Welcome to USAMERICANEWS.COM’s live blog of the Women’s Euros 2022 final between England and Germany at the Wembley Stadium, London.
Sarina Wiegman has another Euro winner’s medal to take home. After leading her home side, the Netherlands, to the title in 2017, she has completed the unprecedented task of taking England to the Continental title. There are tears of joy and dances of ecstasy from the English players. It is a peak that they have never climbed, a moment they have never cherished. England is deserving champions after an unbeaten campaign in which they conceded just two goals.
Germany, on the other hand, had a nearly flawless tournament. In another world, it would have had Alexandra Popp in their lineup today and the result might have been different. Popp’s tryst with unlucky injuries continues as Germany cede to another side in a Euro final for the first time.
It was a pleasure bringing this game to all of you. Until next time, bye.
120’
Wiegman brings out a final substitute. A clear attempt to waste away a few seconds. Kelly and Bronze combine to to bring the ball down in the right-hand corner. England just seconds away from an era-defining win. In a tournament that saw some sparkling football and generous support from the crowd, it is only befitting that the game went up to the last minute. And the referee brings the game to a close. ENGLAND ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. 56 years after England’s men side won the World Cup, the birth nation of football has won a major trophy.
117’
England pushes on again. They win a corner after some clever gamesmanship. Germany needs a huge moment of inspiration to get out of this hole.
114’
Hemp, you legend. After 114 minutes of football, the English winger finds the energy to track her opponent down to pull of an incredible tackle to block a goal-bound shot.
111’
The England fans are channeling all their energy and passion onto the pitch as England wins a corner. GOALLL and IT IS KELLLLYYY. Chloe Kelly, the England substitute who flaps it in after a goal-mouth scramble. She runs wild with joy. Has she won it for England?
108’
The second half of the extra time begins. England once again holds on to the ball. A shot from Toone forces Frohms to push it away with her legs. An un-goalkeeprish save from her. Whatever works for you Frohm.
105’
The game has lost its edge. Both sides are finding it harder to string together solid moves. This is the point in the game where experience matters as much as talent. Germany would be hoping their reserve of having been through such moments would help them pull through. A few meaty tackles exchanged, but the referee has things under control. She soon whistles for a change of side.
102’
Germany wins a freekick from close to the halfway line. They pump it into progress into England’s attacking third. But England sees it out.
99’
Germany has a corner down the right. After a game of half-clearances and mis-shots England finally gets it away. Game starting to stretch out with both teams tiring out.
96’
The Wembley crowd pushes on the tired legs of the English side. Kelly wins a corner down the left and opts to take it herself. But nothing comes of it. Germany’s turn to attack but English defense is resolute.
93’
Germany kicks off the extra time. A lot to lose for both sides as England holds on to possession for the early parts of the extra thirty.
Both sides would have preferred to have won it without going through the strain of an added 30 minutes, but surely it is better than going home with nothing. Huddles all around. German fans across the globe must be wondering the same thing. What would have happened if Alexandra Popp playerd?
90’
The game is entering nervy territory. Both sides would hate to make an error now and lose it from here. The referee decides to add on four more minutes. England patiently works their way into the German third. Swings in a few crosses but Germany deals with it. Russoe wins a freekick after Hendrich fouls her. It is an interesting position for a free kick. This could be crucial. But the German defense stands tall. and deals with it. It is now Germany’s turn to get a freekick from the attacking half. Magull pumps it in, but England defends it well and that is it. End of regulation time.
87’
Game slows down as Russoue inadvertently fouls a German defender while attempting a turn. Both sides take this chance to take a drinks break.
84’
Germany continues to target England’s left flank. But this time the cross isn’t as sweetly timed as the last time. Earps gathers a deflected shot. England continues to stick with their ‘play from the back’ police and it is admirable, considering the intensity of the German pressure.
81’
GOALLL!!! Germany strikes back through their brightest player, Lina Magull. They work their way through England’s left flank. Magull cashes in on a half cross and pokes it past Earp.
78’
Time is running out for the eight-time champions here. England just has to see out the rest of the 12 minutes or so to win its first-ever Euro title. Germany advances through the left. Magull’s shot is blocked.
75’
Another long ball from England targetting the German high line. But this time the defense hold. Germany fires a cross/shot from the right wing. Either way, England’s clean sheet remains intact as the shot just flashes wide.
72’
Germany wins a corner down the left. Magull chips it in after a short corner and win another corner. England almost let the lead vanish with some ordinary defending from the corner.
69’
England gaining confidence by the minute. Another shot. But this time it is straight at Frohms. Easy one for the German no. 1.
66’
That goal came against the flow of the game, but it takes nothing away from the English side. Germany pushes on for an equaliser. And come ever so close with a Schuler shot rattles the upright. Earp grabs on to the rebound.
63’
GOAL!!! Inspired substitution from Wiegman. Toone is set free after a long ball goes past the German highline. Toone chips the keeper with elan and England is one goal up.
60’
England finally breaks free and charges into the German half. But the attack comes to nothing as Hegering and Mead collide in a 50-50 challenge. Mead receives medical attention.
57’
Wiegman’s turn to make changes. Pulls Kirby out for Toone and Russoe is in for White. Obeldorf sniffs out an English counter attack after a tackle on Stanway. She gets a yellow card for it, but she wouldn’t mind that. Earps is called into action soon as she pounces on a loose touch to stop a potentially dangerous situation, Schuler gets a yellow card for a loose foot on the keeper.
54’
Germany is targeting England’s left flank. They create a few chances down that wing and wins a corner. But it is dealt comfortably by Earps, who gathers it and lands softly.
51’
Germany has started the half positively. Magull has a chance to drill one in, but her shot drifts away from the post. Second shot of the second half for Germany. Wassmuth has breathed life into this game for Germany as the game shifts into English territory.
48’
Earps is calmness personified, both with the ball at her feet and when a cross or shot is fired in. Wassmuth almost makes an instant impact, but Earps smothers her shot with ease.
Germany makes a change after the break. Tabea Wassmuth comes in for Jule Brand.
HALF TIME
The injury time passes by without much drama. England is clearly the dominant side, but it has nothing to show for it. Germany, on the other hand, has looked like a mere shadow of the dominant force it has been throughout the tournament.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg would be hoping her senior stars will take the responsibility. The German side has two 2013 Euro Winners, Svenja Huth and Sara Dabritz, in their ranks. There would be no time better than this for them to step up.
45’
Germany keeps on ceding territory through unnecessary fouls. But fortunately for them, England hasn’t been able to capitalise on it. This would be a good time to remind everyone that Germany has never lost a final in Women’s Euros. EVER.
42’
England wins a free kick from a promising range. Hemp drags one in and wins a corner out of it. Hegering heads it away, but the ball comes back in soon, but Bronze’s cross is a little too much for Kirby.
39’
England’s attacking flair has stood out throughout the tournament. Almost 40 minute into the game, they find their touch. Kirby races past Rauch to set up White, who misses a straightforward chance. Easily the best opportunity for either side so far.
36’
Mary Earps rises well to get hold of a dangerous cross from the right wing. She is fouled and is briefly down. She is back on her feet soon, to ringing applause from the crowd. Rachel Daly wins a freekick in the defensive half and England opts to play their way back up the pitch.
33’
Dabritz and Oberdorf tries to construct something through the middle but England’s midfield trio stands strong. England gets a chance to counter attack but German defender Hegering intercepts well to nip that one.
30’
Another English set piece and this time the delivery is better. But German keeper Frohms is up to the task as she punches it away to safety.
27’
CHAOS. Germany’s first corner results in a goal mouth scramble. Only the players could possibly explain how that didn’t went in. VAR inspects for a potential penalty, but nothing comes from it.
24’
Stanway gets the first yellow card of the day for a cynical foul. Germany finally forays into opposition third and wins their first corner.
21’
Mead whips in back-to-back corners. But her set piece delivery hasn’t been up to her lofty standards. Germany weathers the storm but they can’t push out of their half yet.
18’
Beth Mead wins a freekick at the edge of the box. A good position to cross it from. Mead does so, but Hendrich is up to the task as she heads it away.
15’
Despite the advantage they hold, England hasn’t been able to construct anything solid so far. All the dominance would be worthless without a goal to show for it.
12’
Germany gets hold of possession and build it up from the back. But the output is wasteful from Dabritz, who took a hopeful shot from way outside the box. Misses by a mile.
9’
Alexandra Popp’s injury has clearly fazed the German side. Wiegman’s side has held the upper hand so far. But Germany string together a few passes and enter the opponent’s box but the resultant shot is blocked away by Williamson.
6’
England wins a corner from the left. Mead swings it in, but the German defense deals with it ease. A cross from the resultant clearance almost forces Frohms to make an error. But she has the referee’s protection.
3’
Both teams tries to settle in. England constructs the first real move of the game. Kirby finds White in the back post, but the forward’s header is a tame one. No harm.
Huge news even before the kickoff as Germany’s talisman, Alexandra Popp suffer an injury during the warmup. But she finds herself on the bench.
A packed Wembley awaits the finale of a tournament that broke the existing Euro attendance record by some attendance.
In addition to the larger picture of the Euro title, Germany’s Alexandra Popp and England’s Beth mead will be going head-to-head for the golden boot. Though both are tied on six goals currently, the English winger will take the accolade home if neither scores today as she has more assists than the German captain.
Amidst all the attention the attackers of both sides are receiving, their defensive solidity has gone under the radar. The English and German defenses have been breached just once through the tournament.
Both sides are unchanged as Sarina Wiegman and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg have decided to retain the winning formula from the semi-finals. While England won their last-four game with ease against Denmark, Germany had to do it the hard way against France.
With this, Wiegman also becomes the only manager in the history of Euros ( both men’s and women’s) to field the same 11 for the entirety of the tournament.
Germany and England played against each other in a Women’s Euros final 13 years ago. The German side walked all over their English counterparts with a 6-2 thrashing on the way to claim its seventh Continental title. It would go on to add one more Euro to its showcase.
But now, when both these sides meet, the gap has bridged beyond recognition. In fact, when the tournament has began, Germany was not even ranked close to England in the rank lists of favourites. The German machine, led by skipper Alexandra Popp, though has rumbled into action and motored its way into yet another Euro final.
Match Preview
A tournament that has smashed attendance records will get a fitting finale with a crowd of 87,000 expected at Wembley to set a new high for a final at a European Championship in either the men’s or women’s game.
England manager Sarina Wiegman has fulfilled her goal of using Euro 2022 to fuel the nation’s passion for women’s football and victory in Sunday’s final against Germany would consummate the burgeoning love affair.
Anticipation is reaching fever pitch in England as the Lionesses look to end their wait to win a first major tournament.
Wiegman’s team are unbeaten in 19 games since the Dutch coach, who led the Netherlands to Euro glory on home soil five years ago, took charge in September.
On top of a sold-out Wembley, a crowd of 7,000 is set to congregate to watch the final on big screens in London’s Trafalgar Square.
There have even been calls from leading politicians for a national holiday “day of celebration” should a 56-year wait for either England’s men or women to win a major football tournament come to an end at the weekend
Such support for the sport shows how far women’s football in England has come since it was banned by the Football Association for nearly 50 years until 1970.
England’s presence as a force in the women’s game has long been on the cards. The Lionesses faltered at the semi-final stage in each of the last three major tournaments.
At club level, the riches of the men’s Premier League have allowed the big clubs to invest heavily in turning the Women’s Super League into a destination for the world’s best players.
“For English women’s football this is a great moment. It’s not only a month’s work, this is years and years of work, investment, passion and commitment,” said Arsenal women’s Swedish manager Jonas Eidevall.
- ‘Classic’ final – here’s what the two teams said
Fittingly it is Germany, the European nation that for so long led the drive in professionalism and standards for women’s football that stand in the way of England’s history bid.
Germany have never lost in any of their previous eight finals at the Euro, including a 6-2 thrashing of England in the 2009 final.
“It’s a classic game,” said Germany boss Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “It will be an incredible final.”
The hope for many is that the impact lasts long after the final whistle under the Wembley Arch.
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright called on the authorities to seize the momentum of goodwill around the game to ensure girls have just as much access to football as boys in schools.
The return of a European Championship final to the home of English football just 13 months after the climax to Euro 2020 was marred by chaotic scenes and violence as supporters stormed the turnstiles also offers women’s football the chance to show how its culture differs from the men’s game.
Of the 488,000 to have attended matches at Euro 2022 so far, 47 percent have been female with nearly 100,000 children, according to figures released by UEFA.
“You can see the audience is children and happy people,” said Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson in the aftermath of his side’s semi-final defeat.
Wiegman got her wish for a nation to be hooked. Now they are waiting for one more win.
SQUADS
England
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City).
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Aston Villa, on loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal).
Forwards: Beth England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City).
Germany
Goalkeepers: Merle Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt), Almuth Schult (Wolfsburg), Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea).
Defenders: Sophia Kleinherne (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kathrin Hendrich (Wolfsburg), Marina Hegering (Bayern Munich), Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich), Felicitas Rauch (Wolfsburg), Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Midfielders: Lena Lattwein (Wolfsburg), Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg), Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich), Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg), Sara Dabritz (Paris Saint-Germain), Linda Dallmann (Bayern Munich), Lina Magull (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Jule Brand (Hoffenheim), Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg), Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tabea Wassmuth (Wolfsburg), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich).
