A record crowd of 87,192 for a European Championship final – men’s or women’s – watched as Chloe Kelly’s first international goal fired the Lionesses to victory over the eight-time winners.
After three defeats at the final hurdle, goals from Kelly and Ella Toon canceled out Lina Muggle’s equalizer to seal a dream ending to a stunning tournament run.
And despite beating Germany just twice in their previous 27 meetings, Wiegmann’s men battled for a hard-fought victory to extend the Dutch coach’s impressive run.
Injury agony for Pop
Germany were dealt a heartbreaking blow moments before kick-off when star striker Alexandra Popp, the tournament’s joint top scorer with six goals, suffered a muscle injury in the warm-up.
Replaced in the starting XI by Lea Schuller, it marked a devastating end to what had been a heart-warming story of redemption for the 31-year-old. After missing the previous two Euros through injury, Pop has made up for lost time in a big way, equaling the tournament’s top goalscoring record – set by compatriot Inca Grings in 2009 – playing as a substitute.
Pop’s visible anguish as he left the pitch served as a stark contrast to the euphoric atmosphere at the sold-out Wembley Stadium as the kick-off approached and singers Becky Hill, Stefflon Don and Ultra Nate took to the center circle to host a pre-match show.
With the area surrounding the pitch swarming with fans and flags hours before kick-off, it was a fitting build-up to close a tournament that had broken records long before the trophy was lifted.
The total number of 487,683 fans who attended the pre-final matches doubled the previous tournament attendance record set at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.
And that was before Wembley’s historic increase in numbers, which broke the existing record for a men’s or women’s Euro final at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid in 1964.
Buoyed by the home support, England started in front. Fran Kirby created an early chance with a teasing cross for Ellen White at the back post, but the Manchester City striker could only steer her header into the hands of Merle Fromms.
It would mark the first of a string of opportunities for White in a slick first half with several excellent chances as both defenses continued the iron-clad form that saw them arrive at Wembley, conceding just once all tournament.
Compounded by a quick succession of yellow cards for Georgia Stanway and White, frustration quickly turned to fear for England as a corner sparked goal-line carnage. Spinning inches from the line, the ball looked destined to settle into the net before being gratefully snuffed out by England goalkeeper Mary Earps.
Dealing with the players’ grievances would set the tone for a busy day for referee Katerina Monzul, who picked up six yellow cards and stopped play for 36 fouls during a hard-fought, hard-fought contest.
England’s best chance of the half came five minutes before the break when Beth Meade’s strike found White bursting into the box but the off-balance 33-year-old was unable to keep it out.
ecstasy
It was Germany’s turn to fly out of the blocks after play resumed, with Tabea Wasmuth almost penalizing Millie Bright for a miscommunication just two minutes into the second half. But after rushing down the left, Wasmuth could only shoot straight at Earps.
Wiegmann called the changes as Germany continued their fast start, Kirby and White making way for Thune and Alessia Russo. With four goals – all from the bench – Russo was the tournament’s unofficial ‘golden’ substitute before the final, but it was Tone who would steal the crown at Wembley.
After a perfectly weighted long ball from Kiera Walsh split the German defence, the Manchester United striker found himself in a clear spot to face the onrushing form of Fromms. Her response? The most exquisite chip that lifted over the keeper and went in.
If the finish was good, the answer was anything but, but Wembley erupted in ecstatic scenes not seen under the arch since Luke Shaw’s strike fired the men’s side into an early lead at the opposite end of the pitch just over a year ago.
Like so many tournaments in England before, this story ended in tears and it looked like another painful chapter would be written when Muggle fired home a deserved equalizer 10 minutes from time.
With Wiegmann’s side dropping deeper and deeper to protect their advantage, the pressure finally broke when a well-worked move saw Wasmuth slide a low cross to the Bayern Munich midfielder at the near post, who cleverly poked into the roof of the net , to equalize.
Magull edged closer to regular time again, the euphoric atmosphere minutes earlier replaced by nervous tension, momentarily interrupted by a rousing reception for the introduction of Jill Scott.
Replacing Georgia Stanway, the 35-year-old midfielder became the first English player to play in two international finals.
Coming home
Tempers flared during a nervy resumption with few chances and many hard-fought battles, with Scott involved in an angry row with Sidney Lohmann after she tripped the German.
With tired legs and penalties looming, England forced a corner with 10 minutes to play. Lucy Bronze knocked the ball into the path of Kelly who, after a missed tackle, poked the ball over the line for her first international goal at the perfect time.
Cue pure bedlam, instantly frozen by Kelly, who stopped to check with referee Monzul if her goal had been counted. Ripping off her shirt in celebration, the 24-year-old received what will surely be the most warmly received yellow card of her career.
A dogged effort to keep the ball in the corner dragged on throughout as the Wembley crowd urged their players over the line, Monzoul’s final whistle drawing the biggest roar yet.
Just in time, “The Three Lions” blared from the stadium speakers. After 56 years of injury, football has finally come home.
Add Comment