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Germany women display their class to despatch England at Wembley Germany’s women display their class to dispatch England at Wembley
(about 2 hours later)
A landmark occasion it may have been but there was to be no such victory for England on a historic day for women’s football. Their winless run against Germany continues and, with a World Cup less than eight months away, this emphatic defeat provided a stark reality check against opponents who continue to flourish on the big stage.A landmark occasion it may have been but there was to be no such victory for England on a historic day for women’s football. Their winless run against Germany continues and, with a World Cup less than eight months away, this emphatic defeat provided a stark reality check against opponents who continue to flourish on the big stage.
Mark Sampson has a lot to ponder before the finals in Canada next year but was able to take some solace from the fact that his side fought on after an aberration of a first half, when an own-goal and Celia Sasic’s impressive double put the result out of sight.Mark Sampson has a lot to ponder before the finals in Canada next year but was able to take some solace from the fact that his side fought on after an aberration of a first half, when an own-goal and Celia Sasic’s impressive double put the result out of sight.
Germany were comfortable victors on a dank afternoon that demonstrated clearly why they are European champions. England have failed to beat the Germans in 20 attempts and, in truth, never looked like doing so here in their first match at the new Wembley as defensive lapses and lack of a cutting edge cost them dear.Germany were comfortable victors on a dank afternoon that demonstrated clearly why they are European champions. England have failed to beat the Germans in 20 attempts and, in truth, never looked like doing so here in their first match at the new Wembley as defensive lapses and lack of a cutting edge cost them dear.
Germany have won the past six European titles and, while the women’s game in England is making significant strides, there remains a gulf in quality with the elite nations. That said, given how the two sides performed at last year’s European Championship, progress has certainly been made.Germany have won the past six European titles and, while the women’s game in England is making significant strides, there remains a gulf in quality with the elite nations. That said, given how the two sides performed at last year’s European Championship, progress has certainly been made.
“Let’s not forget, last year that German team won the European Championship and we didn’t win a game,” said Sampson, the England coach. “In terms of the mentality of the team, there’s huge positives for us. I learned that our attitude and spirit was there. The way they came out in the second half, they can take great credit for. “Let’s not forget, last year that German team won the European Championship and we didn’t win a game,” said Sampson, the England coach. “In terms of the mentality of the team, there’s huge positives for us. I learned that our attitude and spirit was there. The way they came out in the second half they can take great credit for.
“In terms of experience, this is exactly what we need. It’s quite some pressure when you’re 2-0 down against Germany. They [the players] are disappointed because they desperately want to win every game for England. But they’re realistic about where they are at.” “In terms of experience this is exactly what we need. It’s quite some pressure when you’re 2-0 down against Germany. They [the players] are disappointed because they desperately want to win every game for England. But they’re realistic about where they are at.”
Karen Carney, who received her 100th cap before kick-off, said: “At times in the first half we were a little bit naive. We had to get through the first 20 minutes, keep a clean sheet. We did our best and we will be better next time. We will learn.”Karen Carney, who received her 100th cap before kick-off, said: “At times in the first half we were a little bit naive. We had to get through the first 20 minutes, keep a clean sheet. We did our best and we will be better next time. We will learn.”
England’s first half almost began with a wonder goal but ended with Sampson’s players trudging off derailed and dejected. Germany had been ruthless yet, in truth, they had not dominated the match, despite holding an unassailable lead. England’s first half almost began with a wonder goal but ended with Sampson’s players trudging off derailed and dejected. Germany had been ruthless yet, in truth, they had not dominated the match, despite holding an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Jordan Nobbs rattled the crossbar from 25 yards after just 30 seconds, lifting the crowd and immediately putting Germany on the back foot. How the visitors responded, causing bedlam in the England defence whenever the black shirts poured forward. Jordan Nobbs rattled the crossbar from 25 yards after 30 seconds, lifting the crowd and immediately putting Germany on the back foot. But how the visitors responded, causing bedlam in the England defence whenever the black shirts poured forward.
The warnings were there before Germany took the lead. Melanie Leupolz broke free down the right touchline in the second minute but after surging into the penalty area her shot was parried away by Karen Bardsley. At the other end, Eniola Aluko worked tirelessly but was too often isolated. The warnings were there before Germany took the lead. Melanie Leupolz broke free down the right touchline in the second minute but after surging into the penalty area her shot was parried away by Karen Bardsley. At the other end Eniola Aluko worked tirelessly but was too often isolated.
Bardsley was by far the busier goalkeeper and could do very little about Germany’s opening goal, which came in the sixth minute as Silvia Neid’s side began to assert themselves. Melanie Behringer’s corner from the left arced toward the near post and Alex Scott, charging forward under pressure from Simone Laudehr, deflected the ball into her own net.Bardsley was by far the busier goalkeeper and could do very little about Germany’s opening goal, which came in the sixth minute as Silvia Neid’s side began to assert themselves. Melanie Behringer’s corner from the left arced toward the near post and Alex Scott, charging forward under pressure from Simone Laudehr, deflected the ball into her own net.
It was a soft way to concede, yet worse was to come. Just six minutes later Sasic, the Germany captain, retrieved the ball in centre midfield and ran the remaining length of the pitch unchallenged to score. The indecision in England’s defence proved costly, Lucy Bronze allowing the striker space to manoeuvre inside the area before a deft finish past Bardsley. It was a soft way to concede, yet worse was to come. Six minutes later Sasic, the Germany captain, retrieved the ball in centre midfield and ran the remaining length of the pitch unchallenged to score. The indecision in England’s defence proved costly, Lucy Bronze allowing the striker space to manoeuvre inside the area before a deft finish past Bardsley.
The boos that flitted around Wembley were aimed at Germany, not the home team, as Steph Houghton gathered her players into a huddle but England’s dejection was clear. They rallied admirably but there was to be more pain before half-time. The boos that flitted round Wembley were aimed at Germany, not the home team, as Steph Houghton gathered her players into a huddle but England’s dejection was clear. They rallied admirably but there was to be more pain before half-time.
A long-range header on the run from Nobbs almost caught Almuth Schult off guard but the Germany goalkeeper did well to backpedal and catch the ball on the line, with England protesting in hope rather than belief that it had crossed. For all the home team’s possession, Germany starved their opponents of scoring opportunities and were typically ruthless in attack.A long-range header on the run from Nobbs almost caught Almuth Schult off guard but the Germany goalkeeper did well to backpedal and catch the ball on the line, with England protesting in hope rather than belief that it had crossed. For all the home team’s possession, Germany starved their opponents of scoring opportunities and were typically ruthless in attack.
Again it was Sasic who punctured the momentum England had been gathering. Tabea Kemme overlapped round the left-back Demi Stokes and curled a wonderful ball into Sasic, whose header again left Bardsley with no chance.Again it was Sasic who punctured the momentum England had been gathering. Tabea Kemme overlapped round the left-back Demi Stokes and curled a wonderful ball into Sasic, whose header again left Bardsley with no chance.
“That was a good victory for us,” said Neid. “We worked very well with the ball and very well as a unit. I’m very satisfied. We love it when we play it in front of big audiences. It shows there is a lot of interest and that people like women’s football. “That was a good victory for us,” said Neid. “We worked very well with the ball and very well as a unit. I’m very satisfied. We love it when we play in front of big audiences. It shows there is a lot of interest and that people like women’s football.
“England have a great team and great players; that’s always been the case since Hope Powell was here. They have good players they develop very well. They have a chance to go far in the World Cup.”“England have a great team and great players; that’s always been the case since Hope Powell was here. They have good players they develop very well. They have a chance to go far in the World Cup.”
England certainly appeared more assured as the game wore on. However, they created no real opportunities of note, save for Aluko’s half-chance in the 50th minute, when she almost latched on to a low ball from Lianne Sanderson only to see Annike Krahn hack away.England certainly appeared more assured as the game wore on. However, they created no real opportunities of note, save for Aluko’s half-chance in the 50th minute, when she almost latched on to a low ball from Lianne Sanderson only to see Annike Krahn hack away.
Sasic could sense blood as she sought a famous hat-trick, and almost had one with 20 minutes remaining, but her back-post header from Anja Mittag’s floated cross failed to beat Bardsley. Nevertheless, it was to be her and Germany’s afternoon under the arch. Sasic could sense blood as she sought a famous hat-trick and almost had one with 20 minutes remaining, but her back-post header from Anja Mittag’s floated cross failed to beat Bardsley. Nevertheless, it was her and Germany’s afternoon under the arch.
Player of the match Celia Sasic (Germany)Player of the match Celia Sasic (Germany)