the English crowned European champions for the first time in their history

“Football is a game where 22 guys are chasing a ball, and in the end Germany wins”. The sentence signed Gary Lineker is no longer a general truth since this evening, and the ex-English international must be the first to be happy.

After a very indecisive final, the “English Lionesses” finally forced the decision against the Germans (2-1 after extra time) to win in the London temple of Wembley the first title in its history.

The English found a “Frauen-Mannschaft” in official competition for the first time since 2009, and a Euro final lost quite largely in Helsinki (2-6). And while Sarina Wiegman’s players seemed to be starting out as favorites in front of the 87,192 supporters who were mainly won over to their cause, the sense of history gave the Germans the perfect costume as dream breakers.

A role taken on a year earlier by their Italian male counterparts in the final of Euro 2021, already at Wembley, and already against the England team. The eight-time European champions have won all their finals, and had never lost to the host country in the continental finals. It is now done, for a nation which wins, men and women alike, its second trophy, the first since 1966 and the World Cup won at home by the men’s team.

It was already against Germany, with the famous “Wembley goal” by Geoff Hurst, still controversial today, so uncertain is it that he crossed Hans Tilkowski’s line. The decisive strike with the tip of the foot and full of opportunism from Chloe Kelly (101^e) does not suffer from any possible dispute.

“ We are not afraid of anyone”Sarina Wiegman said before the match. The Dutch coach had been recruited with the sole mission of winning, she who had led the Netherlands to the European title in 2017. Her players started the game with their feet on the floor with a lot of intensity in the duels and a bad first hot situation. exploited by Ellen White with a header in the box (3^e).

Behind the Lionesses maintained a sterile grip on the game, before seeing the Germans – however harmless – gradually take their heads out of the water, to the point of obtaining the most dangerous opportunity of the first act, with a mess to five meters following a poorly cleared corner by the defense which almost benefited Hegering (25^e).

At the forefront of an attack line in need of juice, Sarina Wiegman had the lucidity to make two first quick changes, with the exits of White and Kirby, uninspired, in favor of the “super subs” Ella Toone and Alessia Russo, five goals and two assists between them since the start of the competition, each time off the bench. And it was the first who planted the first banderilla with maximum efficiency while England repelled somehow the German attacks, yet deprived of Alexandra Popp (six goals), injured in the warm-up.

The equalization of Lina Magull (79th) on a superb collective movement initiated by the Kathrin-Julia Hendrich festival along the sidelines brought back bad memories at Wembley, the scene of a new breathtaking extension.

Entering in place of the best English player of the tournament Beth Mead (six goals and five assists), Chloé Kelly did not forget to keep a cool head, from the top of her 24 years, to carry the final blow with a goal full of opportunism (110^e). In total, five English goals came from substitutes who entered during the game. “A tournament is never won by eleven”, declared for The world French international Louisa Necib. Tonight, a whole country wins.