England crowned Euro 2022 champions after Kelly sinks Germany in extra-time

Ecstasy. Records tumbled, emotions raged and hearts burst. A gut-busting display from England and a maiden international goal from Chloe Kelly earned a 2-1 extra-time win over record eight-time European champions Germany to secure a first ever major trophy and England’s first since 1966.

Ella Toone’s stunning second-half chip over the unbeaten Merle Frohms, bar an own goal conceded off her own back in the semi-final, looked to have been enough, but Lina Magull’s 79th minute strike forced extra time. With penalties looming ominously on the horizon, Kelly pounced, turning in from close range to steal the headlines after battling back from an ACL injury that ended her Olympic dream and threatened her Euros one.

It was a record crowd for a Euros final of 87,192, beating the 79,115 set in the men’s final in 1964 and also topping the 80,203 that watched the 2012 Olympic gold medal match to set a record for a women’s international in England. That, was added to the six women’s Euros attendance records that had tumbled with each round of this tournament.

Speaking to the impact of this tournament, that has captured the public’s attention in England like never before, tube trains headed to north-west London were littered with England shirts from before midday. Wembley Way was flooded with fans hours before kick off. Amid the carnival atmosphere were whispers of nerves and heightened emotions from those deeply invested in the development of the women’s game, including the families of some of the players who had ducked out of the ground to soak up the atmosphere.

This was the final the Euros deserved, the two best teams in the tournament pitted together and a tie steeped in history. England have waited for this moment for a long