England's Lionesses defeated Germany in extra-time to win their first European Championship at a jubilant, sold-out Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening.
Chloe Kelly was the heroine for her county, lashing home her first international goal from close range in the 110th minute after Lauren Hemp's corner to send Wembley into raptures. The poacher's strike came after a cagey end to the match and first half of extra-time, following Lina Magull's equaliser from Ella Toone's opener.
Manchester United forward Toone came off the bench early in the second half and produced a delightful dinked finish to give the hosts the lead in the 62nd minute after a sublime through-ball from Keira Walsh, relieving the pressure after a period of Germany dominance.
However, the visitors - who had never lost a Euros final prior to their Wembley trip - responded well to falling behind and Magull was on hand to finish at the near post, finally getting the better of the indomitable Mary Earps to take the game to extra-time.
Eight-time European Champions Germany had been dealt a blow immediately before kick-off as Alexandra Popp suffered an injury during the warm-up and it was the hosts who started the brighter of the teams, with Ellen White testing Merle Frohms with a header early on. White had another opportunity late in a tense first half featuring many contentious refereeing decisions but could only fire over after Beth Mead found her in the area.
Germany emerged from the tunnel for the second half firing on all cylinders and England goalkeeper Earps was called into action to make a number of fine saves to keep the game goalless. Sarina Wiegman, as she had throughout the tournament, sent on Alessia Russo and Toone, and it was the latter who broke the deadlock.
Magull's leveller served as a sucker punch for the hosts but another substitute made the difference as Kelly found the back of the net with 10 minutes remaining before wheeling away in emphatic celebration.
Here are six talking points from an enthralling Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium.
England start well after cruel Popp blow
There was bitter news for Germany ahead of kick-off as Alexandra Popp suffered a muscular injury while warming up and had to be replaced by Lea Schuller in the starting XI. Popp scored in every game leading up to the final and there will no doubt have been relief among England defenders that they did not have to contain the prolific Wolfsburg striker.
Buoyed by this news and the intense atmosphere at Wembley, the Lionesses started with their tails up and could have taken the lead with just three minutes played. Ellen White got on the end of a Fran Kirby cross at the back post and forced the first save of the match from Germany goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
Minutes later, it was Beth Mead's turn to break into the final third as she latched onto an incisive through-ball from Keira Walsh, forcing another intervention from Frohms as she searched for a cut-back from the byline.
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Hosts frustrated by 50-50 calls
For all of England's intent in the early stages, the mood at Wembley grew frustrated midway through the first half after a number of marginal decisions which went against the Lionesses. Georgia Stanway was shown a yellow card after a late tackle in midfield not dissimilar to a number of others which had been committed, prompting boos to ring around Wembley and a furious reaction from Sarina Wiegman.
Ellen White soon followed her teammate into the referee's book for dissent as the hosts threatened to lose the composure Wiegman has drilled into them. Germany nearly capitalised on this from a corner and England had captain Leah Williamson to thank for a crucial goal-line clearance before Mary Earps smothered the ball.
There were patches of individual brilliance in attack, too, with Lauren Hemp producing a brilliant pirouette on the halfway line to leave two Germany players in her wake. However, England lacked the fluency and cutting edge they showed against Sweden in their 4-0 semi-final victory.
White squanders gilt-edged chance
England's best opportunity of the first half came late on and fell to the feet of Ellen White, and many will have expected the net to bulge after she combined with Beth Mead. After releasing the Arsenal forward down the right flank, White received the ball in the area from a cut-back but leant back as she slashed her first-time effort over the bar.
The chance was created by intense pressing and desire to win the ball back in the Germany third, while it served as a warning to the visitors about the threat England posed in wide areas through Mead on the right and Lauren Hemp on the left.
Meanwhile, there were growing concerns over Georgia Stanway after the new Bayern Munich playmaker was penalised for another heavy challenge. It appeared only a matter of time before Sarina Wiegman replaced her in midfield to avoid the threat of a second yellow card.
Earps thwarts Germany
While England came storming out of the blocks in the first half, it was Germany who threatened most immediately after the interval. Mary Earps - who was an assured presence between the posts throughout - was forced into a save to deny half-time substitute Tabea Wassmuth from a tight angle following a miscommunication involving Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze.
The Lionesses had another let-off in the 50th minute as a bouncing ball fell to Lina Magull, who volleyed narrowly wide. Having stuck by her regular starting XI, Sarina Wiegman responded to the German pressure with a familiar strategy, calling on Alessia Russo to get ready to come on.
The Manchester United forward came on for Ellen White in the 56th minute as part of a double chance which also saw Ella Toone replace Fran Kirby. Meanwhile, Germany continued to create chances and Earps was off her line quickly to smother the ball as Lea Schuller bore down on goal.
Toone comes up trumps
On the grandest stage of them all, Ella Toone summoned a finish befitting the occasion to inspire England to victory over their old foe. The 22-year-old showed lung-busting speed to get on the end of a long ball from Keira Walsh before deftly lifting the ball over Merle Frohms to prompt huge celebrations among the Lionesses and their legion of fans.
However, the goal only provided a momentary respite from the onrushing women in dark green and Germany hit back in the 79th minute through Lina Magull, who darted to the near post and rifled home from Tabea Wassmuth's fine cross.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing minutes, setting up a nerve-jangling extra 30 minutes.
Kelly strikes the winner
Extra-time is often a cagey affair and the Euro 2022 final was no different, with chances hard to come by for two increasingly-leggy teams despite Sarina Wiegman and her opposite number, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, making changes.
Tempers began to flare, too, with Jill Scott embroiled in a flare-up after a poor challenge from Sydney Lohmann. However, all it took was one sniff of the goal for Chloe Kelly to make the difference for the Lionesses.
After a corner fell to her in the area, she poked home to score the winner in a match which will live long in the memory, ending her country's wait for the taste of success at a major tournament.
