Germany

3-1

Norway

Mittag 21, Lingor 24, Prinz 63

 

Mellgren 41


UEFA Women's European Championship
The Final
Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park
19 June 2005

Germany overcame Norway 3-1 at Ewood Park to clinch their fourth straight UEFA European Women's Championship.

Two goals in three minutes from Anja Mittag and Renate Lingor put the Germans in control before Dagny Mellgren's 41st-minute strike threw Norway a lifeline. Birgit Prinz finished the game as Germany's hero, when her 63rd-minute deflected shot broke Norwegian hearts.

The win ensures coach Tina Theune-Meyer ends her reign on a high before handing control to her assistant, Silvia Neid.

"I think if you look back at the tournament, I always had the feeling that we could win it - today I had the same feeling," said Theune-Meyer. 

"When we scored the third goal I knew we would be European champions; when the second went in I thought it's going well for us, although the team weren't really on the field for the last ten minutes of the first half.

"I don't think we're so far ahead of the other teams in Europe because they all have players for the future. What makes us a winning team is that we have a tough-minded group who play hard and want to win everything," she added. 

"We have a very good structure, from the age of 15 players have very good coaches and it works like a conveyor belt. We've always had fantastic teams since I've been involved - like the team in 1989 which won this competition in Germany, the one which won the [FIFA Women's] World Cup in 2003 and this one.

"I've had many great moments working with Silvia and we've always had plenty of great players and talent coming through. I thought Norway would be very strong in this competition and that's how it turned out - they have a team for the future."

Meanwhile, Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen was proud of his team's efforts: "I'm very pleased and proud with the way we tried all game and what we have achieved in winning silver medals even though I am disappointed.

"We were not at our best in the final - it was terrible defending for the second goal and we made too many mistakes in the final third when there were easier options."

He added: "We showed today we can play attractive and offensive football although we need to tighten up our defensive play to be as good as Germany.
"We start World Cup qualifying in August and have to accept we're favourites for our group. We're all confident and looking forward to it."

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