Mental Strength was Key

Tina Theune-Mayer, Germany women’s boss who will leave the post after the tournament, said their Euro 2005 final victory was down to their mental strength.

Their victory yesterday at Ewood Park was Theune-Mayer's last game in a successful spell which has seen the German’s win everything, including their fourth successive European Championship.

She said: "I always felt that we could win this tournament and today it was the same feeling.

"We have a very tough-minded group, of really good women. They play with heart and they want to win everything."

The Germans were unbeaten in five games in the tournament, conceding just two goals, with beaten finalists Norway the only side to score past them.

Despite the seemingly easy domination of the Championship, Theune-Mayer believes there wasn’t much of a difference between the two sides.

"I don't think we are so far ahead, if you look at the players they all have, they all have players for the future," she added.