MY ACCOUNT
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg declared England “dream” opponents for Germany in Sunday’s Women’s Euro 2022 final – and she believes all the pressure is on the Lionesses.
An eye-catching Wembley showpiece will pit hosts England against eight-time European champions Germany.
These have been the two standout sides throughout the tournament, and there is plenty of history behind this fixture.
When England last reached the Women’s Euros final in 2009, they were beaten by Germany – one of 21 defeats in the teams’ 27 meetings.
But Germany coach Voss-Tecklenburg was looking beyond the confines of the women’s game as she considered what this match means, with the men’s rivalry reaching back to England’s 1966 World Cup final success. That remains the sole major title for either the men’s or women’s England teams.
“It electrifies football fans,” said Voss-Tecklenburg at her pre-match news conference on Saturday. “It has such a traditional history.
“For me, there is just one football; I don’t differentiate between men and women.
“Both teams are deservedly in the final, and that’s why everyone is looking forward to it. There will be millions of spectators in the whole of Europe.
“If we were allowed to dream, we would have chosen to play against England in this final and not against anybody else.
“I was born in 1967, so I can only remember what I saw on TV, but everyone knows the history between Germany and England and Wembley goals and penalties. But that’s all the past.”
Plenty of that history has been marked by penalty shoot-outs, with Germany’s men beating England on spot-kicks at the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 – at Wembley.
There would be no shortage of nerves among home supporters if Sunday’s game went the same distance, although Voss-Tecklenburg suggests that is a scenario in which Germany would share the pressure.
“The pressure is on England tomorrow, I believe,” she said. “It’s more on them than it is on us, and in case we have penalties, then we have to find the courage.
“You need a bit of luck sometimes, but there is pressure on every player in that situation.
“It can happen that there is a special moment. We want to avoid that, but if it happens we will be ready.”
Team glory is the primary concern, even if there is also a battle between Germany’s Alexandra Popp and England’s Beth Mead for the Golden Boot.
They each have six goals – already the most of any player at a single Women’s Euros – while Mead has four assists.
Voss-Tecklenburg, who will again be without Klara Buhl due to COVID-19, said of Popp: “She’s an absolute team player.
“Whoever saw the game against France saw someone who scored two goals, but my favourite scene was in the 85th minute where she ran back 60 metres to block a ball at the back.
“This shows how important she is, the same as every other player, and that is the strength of our team.”
