Thank you so much for joining me for this stunning and scintillating match.
The Arnold Clark Cup and a first home win against Germany bagged for England.
Germany put up a great fight but in the end England managed to claim the win, albeit with Bright’s goal being offside.
If you want to recap all the action from the match, read Suzy Wrack’s report here.
I didn’t notice it at the time but Bright was actually offside for her goal. There isn’t any VAR in the match and so England got away with that.
Ian Wright has made a good point as the assistant referee was perfectly line up and should have spotted the error.
Updated
England manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV: “The tournament was as we expected, three top level games. We have seen different players and starting line-ups. We have seen different style.
“Today we weren’t tight enough but then you have to be compact as a team.
“When I came in this team had a lot of experience. The eagerness to commitment and wanting to learn is immense. It has been a pleasure so far.
“You want to keep all the players fit and in form at their clubs. Other teams progress too so it’s hard to predict [Euros outcome].”
Wiegman remains undefeated as England boss and has shown her brilliance with those late subs and formation changes.
So many people were questioning putting Bright up front in the closing moments of the match but it paid off massively.
It’ll be interesting to see what the manager says, she should be facing the press shortly.
Yellow streamers drown the England team as they raise their arms and the crowd goes wild.
A great moment for the team who have struggled for form over the past few years. Wiegman has done unbelievably well since taking the helm in 2021.
Updated
Millie Bright and Alexia Putellas have posed for a picture with the golden boot, both scoring two goals in three games.
The breakthrough star of the tournament has been named as Spain’s Athenea del Castillo - very much deserved.
England players are putting medals around each other’s neck ahead of the trophy lift.
It’s worth remembering how close this tournament was, England have won this cup on goal difference.
The only side not to claim a win was Germany and Canada and Spain only bagged a victory each.
This sets up such an exciting stage for the Euros!
Trophy ceremony to come ...
Player of the Match Millie Bright told ITV: “It’s brilliant. For us in the past it was a rocky road, for us to finally be on a journey together we are on the right road.
“This is just the beginning. It wasn’t pretty out there but it’s another element to our game that we can win dirty.
“We’re not bothered who scores, it’s just about getting it in the back of the net.
“We have shown that we can win”
While the concentration and talk will be around England because of the dramatic late win, props need to be given to Germany.
They came into this tournament without 12 players due to injury and Covid. They held Spain to a draw, lost 1-0 to Canada and suffered a late defeat to England.
And my, oh my Magull’s strike is something so promising for the visitors. Imagine Magull at the Euros when all of their star players return. The Euros are going to be amazing.
Take a look at the England goals which sealed the win:
MILLIE BRIGHT 💥💥💥
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 23, 2022
The @lionesses are ahead with minutes to go!
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📺 @ITV4
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Super, super Fran!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 23, 2022
She seals an historic win 🏆🔥
Watch the #ArnoldClarkCup live 👇
📺 @ITV4
📱 https://t.co/VhvSJqdCYL pic.twitter.com/6DRV6FfTzF
England are screaming and hugging each other, such wholesome scenes!
Bright, Player of the Match, embraced Sarina Wiegman and you can just see what it means to them.
Full-time: England 3-1 Germany
England have won the Arnold Clark Cup and defeated Germany for the first time at home.
A great strike from White in the first match was cancelled out by arguably the goal of the tournament from Magull.
The second half saw both teams playing well with shots coming in. But it was England’s Bright who broke the deadlock and Kirby added the extra.
A breath-taking match, I am so excited for the Euros!
Updated
Kirby makes a sensational break and just kept going. And going. And going!
She smacks it home and seals a cracking match.
Updated
GOAL! England 3-1 Germany (Kirby, 90+3')
Wow, this is why Kirby should be at 1o
90 + 2 min: There are three minutes added to this match.
Germany look desperate to keep England to two goals as Russo and Hemp look to shoot. The defence does enough to quell the danger
90 min: Player of the Match has been confirmed as Millie Bright.
The defender has played well in defence and came through for England when they needed her.
She’s also the joint top tournament scorer with Spain’s Alexia Putellas.
88 min: England look to get a third as Hemp passes to Kirby but German shirts swarm.
The visitors look to equalise one again, Rall is doing so well to battle with Kirby. The Chelsea star, though, ends up on the better end and wins a free kick.
Germany make a change as Buhl comes off for Cerci. What a match this has been!
86 min: It’s interesting to note that was one of the many runs Hemp made where she kept her head up.
Emma Hayes mentioned the Manchester City star didn’t have enough awareness but she seemed to get it just in time.
What a finish from Bright as well!
The camera has panned to Spain who are not happy with that score.
GOAL! England 2-1 Germany (Bright, 84')
England are so intent on finding a winner they have left Bright up front.
And what a decision that is! A cracking ball from Hemp sees Bright tap home.
Updated
84 min: Hemp thumps the ball upfield as England throw everything at Germany to try and find a winner.
But it’s the visitors who look dangerous, Brand almost scores from a cracking header.
This is so tense!
82 min: Williamson takes a shot and the attempt sails way over the bar.
Possession pinballs around the midfield and it ends in a break in play.
England take the opportunity to bring Russo and Toone on for White and Bronze.
80 min: We are back, I have a feed back up and running!
England have a free kick and Kirby takes it. Bright gets a head to it but it goes wide.
Wow, what a stressful few minutes!
75 min: I apologise for the lack of on pitch updates, the ITV Hub has decided to have a meltdown and Twitter is raging about it!
According to my Twitter sources, Germany were pinging the ball in the box but couldn’t quite get a shot away.
England countered as Kirby saw a shot rattle the woodwork.
Russo on shortly.
71 min: Neither side are yet to find a winner and Germany are the first to bring on their next changes.
Hagel and Dallmann are on for Dongus and Magull.
Interesting move taking Magull off. The goal-scorer and such a bright spark to this second half.
69 min: Alessia Russo is said to be warming up and will be the next England change. It will be interesting to see (if ITV wants to get their Hub back up and running) how she goes as she hasn’t had the best tournament.
66 min: England are on the attack once again with Daly smashing a great ball in. It just beats White as the hosts look to put themselves ahead once again.
I’m relieved and frustrated to update you that it isn’t my internet causing the issue with my feed, it’s ITV Hub cutting out. I’m hoping it’s because so many fans are trying to watch the match.
If you want to vent Hub frustrations to me, I’m all ears! Email or send me a tweet!
64 min: A heavy challenge comes in as Hemp and Gwinn collide. The England star looks in pain, let’s hope she is okay!
She is on her feet and is staying on the pitch.
My feed has decided to cut again, the joy. I’ll be all over any updates while my laptop decides to play ball though!
62 min: It was a solid cross from Stanway but it pings back out to Bronze. Her cross doesn’t have an affect.
But Hemp is with the ball again and this time shoots, it’s saved by Frohms and she was offside anyway.
England make their first change as Stanway comes off for Parris.
60 min: Hemp is great at dribbling the ball around the box but she needs to shoot! She’s in a great position but gets caught in two minds and doesn’t pull the trigger.
She makes up for it by winning a free kick. Stanway on the kick again ...
58 min: Brand concedes a free kick with a foul on Walsh.
The kick goes to Bronze but her pass is cut out.
This is turning into a slightly sloppy performance from England now. Germany are really building and the mistakes are seeping into the Lionesses game. This may be the brightest Germany has played this tournament.
56 min: Williamson this time the one to lose the ball in the midfield but Bronze does well to get back to clear.
England counter well with Hemp crossing to White but Feldkamp shuts down the attack - a great defensive move.
53 min: Bronze has a sloppy pass and it would have seen Buhl away but the German stops as she fouls Bronze. A lucky escape for England.
Walsh passes sublime ball to Hemp who wins a corner. Stanway plays it short and low which is easy to read from Germany.
Interesting the Lionesses have switched who takes the kick. Greenwood had been the taker.
51 min: Dongus’ pass goes straight out after impressive play from goal-scorer Magull.
England look to build but they spill the ball in Germany’s half, a dangerous spell here for the hosts.
Brand gets it into the box but a sloppy pass sees England full of relief.
49 min: Bronze does excellently as Germany look to shoot in a great position. She calmly intercepts the ball.
Buhl has had a bright game so far and continues to be a big threat.
47 mins: What a fun fact, England have never drawn three consecutive matches in their international history.
Hemp looks to break but it just gets away from her. Williamson gets the ball and the crowd encourages her to shoot, she doesn’t.
It’s a high tempo star with only one change at half-time with Brand on for Germany.
Updated
We are back underway.
England need to score again in order to win the Arnold Clark Cup. If Germany hold them to a draw or bag a win, the cup will go to Spain.
In other news, did I grab another Skittles bag in the break? Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.
Here’s a look at Magull’s sensational strike!
🚀 WOW, what a goal to equal the game from Germany!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 23, 2022
Watch the #ArnoldClarkCup live 👇
📺 @ITV4
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Half-time: England 1-1 Germany
As I said before the game, don’t count out Germany.
White scored a beautiful opener after sustained England pressure. The hosts continued to impress and an error from Greenwood led to a German freekick.
Magull then struck the perfect freekick, it superbly curled into goal with Roebuck able to do little to stop it.
We are all square!
45 +1 min: England are retaining possession here, maybe running down the clock?
There are two minutes added.
Feel like my stress levels are back to normal now, phew the panic when my feed cut was very real!
44 min: My feed is back, huzzah!
Gutted I missed that goal in real time, it was an absolute stunner.
The equaliser means as things stand, Spain will win the tournament.
From Twitter sources it seems Greenwood was booked, giving Germany a free kick.
Magull curled the shot straight into goal, now we have a match on our hands!
GOAL! England 1-1 Germany (Magull, 43')
Don’t you just love it when the feed cuts and a goal is scores, I know I do!
Updated
39 min: Another mistake from Kirby in the midfield, unlike the Chelsea star. A pass gets away from her to gift the ball to Germany.
Walsh wrestles the ball back, who passes to Greenwood and she sends it upfield.
Hemp clatters to the floor to earn a free kick in scoring distance.
Greenwood takes the kick and just as she does my feed on ITV Hub cuts out. Just what I need!
36 min: Dabritz, what a mistake! She nabs the ball after Kirby’s pass is loose in the midfield.
The German captain makes a great run but doesn’t get it away to a teammate and Bright runs her off the pitch.
England counter and White is almost through to double the lead.
34 min: Magull dribbles the ball around the top of the box and feeds Rall. She takes a shot but Roebuck calmly collects.
Carter is receiving more treatment, surely she is coming off here?
Yeah she is, Daly on in her place.
Updated
32 min: A lot of play in the midfield with possession exchanging hands.
Carter looks to be suffering from that earlier clash, will keep you up to date on if she is taken off.
29 min: A clever play started by Rall sees Germany in the box for some time.
Unfortunately for Germany, England manage to get the ball away.
The match has so much tempo but some passes need to be more clinical for both sides.
27 min: Oh Stanway what a goal that would have been. White has a great pass and it looks like a bicycle kick from Stanway.
Frohms makes a cracking save to limit England’s lead.
Hemp wins a free kick from England’s half, seeing the Lionesses build again from deep.
25 min: Roebuck almost loses control of the ball in front of goal but she manages to scoop it up. A shaky start from the Manchester City keeper so far.
Bright gifts away a throw in to halt Germany attack. Gwinn takes the throw but England clear.
Hemp now on the run who passes to Carter. The Chelsea star’s pass isn’t good and it goes all the way back to Roebuck.
22 min: The game has wound down slightly with Carter down with injury.
She got back to her feet and will play on.
With the lull in the game, a recap of where we are at in the worst to best Skittles debate. We are now on yellow, green, orange, red and purple. Let me know your thoughts!
An England corner sees Greenwood cross in but it goes to nothing.
Updated
20 min: Bronze concedes a corner after great play from Gwinn.
Buhl takes the kick but England clear well. The ball then pinballs around the box and eventually get it away.
This game is full throttle!
18 min: As things stand England will win the tournament on yellow cards but Germany aren’t going to lay down and let the hosts take a win.
The goal hasn’t shaken the visitors but they will have to do something to stop the momentum soon.
Kirby tries to get a shot away but Germany tap it back. The lack of power on the clearance meant Kirby could pass to White who splices it home.
Are England on their way to a first home win against Germany?
GOAL! England 1-0 Germany (White, 15')
Finally England get their opener, a great team goal!
Updated
14 min: Hemp holds onto the ball in the final third a touch too long to silence a deadly attack.
And Greenwood puts a delightful pass in but again England spill the attack. This must be frustrating for England fans to watch.
The German defensive wall holds strong though and the visitors look to counter.
12 min: Bronze deals well with a slow build from Germany, the pressure from the visitors is brilliant.
Williamson concedes a corner and Buhl takes the kick. Rall gets a head to the cross but Roebuck jumps on it.
Roebuck gets herself out of trouble as a pass from goal goes loose. She smothers the ball heading back to goal.
9 min: Carter did well to win a throw in as Germany players swarm the ball.
Germany start to counter but Walsh intercepts the ball and look to build from deep.
A great start from England so far.
7 min: As Rall clears a great Greenwood pass, we have had more opinions on Skittles.
Courtney has tweeted me: “Orange deserves to be higher up that list.”
I don’t think I would be mad if orange rose in the ranks, anything but the yellow.
5 min: Is there anything Hemp can’t do? Every time she has played for England this tournament she has made great breaks.
Her danger is dealt with well though Buhl.
The hosts wins a free kick, Greenwood takes the set-piece but it goes to nothing. Rall looks to counter but Roebuck collects. Lively exchanges!
2 min: The Skittles debate is raging on and I have received a controversial comment.
Daniel reached out via Twitter and said: “I‘m very uncouth and just bundle a lot in and snaffle them down, so I don’t really know if yellow ones are gross or not. I hate yellow Starburst and Fruit Gums though.”
I feel you need to do a taste test Daniel to see if your hate for yellow sweets extends to Skittles. An interesting experiment.
Back to the football, England have started brightly!
Kick-off: England 0-0 Germany
I think this is the loudest crowd yet, huge applause and cheers for both teams!
The anthems ring out and the players discard their jumpers.
Here we go!
Updated
Earlier I said I was unsure who would win the tournament if England beat Germany 1-0 and pick up three yellow cards, I now have the answer - England and Spain would share the trophy.
I don’t know how to feel about a shared win if I’m honest
The players are about to come out onto the pitch with anthems to follow. Kick-off isn’t far away ...
I am grateful to share I am not the only person who hates yellow Skittles, our very own Suzy Wrack has told me she tolerates them.
Suzy went a step further and ordered them worst to best, I can’t say I disagree with her. Yellow, Orange, Green, Red, Purple.
I will welcome, and challenge, any other orders or opinions on Skittles. Email me or send me a tweet @rendellx.
The stats are ever in Germany’s favour ahead of this clash.
The visitors have played England 26 times and they have only lost once. On top of that, Germany have never lost to England away from home.
It’s an astonishing achievement and they will look to maintain it. Kick-off in just over 15 minutes.
If anyone was intrigued by what snack I landed on, I went with Skittles. The only issue is I hate the yellow ones. Does anyone else share my disgust?
Anyway, back to the task in hand, we are just over 20 minutes away from kick-off.
Can England take the trophy? Or will Germany halt the celebrations? Get in touch and let me know.
I believe this is the first Arnold Clark Cup match England have played without a storm going on.
First it was Eunice, then Franklin.
The weather isn’t much brighter but at least it’s not gale force winds and rain!
Updated
England manager Sarina Wigeman told ITV: “As we said we play three games, we will try some things. A lot of players will get minutes and after this tournament we will have a lot of information.
“It is very competitive [in goal]. At the moment Mary is our first choice keeper.”
Considering how injury hit Germany’s team was heading into this tournament, they have played extremely well and it won’t do England any favours if they under-estimate them.
They were able to claim a late equaliser against Euros favourites Spain and just lost 1-0 to Canada.
We have quite the match on our hands.
The biggest surprise for me there was Hannah Hampton’s change. I know I should have seen it coming with the goalkeepers changing every match but Hampton did fantastically well on her debut last time out.
Before the tournament decider gets underway I’m going to raid my snacks cupboard, I’m thinking maybe some Skittles or crisps. Do you have a go to snack for football? Let me know be emailing me or dropping me a tweet @rendellx!
I’ve also gone rogue and made myself a coffee past 6.30pm. Will I regret this later? More than likely.
Updated
England have made six changes following their draw with Spain and it sees Leah Williamson handed back the captaincy.
England’s starting XI is: Roebuck, Walsh, Greenwood, Bright, Kirby, Williamson, White, Hemp, Bronze, Stanway, Carter
Substitutes: Earps, Daly, Stokes, Toone, Hampton, Mead, Parris, Nobbs, Charles, Scott, Russo, Zelem
Germany have made five changes from their loss to Canada.
Their starting 11 is: Frohms, Rall, Feldkamp, Kleinherne, Gwinn, Dongus, Dabritz, Magull, Anyomi, Schuller, Buhl
They haven’t released a list of substitutes but I will try and track them down.
Preamble
Welcome back to the Arnold Clark Cup and we return with its concluding match. England take on Germany and the hosts have the potential to win the tournament if they can limit their disciplinaries and claim victory over their opponents.
England are currently third and but with Spain beating Canada 1-0 earlier today, the Lionesses could take the crown. Germany, meanwhile, are unable to win after a draw and a loss so far in the competition.
So how can England win?
This is where it gets complicated ...
If England beat Germany 1-0 and only get two disciplinaries they win. If they beat Germany and score more than two goals they win.
I’m unsure how the tournament would be decided if England beat Germany 1-0 and pick up three disciplinaries as they would then be all square with Spain. But we will cross that bridge if it comes to it!
Both England and Germany will release their starting XI’s shortly for the 7.30pm kick-off, so stay tuned.
