Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of England Women vs. Germany Women's third-place playoff match at the World Cup.

With a little over 20 minutes to go until kick-off let's dive straight into the team news...

ENGLAND STARTING XI: Bardsley, Bronze, Houghton, Bassett, Greenwood, J Scott, Chapman, Williams, Potter, Carney, White

GERMANY STARTING XI: Angerer, Schmidt, Bartusiak, Laudehr, Behringer, Sasic, Peter, Petermann, Goessling, Kemme, Daebritz

So, there are four changes to England's line-up tonight with Karen Carney, Josanne Potter, Ellen White and Alex Greenwood come into the line-up.

Laura Bassett, who scored the agonising 93rd-minute own goal against Japan, starts and manager Mark Sampson says she's "more than ready" to play tonight.

Germany have also made a number of changes. Bianca Schmidt, Sara Dabritz, Lena Petermann, Babett Peter and Melanie Behringer all come into the starting line-up after missing their semi-final defeat to Germany.

So odds are stacked firmly against England tonight. They've played against each other 20 times and have never won. There's a first time for everything though, and there's certainly no better time than now for this England team.

If you're superstitious too, it's 25 years to the day that Germany beat England in the World Cup semi-final at Italia 90. Gazza's tears and all that.

The Germans have a rich history in women's football. They've won two World Cups, in 2003 and 2007, and have claimed the last six European titles. They're also the only country to have won both the men's and women's World Cups.

They also say goodbye to head coach Silvia Neid tonight, after 10 years in charge of the national team. She won one World Cup and two European Championships during her time in charge.

With just four minutes until kick-off, the anthems are underway. Time for a prediction then, and it's hard to look past Germany tonight. Their record against England is too much to look past victory tonight - it could go all the way to extra time though. Germany 2-1 England for me.

Nearly ready to go then at the Commonwealth Stadium. As the name suggests it played host to the 1978 Commonwealth Games. It has a capacity of 56,302, but I reckon there's about 20,000 in the ground tonight.

KICKOFF! England kick off and launch the ball upfield but it's picked up by Angerer.

CHANCE! The first chance goes to Germany, and they nearly take the lead inside the first minute. Petermann's header is tipped wide by Carney. Bardsley then punches away the corner.

England are yet to really get into the match as yet, with just one foray into the Germany half, but Germany did start their semi-final quickly and we all know how that one finished.

England skipper Steph Houghton took a stud to her foot from Celia Sasic there and she looks in pain here. She looks okay to carry on though.

CHANCE! Germany should have been one up there. Daebritz's shot beats Bardsley, but Houghton is there to clear the ball off the line.

That was a vital stop by Houghton there, just moments after coming back on the pitch after treatment. Bardsley should have done better there though. England have been up against it so far.

Chapman's cross from the left by-line is cleared behind by Kemme. Williams delivers it into the six-yard box but it's headed clear by Laudehr.

Germany corner here as Goessling's low cross from the right is blocked by Bassett. Behringer launches the ball into the area but Houghton clears.

CHANCE! The ball comes straight back into the box and Daebritz volleys it over the bar. That was dangerous for the England defence.

Scott drives down the right wing, and it takes an obvious touch of Bartusiak before going behind. The assistant did not see it though, and Germany resume with a goal kick.

England have grown into the match since being under the cosh in the opening 10 minutes. Carney is looking dangerous so far - she could hold the key to England success tonight.

It's a really quiet patch in the match so far with both defences holding strong. If the first 30 minutes are anything to go by we could be going all the way to penalties tonight.

Some terrific play from Lucy Bronze wins England a corner. After cutting into the box from the right, sheshaped up to shoot, but Behringer was just about able to clear the ball behind.

CHANCE! A Germany cross finds Sasic but she is not quite able to control the ball properly and it runs on through to Bardsley. She would have been one-on-one there.

Schmidt sends a ball forward but it has too much weight on it and Bardsley gathers easily.

Germany continue to attack with a cross down the left being met by Kemme. It goes over the bar though.

There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Another Germany attack, and they have been really wasteful this half. They give away a foul and the danger is over for England.

HALF TIME: Germany 0-0 England

England have certainly held their own in the first half. They have never really threatened the German goal, but Germany have only looked like scoring once. Steph Houghton's goal-line clearance kept the score at 0-0.

These third-place matches often are not very memorable, and that is certainly the case tonight. Hopefully, something opens up early in the second half.

With a few minutes to go until the second half, let's take a look at that great goal-line clearance. It's certainly the only big talking point of the first half:

PHOTO Captain @stephhoughton2 produces a brilliant goalline clearance during the first half against #Ger #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/ABRaGD4J9n — England (@england) July 4, 2015

It has been a great month of football in Canada, and England have exceeded all expectations no matter what the result is tonight. It culminates in the final between Japan and USA tomorrow night.

SUBSTITUTION: Germany make a substitution at half time with Melanie Leupolz replacing Behringer.

KICKOFF! Germany restart the match.

England go on the attack early. First, Fara Williams has a shot blocked, before Greenwood tries to make progress down the left wing. She loses control though and Germany regroup.

Williams takes a corner from the left, and aims it well towards Bronze. She cannot quite reach it though and the ball trickles past everyone for a throw in.

SAVE! Bardsley pulls off a great save, after Sasic's cross finds Daebritz. She volleys it towards goal but Bardsley's dives to her right to deflect the ball for a corner.

CHANCE! The corner finds Kemme who is blocked twice on the edge of the box, first from Greenwood, then from Carney. The ball comes back into the box though and there's a scramble in the six-yard box. A shot is eventually taken but Houghton is there this time to make another block.

Germany attack again, and a cross finds Sasic. She's crowded out by a sea of red and her header goes harmlessly wide of the net.

Petter wins a corner, which is played into Goessling. Her volley bounces downwards and Bardsley punches the ball clear. It is still a dull affair in Edmonton, half an hour to go.

ENGLAND SUBSTITUTION: Eniola Aluko replaces Ellen White. She's had a really tough time on her own up front tonight. Perhaps Aluko's pace will cause more of a problem to the Germany defence.

CHANCE! Aluko receives the ball for the first time this match, and wins a corner for England. Greenwood plays it in and Houghton gets on the end of it, but her header is tame and it goes wide of the left post.

CHANCE! Kemme beats Carney and unleashes a shot from 20 yards. It is struck well but flies wide of the net. The match finally seems to be opening up.

CHANCE! Williams corner is directed towards Scott, who heads wide of the target.

GERMANY SUBSTITUTION: Mittag replaces Sasic. One goal threat for another:

8 - Anja Mittag (eight) has been involved in more goals than any other player at WWC 2015 (five goals and three assists). Bench. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 4, 2015

Mittag is involved straight away, but her lobbed shot deos not have enough on it and it's easily caught by Bardsley.

CHANCE! England should be a goal up! Scott receives the ball and has loads of time inside the area. She dallies on it though and Angerer saves the shot in the end. It goes so far as Carney, who drives the ball across the six-yard box. Scott is on the end of it once again but this time she misses the target.

YELLOW CARD! Chapman makes a cynical foul on Mittag and becomes the first player to be booked tonight.

Ten minutes to go then, and it looks like this match will be going to extra time. It has been a bit more open in the second half, but overall, it's hardly been a cracker.

CHANCE! A long ball is played up to Aluko, who breaks free of the defence. Unfortunately her first touch is too heavy and Angerer is out to smother the ball. A goal now would have been quite something.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time. It looks like we'll be here for at least another 30 minutes tonight.

England are piling on the pressure and Aluko wins a corner...

Greenwood delivers it in but it's eventually cleared at the second attempt.

England have looked like the most likely team to score in the closing stages of this match. Aluko and Scott will be ruing their missed chances if Germany win tonight.

So it's extra time then. England had the better of the second half but were not able to get the ball in the net. In reality, it's been a dour affair - a typical third-place playoff.

Let's get this underway then... The two captains, Houghton and Angerer, are in the centre circle for the coin toss and England will kick off.

KICKOFF! England start extra time and retain possession at the back.

YELLOW CARD! Laura Bassett is booked after a strong challenge on Petter.

CHANCE! Williams sends a corner to the edge of the box and Houghton is completely unmarked. She heads it towards goal but it is straight at Angerer.

GERMANY SUBSTITUTION: Alexandra Popp comes on for Germany sporting a scrum cap after a collision in the semi-final. Goessling is the player to make way.

It really has been a dull one tonight. England have brought us so much excitement this tournament, but neither team tonight have turned up. A few chances each but nothing more than that.

Leupoltz now with a shot from 25 yards. It goes flying over the bar.

As expected, nothing much happening in the first period of extra time either. It looks like it will be a penalty shootout to decide who finishes third at this year's Women's World Cup.

KICKOFF: Mattig gets the last 15 minutes underway, and launches it all the way to Bardsley.

PENALTY TO ENGLAND! Sanderson is held by Kemme just inside the box and the referee gives a penalty!

ENGLAND HAVE THE LEAD!! Williams places the ball coolly into the bottom left corner. Excellent penalty, and it looks like England are on the way to getting their first ever victory over Germany.

That was a turn up for the books. After 105 quiet minutes of football, that penalty just came out of nothing. It was soft, but all that matters is that it was given. And Williams made no mistake with it!

SUBSTITUTION: Williams comes off to a rapturous applause. She's replaced by Stoney.

Daebritz is caught by Potter right on the edge of the penalty area. It's a free kick here, and in such a dangerous position...

Mittag hits a powerful effort but it's well saved by Bardsley. Solid goalkeeping there.

CHANCE! Popp crosses it to Schmidt, and she really should have done better there, heading wide from six yards. What a let off that one was for England.

It's a corner here for Germany after Bassett's tackle sends the ball behind... Nervous.

It's harmless from Daebritz though, and does not even beat the first man. Stoney clears it for a throw in.

There will be two minutes of stoppage time for England to hold on. Will they get their first ever victory over Germany?

England have done it! They have finished third at the Women's World Cup, and somehow have finally beaten Germany! 21st time lucky for England.

It might have been a boring match for 105 minutes, but the result is all that matters now! Well done Williams, well done England!

It is a great way to finish England's World Cup campaign. Noone really expected the Lionesses to do so well, and a third-place finish is absolutely brilliant work for Mark Sampson and his team.

Thanks for joining me tonight, and be sure to come back to Sports Mole for tomorrow night's coverage of the final between Japan and USA. Until next time.