Jul 4, 2015 at 9pm UK at ​Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Germany WomenGermany Women
0-1
England WomenEngland Women
FT(HT: 0-0)
Williams (108' pen.)
Chapman (77'), Bardsley (83'), Bassett (92')

Live Commentary: Germany Women vs. England Women - as it happened

England's Fara Williams (C) and Germany's Melanie Behringer vie for the ball during the bronze medal match at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta on July 4, 2015
© Getty Images
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of England's 1-0 victory over Germany in the Women's World Cup third-place playoff.

England finished third in the Women's World Cup after an unlikely 1-0 victory over Germany in Edmonton.

Germany had never lost to England in 20 matches, and won in a friendly encounter at Wembley in May, but Fara Williams scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in extra time.

It was a match with few chances. Steph Houghton made a goal line clearance in the first half and Eniola Aluko and Alex Scott had good chances to score.

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the match below.


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8.38pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of England Women vs. Germany Women's third-place playoff match at the World Cup.

8.39pmWith a little over 20 minutes to go until kick-off let's dive straight into the team news...

8.40pmENGLAND STARTING XI: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Bassett, Greenwood, J Scott, Chapman, Williams, Potter, Carney, White

GERMANY STARTING XI: Angerer, Schmidt, Bartusiak, Laudehr, Behringer, Sasic, Peter, Petermann, Goessling, Kemme, Daebritz


8.42pmSo, there are four changes to England's line-up tonight with Karen Carney, Josanne Potter, Ellen White and Alex Greenwood come into the line-up.

Laura Bassett, who scored the agonising 93rd-minute own goal against Japan, starts and manager Mark Sampson says she's "more than ready" to play tonight.


8.44pmGermany have also made a number of changes. Bianca Schmidt, Sara Dabritz, Lena Petermann, Babett Peter and Melanie Behringer all come into the starting line-up after missing their semi-final defeat to Germany.

8.47pmSo odds are stacked firmly against England tonight. They've played against each other 20 times and have never won. There's a first time for everything though, and there's certainly no better time than now for this England team.

8.50pmIf you're superstitious too, it's 25 years to the day that Germany beat England in the World Cup semi-final at Italia 90. Gazza's tears and all that.

8.52pmThe Germans have a rich history in women's football. They've won two World Cups, in 2003 and 2007, and have claimed the last six European titles. They're also the only country to have won both the men's and women's World Cups.

8.56pmThey also say goodbye to head coach Silvia Neid tonight, after 10 years in charge of the national team. She won one World Cup and two European Championships during her time in charge.

8.58pmWith just four minutes until kick-off, the anthems are underway. Time for a prediction then, and it's hard to look past Germany tonight. Their record against England is too much to look past victory tonight - it could go all the way to extra time though. Germany 2-1 England for me.

9.01pmNearly ready to go then at the Commonwealth Stadium. As the name suggests it played host to the 1978 Commonwealth Games. It has a capacity of 56,302, but I reckon there's about 20,000 in the ground tonight.

1 minKICKOFF! England kick off and launch the ball upfield but it's picked up by Angerer.

1 minCHANCE! The first chance goes to Germany, and they nearly take the lead inside the first minute. Petermann's header is tipped wide by Carney. Bardsley then punches away the corner.

4 minEngland are yet to really get into the match as yet, with just one foray into the Germany half, but Germany did start their semi-final quickly and we all know how that one finished.

6 minEngland skipper Steph Houghton took a stud to her foot from Celia Sasic there and she looks in pain here. She looks okay to carry on though.

7 minCHANCE! Germany should have been one up there. Daebritz's shot beats Bardsley, but Houghton is there to clear the ball off the line.

9 minThat was a vital stop by Houghton there, just moments after coming back on the pitch after treatment. Bardsley should have done better there though. England have been up against it so far.

12 minChapman's cross from the left by-line is cleared behind by Kemme. Williams delivers it into the six-yard box but it's headed clear by Laudehr.

17 minGermany corner here as Goessling's low cross from the right is blocked by Bassett. Behringer launches the ball into the area but Houghton clears.

18 minCHANCE! The ball comes straight back into the box and Daebritz volleys it over the bar. That was dangerous for the England defence.

22 minScott drives down the right wing, and it takes an obvious touch of Bartusiak before going behind. The assistant did not see it though, and Germany resume with a goal kick.

24 minEngland have grown into the match since being under the cosh in the opening 10 minutes. Carney is looking dangerous so far - she could hold the key to England success tonight.

29 minIt's a really quiet patch in the match so far with both defences holding strong. If the first 30 minutes are anything to go by we could be going all the way to penalties tonight.

31 minSome terrific play from Lucy Bronze wins England a corner. After cutting into the box from the right, sheshaped up to shoot, but Behringer was just about able to clear the ball behind.

34 minCHANCE! A Germany cross finds Sasic but she is not quite able to control the ball properly and it runs on through to Bardsley. She would have been one-on-one there.

36 minSchmidt sends a ball forward but it has too much weight on it and Bardsley gathers easily.

41 minGermany continue to attack with a cross down the left being met by Kemme. It goes over the bar though.

45 minThere will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

45+1 minAnother Germany attack, and they have been really wasteful this half. They give away a foul and the danger is over for England.

45+2 minHALF TIME: Germany 0-0 England

9.50pmEngland have certainly held their own in the first half. They have never really threatened the German goal, but Germany have only looked like scoring once. Steph Houghton's goal-line clearance kept the score at 0-0.

9.54pmThese third-place matches often are not very memorable, and that is certainly the case tonight. Hopefully, something opens up early in the second half.

9.56pmWith a few minutes to go until the second half, let's take a look at that great goal-line clearance. It's certainly the only big talking point of the first half:



10.00pmIt has been a great month of football in Canada, and England have exceeded all expectations no matter what the result is tonight. It culminates in the final between Japan and USA tomorrow night.

10.04pmSUBSTITUTION: Germany make a substitution at half time with Melanie Leupolz replacing Behringer.

45 minKICKOFF! Germany restart the match.

47 minEngland go on the attack early. First, Fara Williams has a shot blocked, before Greenwood tries to make progress down the left wing. She loses control though and Germany regroup.

49 minWilliams takes a corner from the left, and aims it well towards Bronze. She cannot quite reach it though and the ball trickles past everyone for a throw in.

52 minSAVE! Bardsley pulls off a great save, after Sasic's cross finds Daebritz. She volleys it towards goal but Bardsley's dives to her right to deflect the ball for a corner.

54 minCHANCE! The corner finds Kemme who is blocked twice on the edge of the box, first from Greenwood, then from Carney. The ball comes back into the box though and there's a scramble in the six-yard box. A shot is eventually taken but Houghton is there this time to make another block.

56 minGermany attack again, and a cross finds Sasic. She's crowded out by a sea of red and her header goes harmlessly wide of the net.

60 minPetter wins a corner, which is played into Goessling. Her volley bounces downwards and Bardsley punches the ball clear. It is still a dull affair in Edmonton, half an hour to go.

61 minENGLAND SUBSTITUTION: Eniola Aluko replaces Ellen White. She's had a really tough time on her own up front tonight. Perhaps Aluko's pace will cause more of a problem to the Germany defence.

65 minCHANCE! Aluko receives the ball for the first time this match, and wins a corner for England. Greenwood plays it in and Houghton gets on the end of it, but her header is tame and it goes wide of the left post.

68 minCHANCE! Kemme beats Carney and unleashes a shot from 20 yards. It is struck well but flies wide of the net. The match finally seems to be opening up.

71 minCHANCE! Williams corner is directed towards Scott, who heads wide of the target.

72 minGERMANY SUBSTITUTION: Mittag replaces Sasic. One goal threat for another:



74 minMittag is involved straight away, but her lobbed shot deos not have enough on it and it's easily caught by Bardsley.

75 minCHANCE! England should be a goal up! Scott receives the ball and has loads of time inside the area. She dallies on it though and Angerer saves the shot in the end. It goes so far as Carney, who drives the ball across the six-yard box. Scott is on the end of it once again but this time she misses the target.

78 minYELLOW CARD! Chapman makes a cynical foul on Mittag and becomes the first player to be booked tonight.

80 minTen minutes to go then, and it looks like this match will be going to extra time. It has been a bit more open in the second half, but overall, it's hardly been a cracker.

86 minCHANCE! A long ball is played up to Aluko, who breaks free of the defence. Unfortunately her first touch is too heavy and Angerer is out to smother the ball. A goal now would have been quite something.

89 minThere will be four minutes of stoppage time. It looks like we'll be here for at least another 30 minutes tonight.

90+1 minEngland are piling on the pressure and Aluko wins a corner...

90+1 minGreenwood delivers it in but it's eventually cleared at the second attempt.

90+3 minEngland have looked like the most likely team to score in the closing stages of this match. Aluko and Scott will be ruing their missed chances if Germany win tonight.

90+4 minFULL TIME: Germany 0-0 England

10.55pmSo it's extra time then. England had the better of the second half but were not able to get the ball in the net. In reality, it's been a dour affair - a typical third-place playoff.

10.57pmLet's get this underway then... The two captains, Houghton and Angerer, are in the centre circle for the coin toss and England will kick off.

90 minKICKOFF! England start extra time and retain possession at the back.

92 minYELLOW CARD! Laura Bassett is booked after a strong challenge on Petter.

95 minCHANCE! Williams sends a corner to the edge of the box and Houghton is completely unmarked. She heads it towards goal but it is straight at Angerer.

98 minGERMANY SUBSTITUTION: Alexandra Popp comes on for Germany sporting a scrum cap after a collision in the semi-final. Goessling is the player to make way.

102 minIt really has been a dull one tonight. England have brought us so much excitement this tournament, but neither team tonight have turned up. A few chances each but nothing more than that.

104 minLeupoltz now with a shot from 25 yards. It goes flying over the bar.

105 minHALF TIME: Germany 0-0 England

11.15pmAs expected, nothing much happening in the first period of extra time either. It looks like it will be a penalty shootout to decide who finishes third at this year's Women's World Cup.

105 minKICKOFF: Mattig gets the last 15 minutes underway, and launches it all the way to Bardsley.

106 minPENALTY TO ENGLAND! Sanderson is held by Kemme just inside the box and the referee gives a penalty!

107 minGOAL: Germany 0-1 England (Williams)

108 minENGLAND HAVE THE LEAD!! Williams places the ball coolly into the bottom left corner. Excellent penalty, and it looks like England are on the way to getting their first ever victory over Germany.

109 minThat was a turn up for the books. After 105 quiet minutes of football, that penalty just came out of nothing. It was soft, but all that matters is that it was given. And Williams made no mistake with it!

112 minSUBSTITUTION: Williams comes off to a rapturous applause. She's replaced by Stoney.

113 minDaebritz is caught by Potter right on the edge of the penalty area. It's a free kick here, and in such a dangerous position...

114 minMittag hits a powerful effort but it's well saved by Bardsley. Solid goalkeeping there.

115 minCHANCE! Popp crosses it to Schmidt, and she really should have done better there, heading wide from six yards. What a let off that one was for England.

118 minIt's a corner here for Germany after Bassett's tackle sends the ball behind... Nervous.

119 minIt's harmless from Daebritz though, and does not even beat the first man. Stoney clears it for a throw in.

120 minThere will be two minutes of stoppage time for England to hold on. Will they get their first ever victory over Germany?

120+2 minFULL TIME: Germany 0-1 England

11.33pmEngland have done it! They have finished third at the Women's World Cup, and somehow have finally beaten Germany! 21st time lucky for England.

11.34pmIt might have been a boring match for 105 minutes, but the result is all that matters now! Well done Williams, well done England!

11.35pmIt is a great way to finish England's World Cup campaign. Noone really expected the Lionesses to do so well, and a third-place finish is absolutely brilliant work for Mark Sampson and his team.

11.35pmThanks for joining me tonight, and be sure to come back to Sports Mole for tomorrow night's coverage of the final between Japan and USA. Until next time.

England's forward Fran Kirby reacts after scoring a goal during a Group F match at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup between England and Mexico at Moncton Stadium, New Brunswick on June 13, 2015
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