England’s Euro 2022 dream became reality as substitute Chloe Kelly’s extra-time finish saw the Lionesses beat Germany and secure the first major trophy in their history.
Here’s how Telegraph Sport rated the players on a historic day in front of a record-breaking crowd at Wembley.
England
Mary Earps
Was phenomenal and my player of the match. Somehow got her arms around the ball when havoc ensued after a corner in the first half. Stopped Schuller, despite getting a boot to the shoulder and then made the double save of the tournament: a fingertip to Magull’s rocket and then Schuller’s shot off the rebound. 10/10
Lucy Bronze
Bronze has sometimes been criticized for leaving space behind her, but the right-back knew her assignment today was not to be the hero up front, but to contain Germany’s wide threats. Her header in the early stages to block Dabritz’s effort from range was crucial, as was her well-tracked interception of substitute Dallmann in the box. 9
Millie Bright
Looked slower than she has throughout this tournament but held together England’s defensive line, even when it wasn’t pretty. 7
Leah Williamson
Williamson made important interceptions, was great in the air throughout Germany’s set pieces but was caught out of position for the equalizer, as she tried to cover for Daly. 8
Rachel Daly
Held her own as the action got fiery, but was drawn towards the ball in the build up to Germany’s equalizer, leaving Wassmuth free to make the decisive pass into Magull. 7
Georgia Stanway
A harsh yellow for a first-half tackle meant Stanway had to watch herself when pressing the relentless Germans, but she took a few undue risks amid some of the thunderous tackling going on. Spent more time doing key defensive work in this match. 7
Keira Walsh
Coped incredibly well with the constant pressure, especially for Magull who was on her shoulder for much of the match. Then, against the run of play, proved again how her vision remains out of this world to pick out Toone with a long through ball for the opening goal. 9
Lauren Hemp
Was taken off the ball far too often by pressure from Magull and Gwinn, so unable to use her superior pace to much effect. But got stuck in, kept her head and had an unmatched work rate, never running out of gas and blocking a late German shot in extra time. 8
Fran Kirby
Her lovely cross to White in the third minute got England off to a flying start, but was muscled off the ball a lot and found it difficult to make the impact she is capable of. 6
Beth Mead
Mead walked away with the Golden Boot thanks to Alexandra Popp who never made it to the pitch through injury, and would have gotten her sixth assist with a perfect cutback to White who missed. 7
Ellen White
White earned herself quite a harsh yellow for a kick at Dabritz, and got involved in the raucous action throughout. She gave goalkeeper Frohms a cheeky push which had the German squaring up to her too. For all her physical presence though she was regularly outpaced and missed the chance of the first half in skying her shot over the bar when Mead set her up so perfectly. 6
Substitutes
Alessia Russo 6
Did not have the instant impact we have seen in previous matches and her legs started to look heavy as the Germans double teamed her. Got herself into good enough positions, but the standout opportunity never came.
Ella Toone 9
Toone’s goal was perfection. She timed her run to stay onside, sprinted away with the ball and when under pressure from Hendrich dinked the ball. It hung in the air for what felt like hours but once it hit the back of the net her expletive-ridden celebration summed up just what that meant.
Chloe Kelly 9
Kelly’s impact has been minimal at this tournament but she came off the bench with purpose in this final. Made a crucial clearance from a German corner and brought her pace going forward, making a few breakaway runs just when England needed to break their opponents’ rhythm. Then came the moment, where she lunged to desperately nudge the winner and had her sports bra Brandi Chastain moment.
Jill Scott 8
Scott was brought in to bring some level-headedness to affairs and break up play when England were being bullied late in the second half. She certainly broke up the play, but even Scott – the most amiable woman in football – found herself facing off with Lohmann who pulled her down with a nasty tackle in extra time.
Alex Greenwood 8
Brought some stability at left-back where Daly had let too much get away from her. Was solid and calm when England needed it.
How did you rate the England players?
Germany
Merle Frohms
Made light work of England’s attempts in the first half, and then got a hand to Russo’s shot to keep Germany within touching distance in the dying moments. Perhaps should have done better for the Kelly goal. 7
Giulia Gwinn
Made some brilliant crosses into the box to keep England on their toes, and helped contain Hemp’s threat going forward. 8
Kathrin-Julia Hendrich
Made a key header to keep out Hemp’s free kick in the first half, and shut down many White runs. But should have got a more meaningful touch to the ball when Earps kept that scrappy corner out of the goalmouth. 8
Marina Hegering
A 50-50 tackle with Mead left them both hobbling in the second half. But where Mead was substituted, the center-half continued to hold his own, and kept Russo close to keep the England striker from doing any major damage. 8
Felicitas Rauch
Finally got Germany’s first yellow for clattering into Mead right before half-time, who she was outpaced by many times. 6
Lina Magull
Should have scored straight after the break, but hoofed an open shot wide of the goal, and then had her later attempt saved off the bar by Earps. But her goal finally came, and deservedly so, as she thumped her shot in from the near post. 9
Lena Oberdorf
Oberdorf has been Germany’s Walsh at this tournament, but was not given as much rhythm in this stop-start affair to play her fluid game. Got involved with the chopping challenges, getting a yellow with a flying tackle which took out Stanway in the second half. 8
Sarah Dabritz
Her early attempt forced Bronze to block in the first 10 minutes, and it was her header from a corner that caused a frantic pile up in England’s six-yard box. 8
Jules Brand
Made clever, quick runs into the box and gave Bronze so much work to do with her darting runs. 8
Svenja Huth
Tried to exploit space on the left with Daly but had no real clear chances going forward. 6
Leah Schuller
Got under Daly’s skin early in the second half when she moved out wide, and shoved her from behind after the ball went out of play. Escaped without a yellow card, which was lucky as she left her foot in when taking on Earps one-v-one to earn one later on. 7
Substitutes
Tabea Wassmuth 9
Immediate impact when she came on at half-time, cantering with the ball into the England box to force a save out of Earps. Got the assist for Magull’s goal.