy of this team is winners and that is the journey. I love every single one of you, I’m so proud to be English. I’m trying so hard not to swear.”
Consistency had been key for England in their run to the final, so it was no surprise when manager Sarina Wiegman named the same starting XI for a sixth consecutive match — the first team to do that in men’s or women’s Euro history.
Germany were rocked when their top scorer, Alexandra Popp, was pulled from the starting lineup before a ball had been kicked after suffering muscular problems in the warm-up. She was replaced by Lea Schuller.
That gave England a boost, and they almost had the perfect start early on, when Fran Kirby curled in a cross for Ellen White that the Lionesses’ record scorer headed straight at Frohms.
Germany almost went ahead in the 25th minute after a goalmouth scramble from a Magull corner. Germany defender Marina Hegering threatened from close range, before England keeper Mary Earps claimed to see off the danger. Wiegman’s side were relieved when a VAR check for a handball came to nothing.
England finished a fractious first half strongly and could have gone in front in the 38th minute, when Beth Mead found White with a cut-back into the area, but the striker fired over with a left-footed shot as she stretched to make contact.
Germany rose to the challenge, and they nearly equalised when Magull darted into the box in the 66th minute. Her right-footed shot clattered off the crossbar, before Schuller failed to turn in on the rebound.
Magull had been Germany’s liveliest player, and she finally made the difference in the 79th minute. Wassmuth sent a low cross into the area, and Magull side-footed home at the near post to temporarily silence England fans. Read More Women’s Football News…
