Tears instead of triumph: Without their leader Alexandra Popp, the German soccer team narrowly missed out on their longed-for ninth European Championship title after a make or break battle.

The record European champions lost the final at Wembley 1-2 after extra time against hosts England and thus conceded their first EURO final defeat.

Substitutes Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly scored the goals for England, who clinched their first major title, in front of a deafening crowd of 87,192 at the European Championship final.

Lina Magull had meanwhile equalized in regular time.

Reactions to the final:

Svenja Huth (substitute captain):

“It just sucks to leave the pitch as a loser.

We gave our all for 120 minutes and didn't let ourselves be shocked by the deficit.

Unfortunately we didn't reward ourselves.”

Bernd Neuendorf (DFB President):

"Our team did an excellent job of representing German football at the European Championships, and the defeat in the final against the great hosts from England doesn't change that.

Our players have inspired the whole country, they are personable, authentic and approachable, they exemplify real team spirit.

I would particularly like to single out our national coach, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.

The development of the team bears her signature.”

Heike Ullrich (DFB general secretary):

"It's a shame that we didn't win the ninth European Championship today.

Nevertheless, the team played an outstanding tournament and can be very proud of itself.

With their courageous and passionate nature, our players triggered a huge wave of enthusiasm in Germany.

It is now important to take exactly this enthusiasm into the new season of the women’s Bundesliga, because most of our EURO heroines can be seen in the league.”

Hansi Flick (national coach):

"I'm very sorry for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg and her entire team that they couldn't crown their great performances with the title.

But after the first disappointment they can look back on this tournament with pride.

The passion and at the same time lightness, enthusiasm and team spirit with which the team went through this tournament inspired me.

That was outstanding on and off the pitch, the players were a tight-knit unit and could therefore only be defeated by the hosts in the final.”

Oliver Bierhoff (DFB Managing Director):

"This great tournament by our team deserved winning the title as a worthy conclusion.

In the DFB we have set the motto for our teams: back to the top of the world.

Despite the defeat in the final, our team's performances in England were great from the first game to the end. This tournament will be a milestone in the development of women's football in Germany.

This performance by our national team gives the entire DFB extra motivation with a view to the men’s World Cup at the end of the year.”