Germany clinch eighth European title

Germany’s women make it six out of the last six titles with victory over Norway in the European Championships.

Anja Mittag
Substitute Anja Mittag scored in the 49th minute to put the defending champions ahead [AFP]

Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saved two penalties to help Germany win a record sixth consecutive women’s European Championship with a 1-0 success against Norway in Solna on Sunday.

Substitute Anja Mittag scored the only goal of the game just a few minutes after being introduced from the bench at the beginning of the second period but the true star of the show was Angerer.

Twice Norway were awarded what seemed highly dubious penalties but Angerer deflected Trine Ronning’s first half spot-kick away with her knee before thwarting Solveig Gulbrandsen from 12 yards in the second period.

Those two crucial stops meant Mittag’s close range tap-in from a pinpoint cross from Celia Okoyino da Mbabi was enough to give the Germans a measure of revenge on opponents who had inflicted on them a shock group stage defeat by the same scoreline.

Unstoppable

Germany have now won eight of the 11 women’s Euro events and have not failed to lift the trophy since Norway triumphed in 1993.

It was a richly deserved victory as Leonie Maier hit the bar with a looping header in the opening minutes and near the end Nadine Kessler bobbled a scuffed effort against the base of the upright.

They dominated throughout but Norway had their chances, not least from the penalty spot.

In the first half Catherine Dekkerhus crumpled to the turf theatrically under Okoyino da Mbabi’s challenge but Ronning couldn’t find the net.

Caroline Hansen was the next to hit the ground after seemingly minimal contact in the second period but again Angerer proved equal to Gulbrandsen’s penalty.

Norway had the ball in the net soon after but Ada Hegerberg had strayed a yard offside when slotting home Maren Mjelde’s cross from the right.

It was the fourth time twice previous winners Norway had lost to Germany in the final after defeats in 1989 (to West Germany), 1991 and 2005.

Source: AFP