Ecstasy erupted at Wembley as England’s Lionesses triumphed over Germany in a captivating Euro 2022 final, securing their first major international trophy and ending England’s 56-year wait for a major football title since 1966. Chloe Kelly’s historic extra-time goal sealed the victory, sparking jubilant celebrations and etching her name into English football folklore. The final whistle blew on a momentous night, as England were declared the Euro 2022 Winner in front of a record-breaking crowd.
Ella Toone’s exquisite chip, a moment of pure brilliance in the second half, initially appeared to have secured the win for England. However, Germany, the eight-time European champions, demonstrated their resilience when Lina Magull’s powerful strike in the 79th minute forced the game into extra time, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
Euro 2022 final: England beat Germany to seal glory – in pictures
As penalties loomed, threatening to decide this epic encounter, Chloe Kelly seized her moment. A scramble in the German penalty area saw the ball fall to Kelly, who, with unwavering determination, turned it into the net from close range. Kelly’s goal not only won England the Euro 2022 title but also marked a personal triumph for the forward, who had battled back from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury that had jeopardized her career.
In a moment of unbridled joy, Kelly replicated Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration from the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, whipping off her shirt and brandishing it in the air. This powerful image resonated deeply, symbolizing the revolution ignited by the Lionesses and the explosion of interest in women’s football in England.
The atmosphere at Wembley was electric, with a record-breaking crowd of 87,192 fans creating an unforgettable spectacle. This attendance surpassed the previous European Championship final record of 79,115 from the men’s final in 1964 and even eclipsed the 80,203 who watched the 2012 Olympic gold medal match, setting a new benchmark for a women’s international match in England. Throughout Euro 2022, attendance records had consistently been broken, highlighting the growing popularity of the women’s game.
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The impact of Euro 2022 extended far beyond the stadium. From early morning, London’s tube trains were packed with fans proudly wearing England shirts, heading towards Wembley. Hours before kickoff, Wembley Way was transformed into a sea of supporters, buzzing with anticipation. Amidst the carnival atmosphere, there was also a palpable sense of nervous excitement, particularly from those who had long championed the development of women’s football and understood the magnitude of this occasion.
This final was a fitting climax to Euro 2022, bringing together the tournament’s two standout teams in a clash rich in history. For England, it was an opportunity to demonstrate how far they had progressed since their heavy 6-2 defeat to Germany in the 2009 European Championship final.
England received an unexpected advantage even before the match began. Alexandra Popp, Germany’s co-leading scorer alongside Beth Mead with five goals, was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup due to an injury sustained in the warm-up. This was a cruel blow for Popp, a seasoned international with over 100 caps, who was finally making her European Championship debut after years of injury setbacks. Beth Mead ultimately secured the Golden Boot due to more assists.
Both managers had anticipated a closely contested game, and the early stages reflected this prediction. Any pre-match nerves within the England team were quickly dispelled as Lauren Hemp surged down the left flank and delivered a cross to Ellen White at the far post. However, White’s header was comfortably saved by Merle Frohms, the German goalkeeper who had only conceded one goal prior to the final.
The midfield battle intensified rapidly, featuring a compelling duel between two of the tournament’s dominant midfielders: England’s Georgia Stanway and Germany’s Lena Oberdorf. Stanway received an early yellow card, and Oberdorf followed suit with a booking after halftime, reflecting the physical nature of the contest.
Germany came close to scoring in the 25th minute when Mary Earps fumbled a corner, creating a tense moment in the England penalty area. The ball bounced around dangerously before Earps managed to gather it, much to her relief. A brief VAR check for a potential handball ensued but was quickly dismissed.
Germany’s attack on Georgia Stanway in the Euro 2022 final, highlighting the intense midfield battle.
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Germany’s potent attack had scored six first-half goals in their previous five Euro 2022 matches, making a 0-0 scoreline at halftime a positive outcome for England. The Lionesses had shown a pattern of gradually growing into their knockout games. In the quarter-final against Spain, they had to come from behind to secure victory, and in the semi-final against Sweden, they weathered a strong early performance from their opponents.
Germany made a tactical change at halftime, replacing Jule Brand with Tabea Wassmuth. This substitution aimed to counteract the threat posed by Lucy Bronze, bolster protection for Felicitas Rauch, and inject fresh impetus into their attack. Germany indeed started the second half with renewed energy.
The Euro 2022 final was officiated by Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul, whose presence added another layer of emotion to the occasion. Monzul’s journey to Wembley was remarkable. She had escaped Kharkiv in March, seeking refuge in an underground shelter for five days following the Russian invasion. With her family, she embarked on a long and arduous journey through Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic before finally reaching safety in Germany.
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Referee’s journey from war-torn Kharkiv to Wembley
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Kateryna Monzul’s resilience in the face of adversity, culminating in her refereeing the Euro 2022 final, is a powerful symbol of hope and perseverance.
‘We didn’t have any idea what the next step was for us,’ Monzul told uefa.com. Thanks to the support of UEFA, the Italian football federation, and the Italian referees’ association, Monzul was able to resume her refereeing career in Italy’s women’s Serie A and men’s Serie A youth championship. In April, she was selected as one of the 13 referees for the Euro 2022 tournament.
Prior to the final, Monzul had officiated Spain’s 4-1 victory over Finland, Austria’s 1-0 win against Norway, and Sweden’s 1-0 quarter-final triumph over Belgium. Her appointment to referee the final at Wembley was a testament to her skill and professionalism. ‘I thank all the football family,’ Monzul expressed. ‘The most important thing is to stop this war – world peace is the most important thing. It’s my hope for everybody.’
England’s substitutions of Ella Toone and Alessia Russo for Fran Kirby and Ellen White had become a familiar and effective strategy throughout the tournament. These changes once again injected fresh dynamism into the Lionesses’ attack. Just six minutes after their introduction, England broke the deadlock, igniting wild celebrations. A precise, long-range pass from Keira Walsh found Toone, who expertly chipped the ball over the advancing Frohms and into the net.
England pressed for a second goal, but as time dwindled, they began to retreat defensively. Germany, refusing to surrender, mounted a determined comeback. Magull remained a constant threat, unleashing a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. Lea Schüller’s subsequent follow-up shot was directed straight at Earps. However, with just eleven minutes of normal time remaining, Germany equalized. Substitutes Sydney Lohmann and Wassmuth combined effectively, with Wassmuth delivering a precise cross that Magull converted from close range.
Chloe Kelly’s ecstatic celebration after scoring the winning goal that made England the Euro 2022 winner.
England’s quarter-final victory against Spain had been a tense affair, but the initial period of extra time in the final felt comparatively less pressured. However, Germany began to gain momentum after tactical adjustments were made during the extra-time huddles. It appeared that Wiegman might have made her substitutions too early. While Russo and Toone had provided the spark for the opening goal, England’s bench appeared less impactful as extra time progressed and Germany introduced fresh legs in midfielder Linda Dallmann and defender Sara Doorsoun.
However, this England team had consistently demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. With ten minutes of extra time remaining, a Hemp corner was delivered into the German penalty area. The ball deflected off Bronze and fell to Chloe Kelly, who reacted swiftly to score her first international goal, arguably the most important goal in English women’s football history. Fueled by the goal and the deafening roar of the Wembley crowd, England surged forward, determined to seal their victory in style. The final minutes were a whirlwind of emotion – gutsy, exhausting, and ultimately exhilarating. Tears of joy flowed as England secured the Euro 2022 title, bringing the trophy home after so many years of waiting and marking themselves as the deserving Euro 2022 winner.
