Chloe Kelly hailed England as a “special team” as she once again proved to be the match-winner by scoring the decisive penalty in a World Cup shoot-out win over Nigeria.

The European Champions were second best for much of their last-16 clash, with their chances of securing victory hampered by a late red card for Lauren James after a needless stamp on Michelle Alozie.

After a goalless 120 minutes, Georgia Stanway fired the first spot-kick of the shoot-out wide for England only for both Desire Oparanozie and Alozie to miss the target with their efforts.

With everyone else successful from the spot, it fell on Kelly to emphatically smash home the winning penalty, following on from her extra-time winner in the Euros final last summer and the decisive spot-kick in a shoot-out win over Brazil in the Finalissima in April.

“No, definitely not, it is the team,” she told BBC Sport when asked about once again being the match-winner.

“This team is special, we did it in the Euros, we did it in the Finalissima, we are here again tonight and doing it; we keep pushing forward and there is more to come form this special team.

“It is amazing, anything that is thrown at us, we show what we are capable of.

“We dig deep, we dig deep as a group, we believe in our ability; first and foremost we believe in what we are being told to do.”

Asked about what was going through her head as she walked up to take her penalty, the Manchester City forward replied: “For me, it is ‘I’m going to score’ – that is how I look at it, once I win that mental battle we are good.

“We have been practising (penalties) a lot actually and it has been working.”

Chloe Kelly is determined to approach the World Cup with the same carefree and fun-loving attitude she had as a child dreaming of playing on such a stage.

Just under a year on from scoring the goal at Wembley that clinched Euros glory for England, winger Kelly is in line to make her World Cup debut on Saturday when Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses open their campaign against Haiti in Brisbane.

The 25-year-old Manchester City star played cage football as a child growing up in west London, and she said: “You have to hold your own against the boys.

“I think that is great, having a little bit of personality to go in those cages and hold your own against players that probably didn’t respect you when you first walked in there. They definitely do as you leave.

“I think it is really important to have that personality that I try to bring on the pitch every day.

“I try to just be creative, free and just play with a smile on my face. I think that little girl is still inside me, the one that loves playing football.

“Being at such a huge tournament, that’s exactly what I am going there to do. I am going there as the little girl of Chloe Kelly that just loves playing football.

“There will be so many kids with that dream to play at a World Cup, and that’s all I think about. One day I was that little girl with this huge dream.”

The extra-time finish that secured the Lionesses’ first major trophy, a goal Kelly memorably celebrated by taking off her shirt and whirling it around her head as she wheeled away in her sports bra, has made her a household name.

“I am definitely getting stopped (in the street) a little bit more, but I haven’t changed as a person,” Kelly said.

“I feel like I am just me. I try to be myself in every situation. Being approachable and being able to speak to young girls, to influence so many people, is very special to me because I once looked up to the likes of Kelly Smith and Jill Scott.

“To be able to be that person for young females today…I think it is great seeing so many of us being able to do so.

“I’ve seen a lot of players and tags on Instagram of players doing the celebration. A Newcastle Women’s player did the celebration. I think it is great to see the impact we have had. That celebration for me was just a spontaneous moment and to see it influence so many people is special.

“I think it was very powerful. In the moment I didn’t realise. I just celebrated the goal at Wembley as I would when I was a kid playing in the cages.

“That just reminded me of those moments and I was being myself in that moment. For me, I didn’t realise how much it would do for women but it’s very special that it did.”

Former City midfielder Scott, holder of 161 England caps, retired after the Euros, along with the team’s record scorer Ellen White.

And 26-cap Kelly added: “Jill was like a mum to us. So having ‘big sisters’ in Rach (Daly) and Millie (Bright, the squad’s captain for the World Cup) is great.

“They are just so relaxed and bring a laugh to the table. I think it is great to have that. There is so much experience within them and being able to lean on players like that is very important.

“I think there are so many leaders in this group with so much experience. Even the young players, as people would say, we have so much experience.

“I think being able to have so many players that have been to tournaments in the past is a great balance. The depth of our squad is amazing.”

Chloe Kelly has stressed the importance of being “ready for your moment” at this summer’s World Cup whether starting in the England team or as a substitute.

The winger came off the bench and scored the extra-time winner against Germany in the Euros final at Wembley a year ago as the Lionesses secured the first major trophy in their history.

Going into that tournament having only recently returned to action after an ACL injury, she was utilised as a substitute throughout as boss Sarina Wiegman retained the same starting line-up.

Since then, Kelly has scored five goals and provided nine assists across the 2022-23 Women’s Super League season for Manchester City, and been on the scoresheet four times in 10 England appearances – the first five of which were starts, with three of the last five being off the bench.

Ahead of England opening their campaign at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by playing Haiti in Brisbane a week on Saturday, the 25-year-old said: “I think it is just being ready for your moment.

“I think it is very important that the whole group is very supportive of each other. I think in tournament football everyone has to be ready for their moments. For me, it is about being ready when called upon – whether that’s as a starter or off the bench.

“I think it was really important that last year we were able to do that and this year we have got great depth in our squad. It’s so important that everyone is valued as a player – and that’s exactly what happened last year. That’s something I will definitely take into this summer.

“I’m not looking too far ahead. I think it is just being ready come July 22. Not thinking am I a starter or off the bench (but) how can I be the best version of me come the 22nd of July?”

Kelly has also spoken about being relaxed and composed and trying to enjoy every minute of the World Cup.

She said: “With a smile on my face that’s when I’m at my best. I feel like I have stayed true to myself and my personality.

“Maybe I was a little cheeky when I was younger! I just remember my Everton days and Andy Spence (who managed her at the club) getting me sometimes and being like: ‘You are a little bit cheeky!’ But I feel like I am just me. I just try to enjoy myself in every moment.

“I try to use the people around me to learn as much as I can, whether that be older players or staff members. That’s the maturity, as you grow older you realise how important everyone is and being able to use people to improve, ask questions. But for me it is just about enjoying every moment.

“I think I matured the most when I was injured (out for almost a year due to the ACL injury) because everything gets taken away so quickly. And then it’s like ‘why would you complain about such little things?’

“You just enjoy the moment so much more. That’s what it’s all about – enjoying these moments and the stories you tell your grandchildren and your children. Create memories that last a lifetime, that’s what it is all about.”

Carly Telford has backed her former England team-mate Chloe Kelly to be the Lionesses' crucial player at the upcoming Women's World Cup.

Manchester City attacker Kelly scored the winner as England beat Germany to win the Women's Euros in 2022.

The 25-year-old did not make a start for Sarina Wiegman's team in last year's tournament, with all six of her appearances coming from the bench.

But ex-England and Chelsea goalkeeper Telford reckons Kelly will be an even more pivotal figure at the World Cup, which will take place across July and August in Australia and New Zealand.

"For the Lionesses, she's going to be probably one of our most important players," Telford told Stats Perform. "With her fitness, with her assists, hopefully with lots of goals.

"She's just a really nice kid. And she's thriving in her role and I think she's probably going to be given a lot more responsibility because she's probably going to be a starter for England, which she should be in her form.

"She's ultra-competitive. So I like to think Sarina [will] give her a lot of responsibility at this World Cup because I think she'll be ready for it."

Kelly has scored five goals in the Women's Super League for City this season, while providing nine assists in the competition.

It has been a pleasure to watch for Telford, who explained that Kelly has become an even stronger player since sustaining a serious knee injury in 2021.

"She's probably been Manchester City's best player, most consistent player, the most important in terms of her roles in goals and assists," Telford added.

"If you come off the back of a huge injury like that, you're probably thinking 'Am I going to come back the player I was, am I even going to come back at all?'

"She's probably come back a better player than what she was, probably a more rounded person because she's gone through some heartache and had to probably have lots of self-reflective moments like, 'Are you doing the right things?' She's come off the back of that and she's flying."

Chloe Kelly sealed another trophy for England as Brazil were beaten 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the inaugural Women's Finalissima at Wembley on Thursday.

Ella Toone finished off a slick first-half move to give the Lionesses a deserve lead in the showdown between the European champions and the Copa America Femenina winners.

Brazil were the better side after the break and Andressa Alves capitalised on a stoppage-time mistake from goalkeeper Mary Earps to force spot-kicks.

England were not to be denied, though, as Georgia Stanway, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood and Kelly – who scored the winner in the Euro 2022 final against Germany at the same venue - converted from 12 yards out.

Earps denied Tamires before captain Rafaelle Souza rattled the crossbar as Brazil endured shootout agony in front of a huge crowd of 83.132.

The marauding Lucy Bronze caused the Canarinhas all sorts of problems in the first half and she played a big part in the opening goal in the 23rd minute.

Bronze played a one-two with Stanway before picking out Toone, who slotted home with her right foot from inside the penalty area in the 23rd minute as Brazil were cut open by England's sharp passing and movement.

Lauren James had a goal disallowed for offside with the Euro 2022 winners firmly on top, but it was a different story following the interval.

England gave Brazil every opportunity to get back into the game with a string of mistakes, one of which resulted in Earps palming a shot from Geyse high into the air and against the top of the crossbar.

Pia Sundhage's side continued to probe and they were rewarded when Earps spilled a cross from the right to gift Andressa an equaliser with time running out. 

With no extra time, England recovered from that setback to come out on top in the shootout, Toone the only Lionesses player who was unable to find the back of the net with her penalty before Kelly drilled in the winner to make it 30 games without defeat under Sarina Wiegman.

England fans have been singing about football "coming home" since 1996, when the country hosted the men's European Championship.

Terry Venables' team were ultimately eliminated in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium by Germany in heartbreaking fashion on penalties. Gareth Southgate, who until now had come close than any other manager to ending England's long wait for glory, missed the crucial spot-kick.

More than 26 years on, Sarina Wiegman's women's team had a chance to finally bring it "home", and it came against Germany, naturally.

This time, they had that extra gear to overcome a setback, and ended 66 years of hurt with a 2-1 success.

England's men reached the final of Euro 2020 last year, losing on penalties to Italy, but that day had been marred by crowd issues before the match at Wembley.

There was no sign of such issues on Sunday. The only clouds hanging over Wembley before this game were in the sky.

Wiegman has secured back-to-back European Championships, having also won with the Netherlands in 2017, and rubber-stamped the immense improvement she has brought to the Lionesses since replacing Phil Neville.

That this win came a day after Neville's Inter Miami had surrendered a 3-2 lead in the last 10 mins to draw 4-4 in a Major League Soccer match felt appropriate. England are a far superior machine to the one Neville led, and one with a better depth of quality, with both goals coming from substitutes.

Both teams were set to go in unchanged until Germany suffered a blow when captain Alexandra Popp sustained a muscle injury in the warm-up.

It was agonising for Popp, who went into the game as joint-top scorer in the tournament with six goals, but needed to net more than Beth Mead (also six) to take the Golden Boot due to the England star's superior assist record.

Popp's absence seemed to have an impact as Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side struggled to threaten, though Mead did not have much impact on the game herself, rarely seeing any of the ball close to the German goal before coming off with a knock just after the hour.

Ellen White again started over Alessia Russo, despite the latter having scored twice as many (four to two) from the bench during the tournament, but White's work rate and harrying was on show in a first half of few chances.

Germany's best opportunity came courtesy of a chaotic goalmouth scramble in 25th minute that also resulted in a rejected VAR check for a penalty, while White blazed over from England's most dangerous attack.

Lina Magull dragged wide as Germany clicked into gear after the restart, and the biggest roar of the day by that point came when Ella Toone and Russo were introduced for Fran Kirby and White.

The greater cheer had been for Russo, whose four goals from the bench during the tournament was the most a player has scored at a single edition of a Women's Euros, but it was Toone who upped those decibel levels though as she ran onto a ball over the top from Keira Walsh before expertly lifting over Merle Frohms.

Toone became the first opposition player to score against Germany at the tournament, though DFB-Frauen almost hit straight back when Magull hit the woodwork.

Magull did have her goal with 11 minutes remaining though. Neat work on the right side saw the ball slid across by Tabea Wassmuth for the German number 20, who lifted her shot into the roof of the net to dampen England spirits and force extra-time in a Women's Euros final for the first time since 2001. On that occasion, Germany beat Sweden 1-0.

A familiar feeling for England. Extra-time... penalties... valiant defeat. But this team is different.

Chloe Kelly – who had replaced Mead – was the hero, prodding home at the second attempt after Germany failed to clear their lines. A brief wait to make sure the flag had not gone up was followed by uproarious celebrations. Football was through the gate, coming up the garden path...

Kelly's goal was England's 22nd of the tournament, a record by a team at any European Championship (men's and women's), and this time the hosts could see it out, the players either falling to their knees or running around the pitch as the magnitude of their achievement hit.

The first senior England team to win a major tournament since 1966, the first to ever win a European Championship, and the first to beat Germany in a Women's Euros final.

The 87,192 inside Wembley – a new attendance record for the Euros, men or women – immediately broke out into a rendition of Three Lions, informing those in any doubt that football was finally "home".

England have the trophy, but it is safe to say that during this historic tournament, women's football has most certainly been the winner. It came home for everyone.

England match-winner Chloe Kelly described the 2-1 victory over Germany in Sunday's Euro 2022 final as "what dreams are made of".

The Lionesses made history with a breakthrough triumph at Wembley, delivering a first major trophy win for England's women's team.

England were thrashed 6-2 by Germany in the Euro 2009 final, but it was far tighter this time around, with goals from substitutes Ella Toone and Kelly making all the difference.

Kelly, the 24-year-old Manchester City striker who suffered an ACL knee injury 14 months ago, poked in a 110th-minute winner after the tournament finale went to extra time.

"Honestly, it's amazing. This is what dreams are made of. As a young girl watching women's football, now this, it's unbelievable," Kelly told BBC Sport.

"Thank you to everyone who has played a part in my rehab. I always believed I would be here, but to be here and score the winner, wow.

"These girls are special, the manager is special, what an amazing group of staff. This is amazing. I just want to celebrate now."

Manager Sarina Wiegman won this tournament with her native Netherlands five years ago, which led the English Football Association to her door.

Wiegman's arrival last year has been crucial to the development of this group of England players, forging a squad where the self-belief has been clear for all to see.

"You mention we brought football home. We won the cup. It's incredible," Wiegman said.

"If you really want to win, really want to become better every single day, that's what I have noticed the whole year. It's just incredible, they want to be together. We agreed on a couple of things about behaviour, and they weren't just words, we lived it, and this is the result."

Wiegman said a few crucial words to her players before extra time, and she was not worried that there was "a little bit of fighting" as the game became scrappy late.

"Who cares, we won 2-1 and we are European champions," Wiegman said.

"I don't have any secrets. I just don't think I realise what's going on, I'll need some time."