LONDON (AP) — Just when it looked like England might once again be burdened by expectations and history, Chloe Kelly made the breakthrough.
Kelly’s goal at extra time, the first time she scored in a competitive foreign match, propelled England to their first name in top women’s football on Sunday, beating Germany 2-1.
When Kelly scored, England looked tired, even with the enthusiasm of the home fans, and were struggling to cope with the new German substitutes. The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium with Lina Magull for Germany cancelling Ella Toone’s purpose for England.
Kelly then threw a loose ball in the moment in the 110th minute after Germany failed to clear a corner. Cue the celebrations, the songs in Trafalgar Square and the congratulations of the Queen.
“I imagine I would be here, and still be here and score the winning goal, wow. These women are amazing,” said Kelly, who returned from a serious knee injury in April. “It’s incredible, I just need to celebrate now. “
Kelly took off his blouse to celebrate his goal, receiving a yellow card but also a shout from Brandi Chastain, who celebrated with a taste in his mouth when his penalty won the World Cup in the United States in 1999. rest of your life from all over England. Cheers!” Chastain wrote on Twitter.
After the final whistle, the English players danced and the crowd sang their anthem “Sweet Caroline”. The good atmosphere that prevailed in the stadium on Sunday contrasted with the violent scenes when the England men’s team lost the Final of the European Championship to Italy in the same stadium. A year ago.
The tournament’s record crowd of more than 87,000 highlighted the expansion of women’s football in Europe since England and Germany last played under a continental name thirteen years ago.
On that occasion, Germany won 6-2 against an England team that still had part-time players. Two years later, England presented its Women’s Super League, which professionalized the game and one of the most important competitions in the world.
This has meant a major holiday for Germany, which was a pioneer country in European women’s football and faces well-endowed rivals such as England, Spain and France.
England’s name comes 56 years after the country’s only main male name, which it also won once again at Wembley against Germany in the 1966 World Cup. Queen Elizabeth II’s congratulatory message called the England team “an inspiration to women and women today and for generations in the long term. “
Players are also aware that their good fortune has consequences.
“We talked and talked and, despite everything we did,” England captain Leah Williamson said. this tournament and this team is a replacement in society. We bring each and every one together.
On Sunday, Germany couldn’t count on their captain Alexandra Popp, the team’s most sensible scorer with six goals, after reporting a muscle problem in the warm-up. She was replaced in the line-up by Schüller, while Svenja Huth took over as captain.
Goalless conceded after a physical first half in which Ellen White shot over the crossbar for England, while Marina Hegering almost forced the ball for Germany into a corner before Williamson and Earps intervened.
Either team may have had a penalty in the first half, first when the ball gave the impression of hitting Williamson’s arm as it cleared, and then when Hegering dived to clear the ball and collided with Lucy Bronze.
Ella Toone clung to a long pass from Keira Walsh to catch the German defence in the 62nd minute and skillfully sent a high shot into goalkeeper Merle Frohms and the net for the first goal.
Toone’s goal, six minutes into the game from the bench, sparked celebrations as England coach Sarina Wiegman, the coach who won with the Netherlands in 2017, raised both arms with joy.
Facing their first defeat in a European finals, Germany came close when Lea Schüller hit the post, then tied the score at 79 when Lina Magull finished off a low cross in front of England goalkeeper Mary Earps, extending the match.
When the match went into extra time, there were echoes of some other European Championship final at the same venue the year before, when England’s men’s team had a 1-0 lead but lost by consequences to Italy, but Kelly’s goal replaced all that. England took over the attack in the final minutes, depriving Germany of the chances of a momentary equaliser.
After the final whistle, Popp joined his teammates on the pitch and, along with midfielder Lena Oberdorf, comforted England’s Georgia Stanway.
England’s jubilant players entered Wiegman’s post-match press conference singing “It’s Coming Home” as they celebrated their impressive victory.
Wiegman in the middle of the press convention when his team burst into the room, making a song and dancing around the most sensible table.
Doorman Earps even climbed onto the table to keep dancing as the celebrations continued into the evening.
Wiegman remains unbeaten in 12 games as a coach in the European Championship after winning the tournament first with the Netherlands and now with England. One of his first moves after England’s triumph was to share a hug with 35-year-old midfielder Jill Scott, the only player left in any respect since England’s 2009 loss to Germany.
The adjustment was arbitrated by Ukrainian Kateryna Monzul, who fled her home country after Russia’s invasion. Monzul, one of Europe’s top referees, left her home in Kharkiv, a giant city that was heavily bombed by Russian forces, and spent five days living in a basement. of his parents’ space before leaving the country and eventually living and running in Italy.
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