Eight-time champions Germany booked their place in Sunday’s Euro 2022 final against England as Alexandra Popp scored twice in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over France, which made his debut in the final.
Die Nationalelf’s run to the semi-finals had been flawless – without conceding a single goal – and despite being tested by a seething French front line, they were unlikely to ever give up their chance to play a record ninth Euro final.
France head coach Corinne Deacon vowed her side would ‘save’ every moment of their first semi-final appearance, but such sentiment was quickly ruined when Popp wrapped up a fluid team move to return Svenja Huth’s cross from close range. range (40).
The captain’s strike was the 90th of the tournament, while also representing Germany’s 100th at the European Championships – an all-time high.
France fought back on the stroke of half-time, as Germany were breached for the first time via a ferocious shot from Kadidiatou Diani who clumsily fired into the post and stranded goalkeeper Merle Frohms (45). The rebound was cruel, but the strike was forcefully executed by France’s brightest attacking threat on the night.
The Germans then came under sustained pressure, which saw the efforts of Selma Bacha, Wendie Renard and Diani all thwarted by Frohms, who kept her side level before it was settled by the top scorer of the competition, Popp.
Popp scored the winner to take his team to the final
The same formula that provided the first opener created the second, as Huth chose Popp’s final run which planted a flying header past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (76). A nervous wait ensued as VAR checked the validity of the goal, which was quickly cleared.
Prior to this match, Germany had scored in all 23 of their knockout stage matches in the European finals. Make it 24. They face England at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in a repeat of the 2009 final.
Popp makes the difference (again)
Germany’s Alexandra Popp flies off in celebration after scoring her side’s second goal against France
History was somewhat against France tonight, with no team having won a first semi-final fight since West Germany in 1989, and their mountainous task was made even more difficult when the volley of Popp found the target of a well-measured Huth cross in the first half. .
Four nations – Spain, Finland, the Netherlands and Austria – have all tried unsuccessfully to progress further than the bottom four on their first attempt, with France now adding a fifth name to that list.
The French, who produced a spirited display in the second half, will feel aggrieved that they didn’t make another dent on the scoreline as a host of chances passed them by. Renard’s header from the back post went close, while Diani was denied by Frohms’ burst at his near post moments later – atoning for his earlier mishap.
Germany’s efficiency in front of goal ultimately made the difference as their talismanic captain Popp, who scored six of his side’s 13 goals (46%) in this summer’s tournament, earned another momentous chance in front a crowd of 27,445 in Milton Keynes. .
“I felt like a lot of people had already written me off. I’m able to show that I’m still a force to be reckoned with,” the 31-year-old said after scoring against Austria in a close quarter-final. And you can bet that with the Lionesses waiting, she hasn’t finished yet.
Popp: Not better than England at Wembley
German captain Alexandra Popp:
“I can’t put it into words. We played an amazing game and threw it all away. We’re incredibly happy, no one was expecting us. We’re in the final at Wembley against England – it doesn’t get any better than that.
“We gained our self-confidence in every game. The team is just great, they support me and are happy with me after all my history of suffering. Now is the time to regenerate quickly.
“This [the Golden Boot] is not my priority – my priority is to win the Euro. If I get the chance to crown the title with this feat, that would be great – but if it doesn’t, then I’ll always be happy.”
Voss-Tecklenburg: Pure pride in a totally deserved victory
Germany head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg:
“I feel pure pride for this achievement and these players from number one to 23,” she said. “We worked so hard and became such a tight-knit group that supported each other on the pitch. We totally deserved to win.
“France made a change for the second half after shooting just one goal before the break. We knew they could do more offensively and hurt us. It was a great team effort and that’s what we wanted. It worked in the end but it was super exciting and super exhausting.
“It’s going to be a great celebration of football, it’s a classic game and England have been amazing in this tournament, every game full of momentum, loads and loads of goals, but the first 30 minutes against Sweden showed that you can hurt them.
“We will play at Wembley in front of 80,000 players, most probably for England, very few for us but we accept the challenge.
“I’m very proud. I’m looking forward to this game, it will be an amazing final.”
Deacon questions shorter recovery time
Corinne Deacon consoles her players after the exit of Euro 2022
Corinne Deacon, coach of the France team:
“We saw that some French players were perhaps not up to their normal physical condition, but we didn’t give up, we didn’t throw in the towel,” she said. declared.
“Maybe if we had 48 more hours [rest] it would have been different. I don’t know what the players would have looked like, but I don’t think we should take that win away from Germany.
“Obviously disappointment is the prevailing feeling at the moment because we lost this game, but we have some foundations to build on and we just need some time.”
And after?
France leave the tournament in the semi-finals but have gone further than any previous Euro final appearance, while Germany play in Sunday’s final at Wembley Stadium against Sarina Wiegman’s England.
The knockout stage…
Quarter-finals
Wednesday July 20
Quarter-final 1: England 2-1 Spain (AET)
Thursday July 21
Quarter-final 2: Germany 2-0 Austria
friday july 22
Quarter-final 3: Sweden 1-0 Belgium
Saturday July 23
Quarter-final 4: France 1-0 Netherlands (AET)
Semi-finals
tuesday july 26
Semi-final 1: England 4-0 Sweden
Wednesday July 27
Semi-final 2: Germany 2-1 France
Final
Sunday July 31
England vs Germany – Kick-off 5pm, Wembley
Follow Euro 2022 on Sky Sports
Sky Sports News and Sky Sports’ digital platforms will follow every step of England’s journey to Euro 2022 ahead of Sunday’s Championship final at Wembley Stadium.
On the road, the Sky Sports News Mobile Presentation bus will continue to bring you all the best guests and analysis from Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Laura Bassett offering their expert perspective. The bus will be based in the heart of Sheffield ahead of England’s final game, before traveling to Wembley for the final.
On SkySports.com, the Sky Sports app and across social media, we’ll be covering all the big moments with our previews, features, reports, analysis, as well as the Sky Sports Women’s Euros podcast with Sky Sports senior football reporter Charlotte Marsh and Sky Sports News reporter Anton Toloui.
And if you’re new to the England squad, don’t worry – here is our guide to meeting the Lionesses.
As well as England, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports digital will also be covering all knockout matches as we head into the showpiece final on July 31.
#Germany #Women #France #Women #Germany #book #Euro #final #spot #England #Alexandra #Popp #inspires #victory