England’s team boss Sarina Wiegman managed the feat of winning the European Championship title as a coach for the second time in a row after 2017 with the tournament organizers Netherlands at the time.
Ella Toone (62nd) pushed the English women forward, Lina Magull (79th) saved the quarter-final conqueror from Austria into extra time. There, Chloe Kelly (110th), a substitute, became the match winner, euphorically tearing her jersey off her body while celebrating a goal. The majority of the 87,192 spectators were also pleased, as they set a new European Championship record after the previous record had been set in the opening match between England and Austria (1-0) with 68,871 fans at Old Trafford Stadium on July 6th.
After the final defeats in 1984 (in two more matches against Sweden) and in 2009 against Germany (2:6), all good things were three for the English women. They secured the first major title for an English team since the men’s World Cup in their own country in 1966. Germany, on the other hand, again went away empty-handed after the quarter-final out in 2017, after six of the previous eight triumphs had been won in a row.
Popp has to pass just before kick-off
Wiegman relied on their well-established formation, which also started in the 4-0 semi-final against Sweden. The Germans had an additional bitter failure. Alexandra Popp, who had previously scored in every game and a total of six times, had to pass after the warm-up due to muscular problems. Instead, Lea Schüller, the striker who was actually considered to be in front before the start of the tournament, but then played no role due to a coronavirus infection, moved into the starting eleven.
The English missed the opportunity for a dream start. Record goalscorer Ellen White headed the ball on the five, but was unable to defeat Merle Frohms (3rd). The 33-year-old Manchester City player could have put her foot forward, her shot from 13 meters went just over the bar (38th). Otherwise there were no top chances, both teams were tactically very well adjusted and fought vehemently for every ball. The flow of the game suffered as a result.
Germany only came dangerously in front of the goal once in the first 45 minutes, when Marina Hegering tried to get the ball on goal after a corner and the “Lionesses” were able to clear it thanks to a little luck and with combined forces (25th).
England meets in German urge phase
After the restart, the Germans put a lot of pressure on them and pushed for the lead. Substitute Tabea Waßmuth finished too weak (48′), and a Magull shot wasn’t far off (50′). Ironically, in the best phase of the team of coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, the hosts presented. This is thanks to a substitute who had just come. After an ideal pass from Keira Walsh into Toone’s run, Frohms overcame them, which is worth seeing. Prince William also had a smile on his face in the stands.
The Germans almost hit back at once. Magull was unlucky with an aluminum hit, the follow-up shot by the colorless Schüller was too weak (66th). It was also the last action of the partner of Austria’s sailing ace Lara Vadlau. The changes did not fail to have an effect and brought a lot of momentum. With Sydney Lohmann and Wassmuth, two “jokers” initiated the equalization, Magull coldly converted the five. The “lucky punch” didn’t materialize, so overtime was announced for both teams.
For a long time there was a lot of evidence pointing to a penalty shoot-out before England scored from a set piece. After a hemp corner, Lucy Bronze got the ball on goal, which Kathrin-Julia Hendrich couldn’t clear and Kelly shot away from close range. This ended the first final decision in extra time since 2001, not according to Germany’s wishes. At that time, the record champion had defeated Sweden due to a golden goal in Ulm. England also survived the 20th game of the Wiegman era unbeaten.
England 2-1 Germany (1-1, 0-0) aet
Gates: Toone (62′), Kelly (110′) and Magull (79′)
London, Wembley Stadium, 87,192 spectators, SR Kateryna Monzul (UKR).
England: Earps – Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly (Greenwood 88) – Stanway (Scott 88), Walsh – Mead (Kelly 64), Kirby (Toone 56), Hemp (Paris 119) – White (Ruso 56). )
Germany: Frohms – Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering (103rd Doorsoun), Rauch (113th Lattwein) – Oberdorf, Däbritz (73rd Lohmann) – Huth, Magull (91st Dallmann), Brand (46th Waßmuth) – Schüller (67th Anyomi )
Source: Nachrichten