Laudehr actions speak volumes

Simone Laudehr enjoys the limelight, so having come off the bench to inspire Germany into the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ final, her delight was clear.

Recovery
Germany trailed Norway 1-0 at the Helsinki Football Stadium when Laudehr replaced the injured Linda Bresonik just before the break. The midfielder lost her starting place at these finals after suffering a knee injury on 6 August in a friendly against Russia, but showed her worth on Monday when she equalised just before the hour mark and two minutes later crossed for Célia Okoyino da Mbabi to put Germany in front on their way to a 3-1 win and a Thursday final against England.

Vital goal
"Scoring the equaliser turned things in our favour and it was great that we scored early in the second half," Laudehr told uefa.com. "We pushed even more then and created more chances. Norway seemed surprised and couldn't really react any more. [After the second goal] we knew that we would go to the final."

Impact
That did not seem the case when the 23-year-old FCR 2001 Duisburg player was introduced, Germany struggling to cancel out Isabell Herlovsen's tenth-minute opener. "After falling behind we were even less focused than before and we got a bit nervous, too," Laudehr said. "As a substitute you always try to have an immediate impact when the game has not been going well."

Award
Laudehr's clever passing game and committed defending ensured she did indeed have that effect. "I tried to bring in more structure and to win for the whole team." Hence Laudehr receiving the Carlsberg Player of the Match award. "It of course has a special meaning for me, to receive this personal award," she added.

England threat
To get another prize, a winner's medal, on Thursday night, Germany have to beat an England side who have swashbuckled their way to the final. "They can switch from defence to attack very quickly and aggressively," Laudehr warned.