Germany defeats Sweden in the final

Germany won their third successive women´s European Championship on Saturday, defeating Sweden 1-0 in the final with a golden goal in extra time. After Germany had wasted a series of opportunities in the second half, Claudia Müller slid the ball under the Swedish goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson for the winning goal eight minutes after the end of normal time. It was Germany´s fourth official women´s European championship success following victories in 1991, 1995 and 1997. The 1995 final was also against Sweden. Germany also won the inofficial title in 1989.

The German team reached the final following four straight victories in which they scored 12 goals, including five against Russia, and conceded only one. The host nation beat Olympic champions Norway 1-0 in the semifinal on Wednesday.

Playing on the banks of the Danube River in Ulm, Albert Einstein´s birthplace, the game started under heavy rain that subsided only towards the end of the first half. Germany´s Pia Wunderlich wasted her side´s best opportunity in the 54th minute when she miscued a shot with the goal at her mercy. [ps]