England are European Champions. What a sentence.
The Lionesses saw off a rampant eight-time European champion German side, shaking off the long-standing hoodoo they'd held on with a 2-1 victory after extra-time.
England have made history!
Chloe Kelly was the hero as she poked the ball into the net after Lina Magull cancelled out Ella Toone's opener.
Out of the 27 meetings between the sides in 38 years, England had lost the ties between the countries 21 times – winning just twice and drawing the remaining four – including the Euro 2009 final defeat.
But when it mattered most on Sunday as the Lionesses took the stage in front of a record breaking crowd of 87,192 - the highest of any European Championship game, men's or women's - Sarina Wiegman's side shook their old foes off.
After a scrappy and fiery first half in which England striker Ellen White failed to convert from close range from a header, the deadlock was finally broken.
As the game entered the hour mark, super substitute Ella Toone raced onto a deft through ball over the top by Kiera Walsh before showing great composure to lift her effort delicately over the head of the onrushing Merle Frohms to make it 1-0.
"What a super sub Toone has been. It was the first time I feel like England were able to break," former England striker Lianne Sanderson and talkSPORT co-commentator said.
Germany - who were dealt a blow in losing the tournament's joint top scorer Alexandra Popp in the warm up due to injury, soon cancelled out Toone's effort - though.
Wembley erupted as Toone put England in front
But Germany striker Magull soon cancelled Toone's effort out
Sydney Lohmann found Tabea Wassmuth inside the box, who wasn't closed down quickly enough before she fired over a low cross. Lina Magull then made the run across Bright to finish well at the near post.
"You can never write Germany off," talkSPORT co-commentator Sam Matterface said.
Despite pressure from both sides, the game ticked over into extra time.
Germany had the better of the chances as 100 minutes appeared on the clock.
England cult hero Jill Scott came on to help fend off the German threat
But then, England sprung into life.
A delicious corner from Lauren Hemp resulted in a scramble in the box, with Jill Scott trying to edge her way.
And then the hero of the hour, substitute Chloe Kelly - who had never scored an international goal - pounced, swinging her foot and rolling the ball past the shell-shocked German to put England 2-1 up and send Wembley wild.
Kelly's effort sealed European glory for England.
What a fairy tale!
England's first European Championship win epitomises what a ground breaking tournament this has been for women's football, with the Lionesses proving they more than deserve recognition.
"The dinosaurs will be left behind," Sanderson said on the growth of women's football in this country as the game drew to a close.
"This is where it's at."
More to follow...
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