England's women went down 6-2 to a ruthless Germany despite a battling effort in a compelling Euro 2009 final on Thursday night.

Goals from Karen Carney and Kelly Smith twice kept England in contention in Helsinki but the world champions were ultimately far too strong as they secured a fifth successive continental title.

Prolific pair Inka Grings - who finished as the tournament's leading scorer with six - and Birgit Prinz both struck twice while Melanie Behringer and Kim Kulig were also on target.

Germany grabbed the lead after 20 minutes as Grings turned inside England captain Faye White and squared for world record goalscorer Prinz to slide in and score for the 124th time in international football, and Behringer claimed a superb second moments later, collecting the ball 40 yards out before crashing a powerful shot past Rachel Brown.

England needed to respond quickly and got themselves back into the game as Smith weaved her way through the German defence and squared for Carney to thump into an empty goal.

Germany restored a two-goal advantage five minutes into the second half through Kulig when England failed to clear after Simone Laudehr's shot came back off the post

Yet Hope Powell's side still refused to throw in the towel and fought back again as Carney slipped in a fine ball for Smith, who turned sharply and hit an unstoppable shot past Nadine Angerer.

Germany, however, had another gear when it mattered and Grings headed in to all but secure her second successive Euro golden boot from a Kerstin Garefrekes cross just after the hour.

Grings was on target again after 73 minutes as she linked well with Prinz and cut inside Anita Asante and White to finish from the edge of the area.

She then returned the favour by setting up Prinz to lash home her second past a weary England defence three minutes later.