England take bronze at Women's World Cup

Germany attacked from the start of the game with a Tabea Kemme cross causing England skipper Steph Houghton to clear off the line after 8 minutes.

Celia Sasic had a shot on target saved by goalkeeper Karen Bardsley a minute later. With six goals Sasic won the Golden Boot of top scorers in the competition.

Germany also nearly scored when a Bianca Schmidt header across goal was cleared by Houghton after Bardsley had failed to gather the ball.

But then England started to get into the game and Ellen White headed over the bar after 26 minutes. Germany kept up the pressure and Sara Daebritz saw her shot blocked by defender Jo Potter just before halftime.

After the break Germany had the best scoring chance on 53 minutes when Sasic crossed to Daebritz, though her volley was kept out by a diving Bardsley.

The game went into extra time and Germany came close with a series of corners.

A minute into the second period of extra time Kemme was judged to have pulled down substitute Lianne Sanderson. Fara Williams had scored a penalty in the Lionesses' loss to Japan in the semi finals.

Williams stepped up again, sent keeper Nadine Angerer the wrong way, and converted. Former world goalkeeper of the year, Angerer was playing her final match for Germany.

A Sophie Schmidt header and Anja Mittag freekick failed to find an equaliser for Germany in the final World Cup game for coach Siliva Neid.

The world number one ranked team, Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, lost 2-0 to the United States in their semi-final.

Japan play the United States in Sunday's final in Vancouver in a rematch of the 2011 championship game.

jm/bk (AFP, dpa)