Impressive Germany end four-year final wait

Germany are through to their first final in four years after goals by Ramona Petzelberger, Eunice Beckmann and Lena Lotzen earned the three-time champions an authoritative triumph against Switzerland.

Maren Meinert's charges dominated the match, creating seven good chances in the first half alone, but after Petzelberger's opener were punished for their profligacy when Cora Canetta levlled with a spectacular strike. Beckmann, guilty of several misses herself, restored the advantage after the break before Lotzen rounded off victory with a breakaway goal.

Germany might have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute following a flowing move down the right, from which Lotzen teed up Beckmann, who was denied by Pascale Küffer. As in the group stage against Russia, Küffer would be in for a busy evening, thwarting Beckmann again ten minutes later after the striker turned Carolyn Mallaun and shot right-footed.

Luisa Wensing then glanced Carolin Simon's corner wide, before the full-back picked out Beckmann, who scuffed straight at Küffer. Switzerland seemed powerless to stem the white tide engulfing them and, on 21 minutes, the dam burst, Beckmann holding off two challenges and playing in Petzelberger for her first goal of the competition.

Yannick Schwery's side had hitherto struggled to get out of their own half, let alone threaten Germany's goal, yet equalised from their first attempt when Cinzia Jörg pounced on some sloppy defending and Canetta unleashed a 25-metre drive into the top corner.

Before long, Beckmann again passed up the chance to score after Isabella Schmid and Lotzen once more combined cleverly, Germany's No7 attempting a disappointing bicycle kick. On 54 minutes, though, the Bayer 04 Leverkusen player made amends, pouncing on Petzelberger's low free-kick that caught the Swiss defence off guard.

The 19-year-old might still have doubled her tally soon afterwards when Küffer saved from Petzelberger, but dragged her shot wide of an open target. Switzerland's sole threat came from Canetta, but the striker was left too isolated up front.

She did draw a free-kick, from which Lia Wälti skimmed the bar with ten minutes remaining, but Germany were simply too strong this time, as highlighted by the wonderful through ball by Ivana Rudelic which enabled Lotzen to wrap up the contest. Norway, beaten 3-1 by Germany in their Group A opener here, await in Saturday's showpiece.