It was not pretty for long spells but Mark Sampson has tactically masterminded England’s first ever win over Germany and his team not only celebrate finishing third at the World Cup but also the title of best European side. Thanks for reading. Bye!
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Full-time! Germany 0-1 England
England have done it over the world’s No1 ranked team!
120 min + 1: England clear it the whole way back to Angerer’s area. Germany in return send a hopeful yet hopeless ball forward. Carney collects and heads for the corner flag.
120 min: Two minutes added on. Germany pour everything forward.
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119 min: Final minute and Germany pour forward. They win a throw near the right corner flag. It’s sent towards the box but half-cleared. Germany attack again through Schmidt but her cross is sent away by Greenwood.
118 min: It has been quite noticeable throughout the tournament that England are so confident when defending a lead, a new-found belief instilled by Sampson. Two and a bit more minutes to go here … and you just cannot see Germany finding an equaliser.
116 min: Schmidt has a great chance after Popp’s cross from the left but her diving header is narrowly wide. On second viewing, she has mistimed the header and it ended up coming off her shoulder.
114 min: Mittag takes it low, curling around the wall but Bardsley is down to save well.
113 min: Just as I say that, Potter fouls Daebritz a yard outside the area. The Germany player made the most of it and win a free-kick.
112 min: England look to be closing this out quite well. They have defended with an impressive rigidness and have again frustrated one of the world’s best.
111 min: It may not be easy on the eye, but Sampson’s tactics look to be paying off once again. Williams, the difference between the sides is coming off, limping a little, and will be replaced by Casey Stoney.
In response to an earlier email, this is from Maria, who did not add a surname …
Why publish such a bitchy comment as the one from Berg on the update feed? Aren’t you a little long in the tooth to feed the trolls? Why give airtime to jealous never-have-beens? It’s cheap, lazy and unnecessarily divisive.
You might notice, Maria, there was a question added, asking if you agreed or not in an attempt to create debate when there was little of note happening on the pitch.
GOAL! Germany 0-1 England (Williams, pen)
108 min: Williams takes it as cool as you like, with a cool low effort that sends Angerer the wrong way.
Penalty!
107 min: Stop the cyber presses! England have a penalty after Sanderson was dragged down by Kemme, rugby tackle style. Williams to take … after there’s some pushing and shoving, starting by an angry Angerer.
Peep!
106 min: Germany restart. We will have penalties in 15 minutes.
Half-time in extra-time! Germany 0-0 England
105 min: As you were two hours, fourteen minutes ago.
104 min: Germany win a sixth corner of the evening. Daebritz sends it in but it’s cleared at the near-post.
100 min: Sanderson is frustrated when a pass to her is overhit and it runs out harmlessly for a goal-kick.
97 min: Germany have a corner. Again it’s sent deep, where Laudehr goes close … but no cigar.
@alansmith90 Don’t totally agree with Bjorn. England look better with Aluko. Agree referee a clown
— Richard Woods (@gasheadforever) July 4, 2015
Agreed re: Aluko. Her pace has cause Germany some problems.
95 min: Williams sends a teasing corner in from the left towards Houghton but she is denied by Angerer.
Peep!
1 min: England, much like two hours previous, get us going again. A shot on target would be nice.
The foul count read: Germany 13-9 England
Germany had 23 attempts but only five on target. England had 15 attempts but only two on target. Profligate, to say the least.
Full-time! Germany 0-0 England
That was horrendous. There aren’t enough adjectives to fully describe the anti-football shove-fest that we have just witnessed.
90 min +3: Seconds ticking down. Nothing is happening.
90 min +1: That comes to nothing. And as Germany break, Goessling is assaulted by Bassett on halfway. Both are down injured but unbelievably considering how whistle happy the referee has been, there is no foul.
90 min: There will be four minutes added on. And England have won a corner, Carney’s cross coming off Kemme. Greenwood to take …
89 min: England are finishing strongly. Houghton blasts over after good word from Bronze but we are heading for an extra 30 minutes here. And likely penalties because neither are close to scoring.
An email from Bjorn Cato Berg. How many of you agree?
Dreadful match.
One team that won’t play (GER) and one team that can’t (ENG) and a ref that loves the sound of the whistle. I suggest a cointoss to end this complete and utter dross. No need for xtra time and penalties.
87 min: Aluko has been England’s greatest threat since coming on and goes through one-on-one with Angerer but the keeper is out bravely to smother and picks up an injury for her troubles.
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86 min: Carney picks out Bronze on the right and shanks an absolutely awful cross straight out of play.
85 min: Aluko gets behind Bartusiak and looks to be through on goal but the Germany defender recovers well and puts the ball out for a corner.
83 min: Bardsley has been booked for time-wasting. At 0-0 in a knockout game with seven minutes to play.
81 min: Attendance of 21,483.
80 min: Sanderson replaces Chapman. Who’s in favour of going straight to penalties?!
76 min: Another big chance for England. Scott has two chances – she stalls on the first attempt, taking an extra touch which allowed Germany to close her, the second is blocked. And when a low cross comes back in to Carney, she cannot stretch far enough.
74 min: A good chance for England! Williams from over 30 yards sends a left-footed piledriver towards goal. It’s blocked and despite claims for handball, the referee pays no notice and play continues.
72 min: That Germany change is now made – the lively Sasic is hauled off for Mittag.
71 min: England win a corner. It’s taken by Williams but she is called back to retake it because Germany want to make a substitution. There is a a delay of some sort and the change is not made before the corner is taken a second time. Williams sends it to the back-post, where Scott heads wide.
68 min: Kemme dribbles forward and zooms past three red shirts before sending a right footed shot from 25 yards narrowly wide on the right. Bardsley looked rooted to her spot.
67 min: A half chance for England and on the dross we have been treated to, that’s more than enough to get excited about. A Greenwood corner is sent in, Houghton attacks but cannot trouble Angerer.
65 min: Aluko makes a couple of good runs but they are from too deep an area to cause trouble.
60 min: Aluko comes on for White – England’s first change.
58 min: Germany win another corner. And, again, it is cleared.
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56 min: England continue to defend impressively but there really is no sign of a goal from either side here apart from that Daebritz attempt that was saved by Bardsley. It is, disappointingly, been a very dull affair.
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54 min: Carney wins a corner for England and Houghton comes forward from defence. Williams takes it short, however, to Potter and her shot is easily blocked.
52 min: At last a good chance! And what a save from Bardsley. Sasic flies forward and sends a cross in to Daebritz. Her effort is heading for Bardsley’s right but the keeper at full stretch pulls off a brilliant save, turning the ball around her right post for a corner, which does not cause much trouble.
51 min: So. Many. Fouls. We’ve heard far too much of the referee’s whistle.
49 min: England looking to attack more after their successful yet not aestethically pleasing containment job in the first half. They win a corner that is too deep but we should, hopefully, see them push forward a little more.
An email from Michael Hood
Realize that it’s quite probably just me and my hearing, but find it amusing that Germany have Sausage (Sacic) playing for them.
As it’s Germany shouldn’t she be named Weiner?
No, that’s not how it’s pronounced. And also the Germany for sausage is wurst.
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Peep!
46 min: Germany get us going again. Leupolz has come on in place of Behringer. England restart with the same 11.
For those of you into #stats
100 - Laura Bassett had 100% passing accuracy in the 1st half against Germany, completing all 20 passes attempted. Exemplary.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 4, 2015
Half-time! Germany 0-0 England
If we’re been kind, we would say it was tight. If we’re not being so kind, we would say it’s a dull third-place game.
45 min +2: Germany win a corner in time added on to added time after a great run from Daebritz. It’s sent to the back post and Sasic has her effort blocked.
Another comment on the poor attendance:
@alansmith90 England match is same weekend as the Calgary stampede, hence many locals elsewhere
— thedosbox (@thedosbox) July 4, 2015
45 min +1: Germany make a rare attack down the right and are swiftly rebuffed.
45 min: There will be two minutes added on. Not much happening, to be honest – it’s unfortunately turned into the tepid third-place game we feared it would become.
About the poor attendance, Mike MacKenzie has emailed in from London – the one in Canada, not the UK.
I agree about poor attendance. Edmonton (pop. 812,000) should never have had six group stage games, two round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and third place match. It had a good reputation for supporting the men’s national team which I guess is why it got so many of the Women’s World Cup matches.
Vancouver could have supported more games and not involving Toronto and Hamilton due to PanAm Games (which only start 10 July) was asinine.
44 min: Germany’s only threat has come from cross on the left. Another is floated in towards Sasic but she cannot direct her header on target.
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42 min: England are physically imposting themselves on the Germans now, conceding a succession of fouls in midfield, inciting a moan or two from the German bench.
40 min: Germany enjoying another good spell of possession but every time they attempt a final ball forward, they are met by a wall of red shirts.
36 min: Schmidt sends a poor ball forward and it is bread and butter for Bardsley.
32 min: England’s turn to attack and they win a corner. Greenwood delivers from the right but it’s cleared.
30 min: Germany have been most threatening down the left and another deep cross is defended well by Greenwood, who gives away a corner under pressure from Daebritz. The delivery is sent towards the backpost and Bardsley smothers at the second time of asking.
27 min: Greenwood shields the ball from Daebritz with a strong shoulder which leaves the German attacker upset. A good firm, fair brush off from the England player and the ball trickles out for a throw-in.
24 min: White heads over from an awkward position and under plenty of pressure.
23 min: Something of a lull, with what seems like umpteen throw-ins near halfway. Germany are coming at England, who are defending well without too much trouble but relying on the occasional break forward with the exception of the five minute spell.
20 min: There is such a muted atmosphere inside the ground you can hear the players and coaches shouting at each other. It’s insightful in a way, but it’s quite a pity the Canadians haven’t turned out in more numbers for this.
17 min: Germany are very much back on the front foot as Petermann strikes from the edge of the area but is slightly off balance and cannot find the target.
16 min: Germany break through Sasic. There are four red shirts in her way, so she wisely backs up and waits for support. The move ends with Daebritz winning a corner, which is well cleared by Houghton. Germany send another wave of attack forward and Daebritz sends a ferocious strike narrowly over.
15 min: This is a good spell from England. A cross from the left is haphazardly punched away by Angerer before they win another corner. Williams sends it to Potter on the edge of the area and her drive is blocked.
12 min: England have their first corner. Williams takes, it’s only half cleared and the Lionesses come back at Germany again. Bronze crosses from the right towards Houghton but she finds Angerer in the way.
10 min: Fara Williams has England’s first sniff at goal, shooting wide to the right with the outside of her right boot from range. That was never going to trouble Angerer.
9 min: Sasic, the tournament’s top scorer, is played clean through but under pressure from Houghton scuffs a right-footed shot straight into the arms of Bardsley.
8 min: It is all Germany at the moment. Dabritz flies down the left again and wins a throw near the corner flag. From that, a cross is sent in to the back post and Potter almost sends into her own net … but Houghton is on the line to brilliantly hook clear. Dabritz cannot find the target from the rebound.
7 min: Houghton is back on her feet and should be OK. Play restarts with a throw-in and England clear their lines.
5 min: Germany advance down the left again and Sasic holds it up before inadvertently standing on Houghton’s foot. The England captain slumps down clutching her right boot and require some attention.
4 min: England yet to get the ball forward here, but you’ll remember how strongly Germany started against the United States, too.
2 min: Behringer delivers it and Bardsley is confidently out to punch clear and he ball drifts out for a corner on England’s left. That is cut out and Williams advances.
1 min: Germany are on the front foot immediately and a cross from the left is met by Petermann, whose header is turned around the right-sided post by Bardsley for a corner.
Peep!
1 min: England kick-off, playing from right to left as we watch it.
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Anyway, the teams have emerged from the tunnel. The ground is about 65-70% empty, for those of you concerned by such matters. Germany are in their usual white shirt, black shorts combo. England will be in their change strip of red.
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Good to see this …
When PA announcer says "Laura Bassett" the entire crowd erupts into cheers. Sports are so emotional. #ENG
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_FOX) July 4, 2015
Bassett has also given quite an emotional interview to BBC, speaking of the heartbreak and wishing she could turn back time.
The teams
Germany: Angerer, Schmidt, Bartusiak, Laudehr, Behringer, Sasic, Peter, Petermann, Goessling, Kemme, Daebritz.
England: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Bassett, Greenwood, J Scott, Chapman, Williams, Potter, Carney, White.
Preamble
Of all the supportive messages sent to Laura Bassett’s since Thursday morning’s own goal, one keeps popping up: how you bounce back is what really counts. Fair enough but Bassett, at 31, is unlikely to feature in another World Cup semi-final. That is the sad and cruel reality of sport – and how her heart must still be breaking 72 hours later.
Such a moment of misfortune could happen to any footballer and since the ball cannoned in off the bar to send Japan through to tomorrow’s final she must have questioned everything from ‘why me?’ to ‘why was I not a yard forward or back, left or right?’ But it’s done and nothing can be changed. Like any broken heart, the best way to mend it is by looking forward, not back. A win over Germany to finish third and as the best European side would be a decent start – even if the third place playoff is often the most dull match of any tournament.
Either way, Bassett will start tonight according to the head coach, Mark Sampson, and he said she is in a good place. Bassett, who (it cannot be repeated enough) has been one of England’s best players in Canada, still has not discussed it with her parents due to the overwhelming emotion. “I haven’t been able to speak to my mum and dad over FaceTime yet because they will just set me off crying,” said the Notts County defender. “I’ve messaged them and I know they are so proud but I keep thinking about that moment and I would do anything to change it.”
A win for England would also spoil a large German party, for this is Silvia Neid’s final game in charge. “We want to achieve something special on Saturday. We’re playing the queens of women’s football – but they’ve just been beaten and Germany don’t usually lose two in a row. They’ve got the greatest coach in the history of the female game and will want to win Silvia’s last match for her. We want to make history,” Sampson says, perhaps promising something more than the tepid affair the majority are probably expecting.
Oh and one more key detail: the Lionesses have never beaten Germany. Kick-off is 60 minutes from now on the day 25 years ago Germany defeated England at Italia 90 on penalties. Do drop me a line – confirmed lineups are imminent.
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