Euro 2022 draws its curtains with the much-anticipated final between rivals England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on Sunday after 30 action-packed matches over three weeks of action.
The Lionesses will be hoping to finally win a major competition in their first Euro final since 2009 while Die Nationalelf will be eyeing their record ninth title in as many finals in their competition history. This will be the first time in the European Championship final history that two female managers will be on the touchline.
ENG vs GER Match Details
Date: Sunday, 31st July 2022
Time: 17:00 (BST)/21:30 (IST)
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
ENG vs GER Match Preview
It is appropriate to have the two best teams in the tournament locking horns in the final for the trophy in a revolutionary tournament in women’s football which is Women’s Euro 2022. For the Lionesses, this is a must-win silverware, if succeeded this will be the first major trophy for England male or female since the 1966 World Cup, which will soar women’s football to new heights in the country and in some style if they beat rivals Germany in the final. There is no name presently capable of achieving glory for the white shirts than manager Sarina Weigman. A winner of the tournament herself as a manager with her home nation, the Netherlands in 2017 and someone who refuses to lose in any circumstances proven by England’s 19-game unbeaten run, winning a staggering 17 of them, since she took charge last September. The streak continued in the semi-final win over Sweden, sending four past the opposition in a delightful show to put the Lionesses into their third Euro final and break the long-standing semifinal hoodoo. Withstanding Sweden’s early pressure, Beth Mead’s excellency throughout the contest rewarded her with another goal and two assists to restore England’s dominance after struggling against Spain in the quarterfinals. Interestingly, the last time the Lionesses were in the final in the Euros in 2019 the Germans made it to the showpiece as well. It didn’t go down well as England had a crushing defeat to swallow in a high-scoring 6-2 result. Being the hosts this time, the pressure of winning a prestigious title in front of home support is there but it will be pumping for being the third ever nation to win the Euros on home soil. England have bagged 20 goals in the contest, one short of the record set by Germany in 2009 as well, wishing to break the stubborn defense of Germany that conceded just once only in the last game that too by an own goal. The Lionesses have beaten finalists in the last two finals of their tournament history so they will be wishing to be the fifth different side to win the tournament and the first team to halt Germany in a Euro final. This is a new battling England that is different from the other past tournaments.
When Alexandra Popp rose high to score a stunning winner against France in the semifinals, it was always going to be Germany stepping into their record ninth final having won in eight previous finals of the tournament. The Wolfsburg striker also netted the opener with an emphatic finish marking the 100th goal for Die Nationalelf in the competition and responded well in the second half after Diani’s long-ranger hit the upright and goalkeeper Forhms into the back of the net just before half-time for the first goal conceded in the tournament. Manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will be happy to see her side progressing to the final, maintaining a 100% record alongside England, silencing those who count them off before the Euros even started. If Germany clinches the title again, Voss-Tecklenburg will be the second person to win the competition as a player and a manager, winning it four times between 1989 to 1997. The final which she says is a great football feast will be a tough one against the hosts despite being the most professional and balanced team in the contest and winning both previous encounters at Wembley. There are some key head-to-head battles on the pitch Germany will wish to overcome as well, the spicy one being two top scorers of the tournaments in Beth Mead and Alex Popp, with the one gaining the upper hand able to lift the trophy at the end. Their well-constructed defense will be tested against the ruthless attack of England. Die Nationalelf also lost 3-1 in a friendly in their last meeting. However, it is the royalty in the competition that can be their guide for another triumph. Germany have also won all four of their Euro meetings between the nations, scoring 15 goals and conceding just four and 21 of their 27 meetings overall. Such a record is a weapon for them to silence the expected huge home support and inscribed their name back on the trophy to overturn their disappointment in the last edition. Indeed, this will be a magnificent final to watch.
Euro 2022 Form
ENG: WWWWW
GER: WWWWW
ENG vs GER Team News
Sarina Weigmann is set to name an unchanged starting eleven for the entirety of Euro 2022, unless there’s any late injury trouble, something not seen often in knockout tournament football. For the sixth straight game, veteran Ellen White will lead the line for Lionesses ahead of Alessia Russo who is just two goals shy to match the goal tally of teammate Beth Mead and German goal-machine Alexandra Popp. The Manchester United striker is easily one of the candidates to be the player of the tournament such as been her impact from the bench and she will have to do wonders, like her mind-boggling back heel goal against Sweden in the semi-finals, playing the role again to rescue England in the final if needed.
Germany are waiting on Klara Buhl to test negative ahead of the final as she missed the semi-final victory over France through Covid-19. If she does not make it, youngster Jule Brand will continue on the right wing to follow up on her promising display in the last four. The Hoffeinheim winger will partner assist grabber Svenja Huth and Golden boot chaser, Alexandra Popp in the mood of scoring in all of the games in the tournament. Also missing in the team training at least is center-back Marina Hegering who was substituted in the last game for picking up a knock in the second half. The 32-year-old could turn out to be a doubt for the final, a major blow for the team. In that case, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Sara Doorsoun will partner Kathrin Hendrich at the back flanked by Giulia Gwinn and Felicitas Rauch. The renowned three in the midfield of Lina Magull, Lena Oberdorf and Sara Dabritz will begin the game despite Sydney Lohmann and Linda Dallmann coming off the bench for much-needed fresh legs to ensure the victory for Germany in the final.
Predicted lineups
ENG: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Rachel Daly; Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh; Beth Mead, Fran Kirby, Lauren Hemp; Ellen White
GER: Merle Frohms; Giulia Gwinn, Kathrin Hendrich, Mariana Hegering, Felicitas Rauch; Lina Magull, Lena Oberdorf, Sara Dabritz; Svenja Huth, Alexandra Popp, Julia Brand
ENG vs GER Head to Head
Although England won the encounter in February and lifting the Arnold Clark Cup in the process through goals from Ellen White, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby, the 2-1 loss last time they met at Wembley in a friendly in 2019 was a stingy one to take. Klara Buhl scored the all-important winner in-front of a record breaking crowd then in dying minutes for Germany to cancel out Ellen White’s leveler just before the half-time after Popp has turned in her effort inside nine minutes. The 6-2 loss in the last Euro meeting in 2009 in a Euro final helped them seek revenge over the Germans in the 2015 World Cup by winning the third place fight over them.
ENG vs GER Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Earps (8.5)
DEF: Bronze (9.5), Hegering (8.5), Williamson (8.5), Gwinn (9)
MID: Magull (9), Kirby (9), Stanway (8.5)
FW: Mead (10.5), Popp (10.5), Huth (8.5)
Mary Earps made three important saves against Sweden and a total of six saves in the knockout phase of the tournament with a save percentage of 91.7% as a whole.
Lucy Bronze provided the assist for England’s opener and scored the second in the 4-0 semifinal win. She also completed all of her tackles.
Leah Williamson completed the most number of passes with 73 (85% accuracy), ranking second for accurate passes per 90 in the entire tournament, including 12 in the final third.
Marina Hegering has made more interceptions than any other player in the tournament with 12 on an average of 2.7 per match.
Lina Magull has scored two goals and bagged an assist in the tournament while Fran Kirby with the fourth most goal contributor in the tournament with two goals and three assists.
Beth Mead is statically and willingly the best player of the tournament so far with six goals and four assists scoring way more than her expected goal average of 3.4 being the top goal contributor in the tournament.
Alexandra Popp is the only player to score in each of the games (5) so far in Euro 2022, first ever-player to do it in the competition history. Joint top scorer with six.
