Editor’s Note: Redbrick would like to thank National Express for providing our tickets and transport to Wembley to watch England’s Lionesses take on Germany. You can find out more about National Express and their services to and from Wembley at the bottom of this article. 

On a day where the occasion and atmosphere stole the headlines, it was the Lionesses’ performance on the pitch against an in-form Germany that proved to be somewhat of a let-down.

Phil Neville’s side were looking for only their second win since their fourth-place finish at the Women’s World Cup, and there seemed no better place to do so than at the home of football itself, Wembley Stadium. This highly-anticipated match sold out weeks in advance and looked to be a landmark event for women’s football in the UK, with fans travelling from far and wide to witness this piece of history unfold.

The Lionesses had a point to prove, and not just due to the promise of record-breaking crowds and a watershed moment for women’s football, but also because their poor post-World Cup form has left question marks hanging over Neville himself as to whether he is the right man to take the Lionesses forward long-term.

In stark contrast, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s German side, following a World Cup run that saw them fail to qualify for next summer’s Olympics, have successfully turned things around to record four consecutive wins in Euro 2021 qualifying. One of the most successful women’s international sides in history, they appear to have made it through last year’s rough patch and are back to playing the intricate, creative football that has long defined them.

Despite this, England provided their toughest test yet, and they arrived in England without some of their biggest and most experienced names. Alexandra Popp, however, was a welcome late edition, making a surprising recovery from an ankle injury in time to travel with the squad and captain Germany at Wembley.  The absence of some of their other stars did not to faze them, with 18-year-old Klara Bühl making it 2-1 in the final minute of normal time to win it for her country.

Walking down Wembley Way before the game, the excitement felt by every individual was contagious and as the whistle sounded and Germany got us underway, a great roar erupted from all corners of the stands, the enormity of the moment impossible to ignore.

Germany came thundering out of the blocks, whilst England were all at sea, their defence especially looking disorganised and undisciplined. They were let off lightly in the opening minutes as Germany squandered a couple of good chances and Mary Earps pulled off a fingertip save to deny Popp, but England could only hold on for so long. In the eighth minute, the visitors finally got the breakthrough their early pressure deserved, as Popp latched onto the end of a pinpoint cross from Hendrich and headed the ball beyond Mary Earps.

For much of the first half, the Lionesses continued to struggle, with Germany controlling play and retaining the ball with ease. England only managed their first chance of the game in the 22^nd minute after Nikita Parris’ shot was parried away for a corner, though Germany were probably lucky to still have all 11 players on the pitch, following Sara Doorsoun’s high challenge on Beth Mead, from which she was lucky to escape without injury.

However, at the half-hour mark, with the noise of a 77,768 strong crowd bearing down on them, England mounted a late first-half comeback. Their pressure was rewarded with a penalty after German goalkeeper Merle Frohms brought Mead down in the box, but she redeemed herself shortly after, saving the subsequent penalty from Parris magnificently with her feet. England did eventually get their equaliser though, on the stroke of half time. It was Ellen White, who, making her first international appearance since a knee injury sidelined her in pre-season, poked it home following a wonderful flighted ball into the box from Keira Walsh, lifting the spirits of the team and crowd alike as the whistle sounded for half-time.

The second half was a much more subdued affair than the first, with few major chances of note for either side save for a disallowed goal, after German midfielder Lina Magull’s shot was rightfully deemed offside. A draw was looking the likely outcome, and the announcement that it was indeed a record-breaking crowd for a Lionesses match here in England looked to be the highlight and the major talking point of the half. Bühl restored Germany’s lead at the death, slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner past the outstretched glove of Earps, as an almost full-capacity Wembley fell silent.

Though it would have been wonderful to see a Lionesses performance that matched the momentous occasion, it was ultimately a deserved win for the visitors, who were organised and devastating in possession, sealing a win that is likely to further put Neville’s position in jeopardy.

The record attendance at a Lionesses’ home fixture is hugely impressive, with each and every supporter seeming to contribute wholeheartedly to the atmosphere. Each time England advanced to the final third, a wall of noise emanated from all corners of the ground, willing the players forward. This reached a climax in the final stages of the game, when a last-minute England free-kick was backed by a chorus of encouragement and a flurry of flags. That particular chance went astray, but it did little to dampen the moods of the crowds. Despite Germany taking home the win, it seemed as though the match was about more than just the result.

Anyone who has been to a major event, sporting or not, will know the perils of queuing for public transport. International football at Wembley is no different, with a queuing system in place for those who choose to travel by train. For some passengers, particularly those on the busy London – Birmingham route, post-match waits of upwards of three hours are not uncommon before you even board the train.

Travelling by bus, therefore, just makes sense. A designated National Express coach is ready and waiting as soon as the match finishes, so you can forget standing in the wind and rain after your next England game. National Express also guarantees to hold the coach for any eventualities during the match, meaning that the excitement of extra-time and penalties will never be met by the comedown of missing your coach home.

Birmingham students can travel to Wembley with National Express, the official transport company of Wembley Stadium, from Digbeth Coach Station. You can find out more at www.nationalexpress.com/en/events/wembley