The final of UEFA Women's Euro 2009 was held on 10 September 2009 at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland. The match was won by the defending champions Germany, who earned their fifth consecutive European title â and seventh in total â with a 6âÂÂ2 win over England.
England leading up to the tournament had only lost just once in their 11 matches and were quietly optimistic about reaching the final.
They were placed in Group C, along with Sweden, Italy and Russia. Initially England had a rocky start losing to Italy 2âÂÂ1. Results slowly improved starting with a win against Russia. The following match was a tie with Sweden which was enough to put England into the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals a Eniola Aluko brace was enough to defeat the hosts Finland. In the semi-finals England defeated the Netherlands in extra time thanks to a Jill Scott header.
Germany were placed in Group B with Norway, France and Iceland. Germany started in the group in dominant fashion with a 4âÂÂ0 victory over Norway. The second group game was followed by a 5âÂÂ1 victory over France. Germany won its final match 1âÂÂ0 against Iceland.
Germany defeated Italy in the quarter-finals in a close fought match 2âÂÂ1. In the semi-finals Germany comfortably beat Norway 3âÂÂ1. Germany reached the final as overwhelming favourites.
Germany dominated England and took a 2âÂÂ0 after 21 minutes when Birgit Prinz and then Melanie Behringer scored.
England regrouped and Karen Carney halved the deficit after just two minutes from Behringer's goal.
Germany extended their lead after six minutes in the second half when a shot by Simone Laudehr was saved from the post with the ball ending up on the feet of Kim Kulig, who scored in an empty net.
England fought valiantly and attacked again four minutes later, when Carney received a pass from Kelly Smith, who turned around and scored leaving the game at 2âÂÂ3.
England pushed forward in search of a goal but conceded further goals in the last half hour of from Inka Grings and Prinz making the score 6âÂÂ2.
Germany's victory marked the fifth title in a row as well as 19 games against England without defeat. Faye White stated "We can hold our heads high".
England manager Hope Powell stated she was not disappointed after losing the final. Jill Scott was a member of the squad that lost in the 2009 final; she would win the title in 2022 by defeating Germany in the final. In 2022 Kelly Smith describes the disappointing performance as one her great regrets in her career.