Key moments Before the match Pop was injured in the warm-up25′ Williamson denies Hegering39′ White hit miss48′ Sub Wassmuth quickly threatens62′ Toone bowls opener for England66′ Magull rattles the crossbar79′ Magull flats with a neat finish108′ Toone tests Frohms from range110′ Kelly wins in England
Match in brief: Kelly chooses the moment to perfection
England stuck with the same line-up as in every game in their run to the final, but there was a blow for Germany in the warm-up when captain Alex Popp – who had scored in all five previous matches – was injured, forcing Lea out. Schüller to intervene. The atmosphere was understandably frenzied in the packed Wembley stand early on, especially when Lauren Hemp’s cross met the head of Ellen White, although Merle Frohms was in the way. The hosts had slightly the better of the opening exchanges, forcing a number of corners, but on 25 minutes Germany looked set to take the lead from one of their own, only for Leah Williamson to save Marina Hegering’s effort from point-blank range. . White then ran into a cut by Beth Mead, but her strike went just wide. Striker Tabea Wassmuth arrived for Germany at half-time and quickly had a chance, pouncing on a loose ball on the left and cutting inside before being denied by Mary Earps. Lina Magull also went close and Sarina Wiegman responded by introducing Alessia Russo, who had already scored a record four goals as a substitute in the finals, along with her equally impressive Manchester United partner Ella Toone. Ella Toone celebrates her opening for EnglandGetty Images Within seven minutes, Toone struck. Mead was off injured, temporarily leaving England with ten men, but Keira Walsh’s decisive ball from deep set Toone free and – one on one with Frohms – she held her nerve with a flawless finish. Germany hit back and Magull smashed a shot onto the crossbar, Schuller flicking the rebound straight at a relieved and smiling Earps. Her relief was short-lived, however, as Magull came back to beat Earps with 11 minutes remaining, a slick move capped by Wassmuth providing the assist with a low cross, and the show was now destined for overtime. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side shouted the tune for the first extra 15 minutes without seriously testing Earps, but England once again developed and Frohms had to be alert to clear Toone’s long-range effort as the final entered the second period of overtime. . Then came the moment England fans had been dreaming of. Lucy Bronze assisted Lauren Hemp’s corner into the danger area and Kelly slotted in the second try for her first international goal. Immaculate timing and a strike to which Germany had no answer as the hosts ran out the clock with ease to start the celebrations. The party is on for the England team AFP via Getty Images How: England 2-1 Germany
Visa Player of the Match: Keira Walsh (England)
England vs Germany Player of the Match: Kiera Walsh “Walsh balanced the team throughout the game. She was the constant connection between the forward and the defenders. She almost loses the ball and after winning it she finds the space to deliberately set up the forwards’ play.”UEFA Technical Observer Panel
Lynsey Hooper, journalist in England
There had to be a hero and again it was one of Wiegman’s replacements! Step up Kelly, scoring her first international goal to win the final. It wasn’t pretty, but England don’t care: they manage to lift the trophy for the first time. Toone thought she was going to grab all the headlines when she scored a stunning deneke but Germany were just as impressive with their goal, with Magull curling a stunning finish at the near post. The Lionesses may have been forced to wait an extra 30 minutes – but when you’ve been waiting 38 years, what’s another half hour? The packed crowd enjoy the UEFA broadcast via Getty Images
Anna-Sophia Vollmerhausen, German reporter
Coach Voss-Tecklenburg said before the game that the details will make the difference and that proved true tonight. Two momentary lapses in concentration allowed England to score – first Toone and then Kelly. It just didn’t click for Germany tonight, but they put up a valiant fight and can be proud of what they achieved in this tournament. Congratulations to England. the whole country is behind them this summer and I hope it is the continuation of a bright new future for women’s football.
Reaction
Sarina Wiegman, England coach: “What we’ve done is incredible. I knew we had England behind us – we saw it coming on the pitch. But throughout the tournament we’ve had so much support from our fans. I’m so proud of the team.” Chloe Kelly: ‘What dreams are made of’ Chloe Kelly, England goalscorer: “It’s amazing. Thank you to every person who came out to support us. This is what dreams are made of. Thank you to everyone who played a part in my recovery. I always thought I’d be here, but to score a winner – wow. These girls are special and what a special group of staff.” Millie Bright, England defender: “A lot of emotions, but I’m so proud. What more could you ask for as a player? Playing a home EURO in front of your nation, selling out Wembley – the heart of football in England. The fans were so incredible.” Leah Williamson, England captain: “We talked and talked and finally we got it done. It’s the proudest moment of my life, so I’m going to put it to my feet and dedicate myself to every second. The legacy of this tournament and this team is a change in society. I gathered everyone.” Fran Kirby, England striker: “It’s amazing, something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. To win this now is amazing. It’s unbelievable. To get to the final and get the win is what this team has.” Final defeat Voss-Tecklenburg Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Germany coach: “We were close but England withstood the pressure. Congratulations to her. We’re very sad to lose. We’re in a process, it wasn’t enough, so we have to do a bit more. We grow from games like this. Alexandra Popp would have sparked something against our opponents with her presence, but it just didn’t work.” Merle Frohms, Germany goalkeeper: “It was as tense and exciting as we expected. We knew England were tough opponents, but we also knew we’ve beaten tough teams in the past, which gave us confidence. We couldn’t bring that on the pitch today. Maybe it was a bit of nerves, but , after six games, at some point your strength starts to wear off a bit. We know a lot of people at home were watching on TV and we hope we gave them the desire to come to the stadium and watch women’s football – and that there are more fans in the stands in our league games.” Becky Hill 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO Final Show presented by PepsiMAX
Basic statistics
Lina Magull walks away after making it 1-1Getty Images
England won their first major title, having lost the previous women’s EURO finals to Sweden in 1984 and Germany in 2009. England are the fifth different winners after Germany (eight titles), Norway (two), Sweden (one) and the Netherlands (one). England follow previous winners Norway (1987), West Germany (1989), Germany (1995, one-off final), Germany (2001) and Wiegman Netherlands (2017). Wiegman is the first coach to lead two different teams to the title and the first foreign coach to win a final. Germany missed a final for the first time, having won their previous eight in 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009 (against England) and 2013. England beat Germany’s (2009) record of 21 goals in a Women’s EURO. Their eventual winner was their 22nd goal of the tournament. England have won 18 and drawn two of their last 20 internationals (F106 A5) since Wiegman took over. Toone’s goal was her 500th in a Women’s EURO finals. Mead finished as the top scorer with six goals and five assists, ahead of Popp (six goals, no assists) and Alessia Russo (four goals, one assist, all as a substitute). England fielded the same starting line-up in all six matches, the first time this has happened at a group stage men’s or women’s EURO. Germany have never failed to score in a knockout stage game at the finals (25 matches). The crowd of 87,192 was the highest ever for a women’s national team match in Europe.
Lining up
England: Ears; Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daley (Greenwood 88); Stanway (Scott 89), Walsh; Mead (Kelly 64), Kirby (Toone 56), Hemp (Parris 119); White (Russo 56) Germany: Frohm’s; Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering (Doorsoun 103), Rauch (Lattwein 113); Magull (Dallmann 90), Oberdorf, Daebritz (Lohmann 73); Huth, Schüller (Anyomi 67), Brand (Wassmuth 46) What’s next? The teams return to competitive action in September with the final matches of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup European Qualifiers in Australia and New Zealand, which run from July 20 to August 20 next summer. Four of the 11 European places in the finals have already been filled, with Denmark, France, Spain and Sweden topping their groups. However, to concede eight Group D wins, England will book their place in the final with a draw in Austria (September 3) or a win against Luxembourg (September 6). Three points clear at the top of Group H, Germany will qualify by beating either Turkey (September 3) or Bulgaria (September 6). The Women’s EURO itself returns to its regular cycle for the 2023–25 edition, with the bidding process for the organizers of the final tournament underway.
