An extra-time strike from striker Chloe Kelly gave England a 2-1 victory over Germany in the European Women’s Championship final to claim their first major title in front of a record crowd on home soil.
Substitute Kelly was quickest to react to a loose corner kick in the second period of extra time on Sunday to give his side victory and avenge their defeat by Germany in the Euro 2009 final in Helsinki, Finland.
England manager Sarina Wiegmann became the first manager to win the Euros with two different nations after guiding her native Netherlands to the title in 2017.
“I just can’t stop crying. We talk, talk, talk and finally we did it. You know what, the kids are fine. This is the proudest moment of my life,” England captain Leah Williamson said on the sidelines.
“Listen, the legacy of this tournament is societal change. The legacy of this team is the winners and that is the journey. I love each and every one of you, I am so proud to be English. I’m trying so hard not to swear.”
England players celebrate winning the Women’s Euro 2022 final after the match [Molly Darlington/Reuters]
After the final whistle, the English players danced and the crowd sang their anthem Sweet Caroline.
The good-natured atmosphere at the stadium on Sunday contrasted with the scenes of violence when England’s men’s team lost the European Championship final to Italy at the same stadium a year ago.
“I always believed I would be here, but to be here and score the winner, wow. These girls are amazing,” said Kelly, who returned from a serious knee injury in April. “This is amazing, I just want to celebrate now.”
It was a historic night for England, who opened the scoring in the 62nd minute through striker Ella Toon in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley Stadium.
The 87,192 attendance was a record for a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) tournament, men’s or women’s, highlighting the growth of women’s football in Europe since England and Germany last played for the continental title 13 years ago.
England supporters celebrate in Trafalgar Square, London after watching their team win the Women’s Euro 2022 final [Frank Augstein/AP Photo]
Substitute Lina Muggle brought Germany back into the game to send them into extra time, but Kelly popped up at the right time to win for England and send the home fans into a frenzy.
Germany suffered a blow in the warm-up as striker Alexandra Popp, who scored six goals in five games on her European debut, suffered a muscle injury and had to withdraw from the squad and was replaced by Lea Schuller.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side missed Pop’s presence in the box, but it was a heavy physical clash that resulted in a goalless first half.
Toon opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark with a beautiful finish moments after coming on as a substitute.
However, that was canceled out by Muggle, who fired home an equalizer from close range 17 minutes later after the home side had been pushed by their opponents.
The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes to go into extra-time when the atmosphere died down a bit as the thought began to set in that Germany would win a record ninth Euro crown at the home of English football.
That was until the 110th minute when Kelly, who minutes earlier had urged the crowd to raise their voices and cheer for the country, reacted quickest to slot home the winner to inflict Germany’s first defeat in a major final.
England’s Millie Bright and Ellen White celebrate after winning the Women’s Euro 2022 [John Sibley/Reuters]
Al Jazeera’s Nadeem Baba, reporting from outside the stadium in London, said there were record attendances at stadiums across the country during the tournament: more than 500,000 people attended the matches.
“The hope is that beyond the elite, this can lead to greater investment in grassroots sport with girls of primary school age and beyond, not only having access but being able to afford to train at the elite clubs,” Baba said .
“Sometimes it’s not free for them in academies linked to top league clubs when it’s for boys,” he said. “A little equality, a little more respect and financial stability for professional players to be able to dedicate themselves to the sport. If there were any questions about the quality they offer, I think this tournament really put those questions to rest.”
Add Comment