MY ACCOUNT
England have the chance to make history in the final of Women’s Euro 2022 on Sunday as they bid to win their first major international trophy.
After beating Spain at the quarter-final stage, the Lionesses turned on the style against Sweden in the last four, prevailing 4-0 thanks to goals from Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby.
Standing in their way at Wembley will be a ruthless Germany side who have conceded only once in the tournament and dumped out France in the semi-finals.
Team news
England are expected to name the same starting line-up for this crunch encounter.
Midfielder Keira Walsh was replaced late on in the extra-time win over Spain but showed no ill-effects in the semi-final against Sweden, and should continue in the centre of the park.
Germany’s main concern heading into the final is the availability of zippy winger Klara Buhl, who missed their triumph over Les Bleues due to coronavirus.
The stats
History is not on England’s side going into this match with Germany having triumphed in 21 of the 27 meetings between the sides, including the Euro 2009 final which Die Nationalelf won 6-2.
However, the Lionesses go into this match having won each of their last four games against teams inside the top 10 of FIFA’s world rankings, when extra-time is included.
Attention in this match will be on two players in particular, with Germany’s lynchpin striker Alexandra Popp and England ace Beth Mead tied on a tournament-high six goals.
Popp has scored in every Germany match in the tournament so far, while she netted both goals in Germany’s 2-1 win over France.
Inka Grings also top scored in 2009 with six goals but no player has ever scored more than that tally at a single tournament.
Prediction
Women’s Euro 2022 is set for a fitting finale with England and Germany having been the best two sides in the tournament by a distance.
For England, the highlights have included an 8-0 thrashing of Norway in the group stage and an inspiring comeback win over Spain in their first knockout contest.
Sarina Wiegman has trusted her starting XI but also knows she has exceptional depth at her disposal, emphasised by how well Manchester United forward Russo has performed when coming on from off the bench.
Germany, meanwhile, can take confidence from the fact they have won the European Championship a record eight times and have kept four clean sheets in this tournament.
However, England have shown they can dig deep when it matters and can make the most of home advantage at Wembley.
Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to Euro glory on home soil five years ago, knows how to keep her players grounded and stop the occasion from getting to them, and she could be the ultimate difference.
This game could well go into extra-time but England have more potential game changers waiting in the wings than Germany and can come out on top to lift the trophy.
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