After extra time, the “Lionesses” beat the Germans 2-1 on Sunday July 31, bringing across the Channel a first international trophy for a football selection since the world title of 1966.
And Wembley exploded at the end of the suspense. This Sunday, against Germany, the English played their first Euro final. And it only took them one try since they won after extra time (2-1). Germany had suffered a big blow during the warm-up with the injury of their captain and top scorer Alexandra Popp. Indicated as a starter on the compositions given an hour before the match, Popp was not finally on the pitch at the time of the presentation of the teams, victim of a “muscle problem, according to the German team’s Twitter account. And it was Lea Schüller who was established in her place in the axis of the attack, while Svenja Huth took the armband. Germany had already been deprived, since the semi-final, of their winger Klara Bühl, positive for Covid-19.
It took until the second half for the match to settle. The incoming English Ella Toone, who had replaced Fran Kirby six short minutes before, opened the scoring on the counterattack. We thought the case was settled but the Germans came back up to the hosts following a magnificent action starting from a very low recovery in their camp and precise passes, concluded by Lina Magull in the 79th minute. Nothing will move then before the extension. But the English made the difference at the end of this Euro, in the 110th minute. And it was Chloe Kelly, who also returned during the match, who scored, before taking off her jersey and celebrating in a bra, screaming her joy on the Wembley lawn.
Just over 87,000 football fans attended England’s coronation from the stands. Millions more had crowded into fan zones, pubs or behind their televisions. Last year, 67,000 supporters were in the stands for the men’s Euro final. The Italians had then shattered the dream of the England team, winning the trophy after the penalty shootout. Men and women alike, the English have been begging for an international trophy since 1966 and the men’s victory at the World Cup.