London. Football is a simple sport, 22 players try to put as many balls into the goal in 90 or 120 minutes.
In the end, the team with the least problems along the way, the best player on the bench and the best captain along the sidelines wins.
After many ifs and buts, it’s England.
There has been a lot going on with the English defense line in recent weeks, including the first-half VAR review on Sunday.
Ten minutes from the end, defender Leah Williamson was finally forced to let Tabia Wassmouth pass.
Who was there if not the fierce German midfielder Lina Magul, who took the pressure off with an equaliser.
All the Anglo-Saxon football demons of heartbreaking past defeats, painful penalty shootouts, and the general English losing psyche must have haunted the nation at that moment.
Will lions ever be tamed again by their staunch enemies?
Chloe Kelly was not the first choice during this tournament. She has suffered a serious injury for the past year.
The second half of extra time, when running tired England Most in need of a lift, the substitute fired the 87,000-strong crowd at Wembley Stadium.
Then she threw herself decisively in the penalty area and shot a golden shot into the net.
No pop, no pressure
As an English friend, sick with stress, said a few hours before kick-off:
It will be hard to hold back the tears when the players step in.
The European Championship in England 2022 was not perfect. The budget could have been bigger, the marketing more straightforward and the places worthy of the championship.
But it is possible to keep two thoughts in your head at the same time. Seeing the players’ faces as they were greeted by a record crowd at Wembley Stadium is one of the most emotional moments in football across all categories.
No broken glass all the way to this great square. Don’t boo during the German national anthem.
No Alexandra Pope.
Germany did not lose an offensive threat with the striker’s late withdrawal. The German press game, which made the team a terrifying machine, was a pale version of the original.
Criticize
The first half followed a classic definitive model: the sensation was gone. Ukrainian referee Katerina Monzul struggled to get the crossbar right and after a while distributed two quick cards to Georgia Stanway and Elaine White respectively. This wasn’t the only time Munzoll digging his pocket.
England played most of the time, and White swept one over goal and headed another into the arms of Merle Frohm. But it was Germany who then checked through the white wall that stands on the goal line at the corner.
In the first half, both teams were left without goals but covered with new bruises.
It was no surprise to see Sarina Wegmann already in action in the 55th minute. The national team captain has made eleven identical starts in all of this tournament’s encounters.
With Tian Fran Kirby completely isolated due to bodied and white Lena Oberdorf without much luck, English fans longed for Alicia Russo and Ella Tone.
The cheers as the duo entered the turf surpassed all the others that day. Except for a rumble after seven minutes. As well as the final sign.
Walsh unexpected highlight
If only one player can be singled out as England’s best player in this tournament, my vote unexpectedly goes to Keira Walsh. Few expected the midfielder to have any significant impact, but it was she who all opponents wanted to neutralize.
It was also Walsh who fired a perfectly timed ball deep into Toone. Alone with Froomes, the 22-year-old put all his nerves out of his body and the ball behind the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
Two minutes later, Lena Magul stared in frustration at the ball that fell into the fist of smiling Marie Earps (another player who exceeded expectations) a few laps later, she said all about the Germans’ miserable evening so far.
But shame on those who give up.
England Championship from the start
But in the end, the host country stands here with its long-awaited and much-needed gold.
Since that narrow 1-0 win over Austria at Old Trafford, this has been England’s championship. Covid cases have affected insignificant reserves, and the bench has been filled with technology and quality.
If Wegman had been a British citizen, Prince William would have knighted her directly during the awards ceremony.
The game didn’t always click, every ending was in time and the fringes were on their side.
This is exactly how the championship title is secured.
The second after the final whistle, there was a splash “Three Lions” with his famous handwriting ‘Football comes home’ from the speakers.
For the last time this summer: the song was written for the tournament in 1996. It’s about the fact that football is coming home again, and that everything is decided on English soil.
The time has come when satire became a reality. England is the European champion. Everyone else can go home.
