From Wembley Stadium – England were crowned Euro 2022 champions as a Chloe Kelly extra time winner saw the Lionesses to a historic 2-1 victory over Germany.
Lina Magull’s close range finish had cancelled out Ella Toone’s audacious dink in the second half, before Kelly stabbed home from a corner with 10 minutes of extra time remaining to send Wembley Stadium into delirium.
A tightly contested first period saw half chances at either end inside the opening 10 minutes; Ellen White’s header was comfortably saved by Merle Fohms, while Lucy Bronze produced a brave block to keep out a Sara Dabritz effort with her head.
There was a heart in mouth moment after a Germany corner triggered a goal mouth scramble. Leah Williamson blocked Marina Hegering’s effort, before Mary Earps somehow managed to clutch the ball on the line.
England’s clearest cut opportunity fell to White who, after combining neatly with Beth Mead on the right flank, could only fire narrowly over as the first half finished goalless.
Tabea Wassmuth was introduced at the break and almost had an instant impact, but could only fire straight at Earps after racing through on goal.
Germany were enjoying more of the ball and territory in the second half – only for England to take the lead with two pieces of individual magic. Keira Walsh sent Ella Toone scampering in behind with a sumptuous pass, and the 22-year-old lifted coolly lifted the ball over Frohms.
Lina Magull rattled the upright as Germany searched for an equaliser – and they eventually found one with 11 minutes remaining, as Wassmuth’s low cross was poked home by Magull, sending the game to extra time.
Two more tense, compelling halves of football unfolded, and as legs tired it was a set piece that made the breakthrough 10 minutes from time. Kelly – who only returned from a lengthy spell out with an ACL injury in April – prodded home Lauren Hemp’s corner at the second time of asking, and went full Brandi Chastain in celebration.
Frohms tipped over an Alessia Russo pile driver from the edge of the area as the clock ticked down, and as the final whistle sounded It’s Coming Home sounded around Wembley as history was made.
GK: Mary Earps – 8/10 – Did well to get two hands on the ball following a frantic first half goal mouth scramble. Claimed a couple of crosses superbly. So dependable, what a tournament.
RB: Lucy Bronze – 7/10 – Popped up with a stunning block to deny a goal bound Dabritz effort with her head in the first half. Sound defensively, dangerous going forward. A real full blooded performance.
CB: Millie Bright – 7/10 – Won plenty in the air as Germany fired cross after cross into the England box. Caught out on a couple of occasions with balls in behind, and was the closest player to Magull as she stabbed home Germany’s equaliser.
CB: Leah Williamson – 8/10 – Brought the ball out from the back with such ease and confidence. Made countless important blocks and interceptions.
LB: Rachel Daly – 6/10 – Sent Kirby early in behind with a terrific pass in the early stages. Solid in the first half but looked a little more vulnerable in the second, with the Germany equaliser coming down the England left.
CM: Keira Walsh – 9/10 – So calm and composed, despite often receiving the ball facing her own goal and surrounded by at least two German players. Switched play well on a few occasions and produced the pass of the game to send Toone racing through for England’s opener.
CM: Georgia Stanway – 6/10 – Went into the book inside 20 minutes for a foul on Dabritz, and she was forced to toe a fine line for the remainder, with usual tenacious impact limited as a result. Tidy in possession, before being replaced in the final 10 minutes.
CM: Fran Kirby – 5/10 – Picked out White at the back post for an early England opening, but – as most number 10s have been this tournament – was largely kept quiet by the impressive Oberdorf. Replaced after 54 minutes.
RW: Beth Mead – 6/10 – Scampered away down the right and found White for England’s best opportunity of the first half. Put in a big shift, before being forced off with injury on the hour mark following a hefty challenge.
ST: Ellen White – 5/10 – Saw a header saved in the early exchanges, before firing England’s best opportunity of the first half narrowly over after combining well with Mead. Replaced after 54 minutes.
LW: Lauren Hemp – 6/10 – Caused problems with her set piece delivery – including the corner from which Kelly netted England’s second. Frequently found herself doubled up against. Efficient on the ball.
SUB: Ella Toone – 8/10 – Netted a superb opener for England, showing all the composure in the world to lift the ball over Frohms.
SUB: Alessia Russo – 6/10 – Asked a few questions of the Germany backline early on with her pace and athleticism, but largely well marshalled by Germany’s strong central defensive pairing.
SUB: Chloe Kelly – 7/10 – Caused problems with her pace and trickery and offered England something different. Netted England’s second by stabbing home from a corner.
SUB: Alex Greenwood – 6/10 – Calm and sound defensively.
SUB: Jill Scott – 6/10 – Right in the thick of the action – tidy in possession, charged into challenges out of possession.
SUB: Nikita Parris – N/A
GK: Merle Frohms – 6/10 – Held onto a White header and did well to deal with a number of potentially dangerous England crosses in the first half.
RB: Giulia Gwinn – 7/10 – Really defensively robust up against Hemp. Flashed a really dangerous delivery across the face of goal, from which Germany could so easily have equalised.
CB: Kathrin Hendrich – 7/10 – Did a good job on White, largely keeping the England forward quiet. Unable to keep up with Toone as she surged through on goal for England’s opener, but otherwise so solid.
CB: Marina Hegering – 8/10 – Almost opened the scoring in the first half from a corner. Allowed Toone to drift in between her and Hendrich for England’s opener – largely the only let up from the solid central defensive pairing.
LB: Felicitas Rauch – 6/10 – Saw yellow on the stroke of half time for a barge on Mead. Had a really good battle with the England winger.
CM: Lena Oberdorf – 8/10 – Won so much in the air whenever England attempted to go long and marshalled Kirby expertly – but appeared to lose the run of Toone for England’s opener.
CM: Lina Magull – 8/10 – Saw a huge chance for Germany go begging, sending the ball the wrong side of the post from close range, before rattling the post shortly after England opened the scoring. Eventually rewarded for her many bursts into the box by poking home Germany’s equaliser.
CM: Sara Dabritz – 6/10 – Saw a goal bound effort blocked by Bronze and fired narrowly over after being invited to shoot from range. Replaced midway through the second half.
RW: Svenja Huth – 6/10 – Switched to the left flank in the second half but struggled to get the better of Bronze. Back on the right for extra time but unable to leave a lasting attacking impact on proceedings.
ST: Lea Schuller – 5/10 – In for Alexandra Popp on the cusp of kick off following a muscular injury to the Germany forward but largely kept under wraps by Bright and Williamson. Replaced just after the hour.
LW: Jule Brand – 5/10 – Kept quiet by Bronze and unable to have a telling impact on the game, before being replaced at half time.
SUB: Tabea Wassmuth – 7/10 – Provided the assist for Germany’s equaliser with a low cross and had a real impact from the bench.
SUB: Nichole Anyomi – 6/10
SUB: Sydney Lohmann – 6/10
SUB: Linda Dallmann – 6/10
SUB: Sara Doorsoun – 6/10
SUB: Leana Lattwein – N/A
