PLAYER RATINGS: Leah Williamson and Millie Bright shine as England beat Germany to win the Euros

A brilliant effort from England’s defensive rearguard was crucial to the Lionesses finally ending 56 years of hurt as the country waited for a major football trophy. 

The centre half pairing, comprising captain Leah Williamson and Millie Bright, plus super subs Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly – who scored the goals as England beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday – were all outstanding for Sarina Wiegman’s side.

Below, Sportsmail‘s Dominic King runs through the team and rates every player’s performance on a historic, febrile night in north-west London that could change women’s football and women’s sport in the country forever.

Captain Leah Williamson was crucial as England won their first major trophy on Sunday

Millie Bright (left) and Williamson (right) were brilliant as England beat Germany at Wembley

ENGLAND (4-2-3-1)

Mary Earps 8

Safe and reliable as she has been throughout the tournament. One fine stop in the first half.

Lucy Bronze 8

All action at right back, the 30-year-old won the biggest header of her career to set up the winning goal.

Millie Bright 8.5

Headed it, kicked it, put her foot in and helped lead a defence that refused to buckle under German pressure.

‘Keeper Mary Earps (right) was solid again between the sticks to help England secure victory

Leah Williamson 9

The best player on the pitch; immaculate reading of the game, considered use of possession and always calm.

Rachel Daly 8

Super performance with several key interventions, though she was frustrated that Germany’s equaliser came from her side.

Keira Walsh 8.5

One of the best games of her career at the perfect moment, barely wasted a pass and kept England moving forward.

Midfielder Keira Walsh (left) had one of the best games of her life and set up Ella Toone’s goal

Georgia Stanway 8

Ran so much that she barely had anything left to give by the time she was replaced late in the 88th minute by Jill Scott.

Beth Mead 8

The tournament’s top scorer and best player could not add to her tally here but her impact in getting to this stage was huge.

Fran Kirby 7

Lively in the first half, she would have wanted to see more of the ball in key areas but Germany’s defence managed her well.

Beth Mead could not add to her goalscoring tally but her impact in getting to this stage was huge

Lauren Hemp 8

Another who, when it mattered most, stood up and delivered, providing a key contribution to this historic day.

Ellen White 7

Frustrated to miss a good chance in the first half, when she put the ball over the bar, before being substituted.

SUBSTITUTES

Russo 7 (for White 56), Toone 8.5 (for Kirby 56), Kelly 8.5 (for Mead 64), Greenwood 8 (for Daly 88), Scott 7 (for Stanway (88), Parris N/R (for Hemp 120).

Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman (pictured above) made the right changes at the right time

Super subs Chloe Kelly (left) and Toone (right) scored the goals as England beat their old rivals

Manager: Sarina Wiegman 9

Managers who know when to make the right changes at the right times are the ones who win prizes and Wiegman did it again with match-winning subs.

GERMANY (4-3-3)

Frohms; Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering (Doorsoun 103), Rauch (Lattwein 113); Magull (Dallmann 90), Oberdorf, Dabritz (Lohmann 73); Huth, Schuller (Anyomi 73), Brand (Wassmuth 45).

Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine) 7.

Attendance: 87,192.