German women grab fourth European title in a row

World champions and tournament favourites Germany beat Norway 3-1 to win their fourth successive UEFA European Women's Championship at Blackburn yesterday.

A deflected goal from world player of the year and German captain Birgit Prinz extinguished a spirited Norwegian comeback and gave the Germans their sixth European title since the tournament began in 1984.

In humid conditions which suited neither side, Germany took the lead when Anja Mittag nodded in a goalbound Inka Grings shot after a well-worked corner in the 21st minute.

The Germans went 2-0 up three minutes later when a Norwegian attack broke down and Germany's Britta Carlson put her midfield partner Renate Lingor clear of Norway's exposed defence.

Stranded Norwegian goalkeeper Bente Nordby ran out to block but Lingor lobbed her from 20 yards.

Then a thunderstorm engulfed the stadium, cooling the temperature and sparking a fightback from Norway, the only European team to win continental, world and Olympic titles.

With five minutes left in the first half, winger Stine Frantzen cut in from the left and split the German defence with a pass which Dagny Mellgren cleverly poked past the oncoming German goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg.

Norway pushed for an equaliser and Frantzen did find the net moments later but her powerful right-foot effort was disallowed for offside.

Germany came out stronger in the second half, with Prinz and Conny Pohlers combining well to trouble the Norwegian defence.

On 63 minutes a Prinz shot from distance took a deflection and wrong-footed Nordby to make it 3-1.

Norway then thrust forward, winning corners and free-kicks but not converting those chances.

Sixteen-year-old substitute Isabell Herlovsen went close with 20 minutes left when her close-range volley flew straight into Rottenberg's arms.

But not even Herlovsen, whose goal against France kept Norway in the tournament, could inspire better chances against a side dominant in this competition and victorious in all but one of the European tournaments they have competed in.