Women’s Euro 2022: England Out Avenge 2009 Final Defeat In Rematch Against Germany

Updated on August 01, 2022 15:09 PM by Ava Sara

Clash Between Two Of The Best National Team

England against Germany, a clash between two of the best national teams in the world, will be a fitting finale to a record-breaking tournament at Euro 2022.

After the two semifinal matches, 487,683 fans attended the games, doubling the previous record of 240,055, set at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.

That's without considering the historic attendance expected at Wembley Stadium for Sunday's final. Around 87,000 fans are set to be at the home of English football, which would smash the current attendance record for a Euros final men's or women's of 79,115, set at the 1964 final between Spain and the Soviet Union at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

UEFA, European Football Governing Body

UEFA, European football's governing body, says nearly 100,000 children have attended matches so far at Euro 2022, while 47% of all fans have been women.

Of course, it certainly helps that home fans have been fortunate enough to watch arguably the most talented England women's side of all time.

The 8-0 dismantling of a dangerous Norway side ranked just two places below England, and the 4-0 defeat of Sweden, the second-best team in the world and a team England had previously beaten just three times, will go down as some of the most eye-catching in the Lionesses' history.

But the path to the final wasn't always a straightforward one. England struggled to find its rhythm in a tough opening win against Austria before being pushed in a comeback win over Spain in the quarterfinals.

The European Championship Extraordinary Record

England, though, will undoubtedly be glad it has been put to the test ahead of its most challenging match yet. Germany boasts quite an extraordinary record in the European Championship, winning eight of the 12 editions that have been contested and reigned over the Euros crown for 22 years until the defeat at the quarterfinal stage in the Netherlands five years ago.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman, who guided her native Netherlands to victory at Euro 2017, is well aware of how vital an England win on Sunday could be for women's football in the country.

She thinks we have been an inspiration for the country already, she told reporters on Friday, per Reuters. When you win a major tournament, it makes a difference, and that would make me very proud. But I don't think further than that. Most of the time, you don't realize the impact until probably 15 years later.

We approach this game the same as every other game we have played. We don't discuss the rivalry between England and Germany; we want to show how good we are and play our best game.

There's so much eagerness in this team to win and so much resilience. We want to show again we are the best and play our best game. That's what we've been trying to do all the time, and hopefully, that will bring us to win.

“Nothing To Lose”

Alexandra Popp, who has become Germany's star with six goals in five games at these Euros, is one of the best feel-good stories of the summer.

The 31-year-old missed the Euros in 2013 and 2017 through injury, and, for a while, it looked as though she might miss this one after injuring her knee last year, but Popp was finally able to compete when the tournament was postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She has certainly made up for lost time and was visibly emotional after scoring in the opening win against Denmark, sinking to her knees and covering her face with her hands.

Popp's six goals at Euro 2022, matched only by England's Beth Mead, equals the previous best goal haul at a single Euros, set by compatriot Inka Grings at Finland 2009.

Popp told reporters at a press conference on Friday that she thinks the pressure is more on the English side because it takes place in their own country. We know that from 2011 when Germany hosted the World Cup, suddenly everyone expected something from you.

We have nothing left to lose. With that attitude, we can go into the game completely free.

Popp Turning To Press Conference Wearing Mustache

There seemed to be no nerves in the German camp ahead of the final, with Popp turning up to the press conference wearing a mustache hidden under her mask. "Hello," she said, greeting reporters in a gruff voice.

After her match-winning performance against France in the semifinals, German outlets FUMS and Der Postillon ran satirical reports saying that men's national team head coach Hansi Flick had called up a new striker for Qatar, accompanied by a photo of Popp in a mustache with the pseudonyms Alexander Bopp and Alexander Papp.

The forward will undoubtedly be the biggest threat England faces on the Wembley pitch come Sunday, and it's likely a moment of instinct from Popp or Mead could decide the game.

These two teams boast a brilliant defensive record at this tournament, having each conceded just one goal, and it's likely their stingy back lines will be difficult to breach in the final.

The quality on display at Euro 2022 only emphasizes the accelerated growth of the women's game across the continent in recent years, as football federations have finally started seriously investing in their teams.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has closely followed Germany's progress and said women's football has "exploded" recently.

She has to say I love women's football, and it's outstanding, Klopp said at a press conference on Thursday.

Three Games Of Germany

The quality of the tournament is insane. England is doing exceptionally well. She saw three games of Germany; they've also been doing well. It's an outstanding final two intense teams facing each other.

As much as I love England, in this specific case, my heart is on the German side, but the better team might win, and I'm lovely with that. It will be a massive challenge for Germany at a sold-out Wembley with an English crowd.

Most important is the face women's football showed, it's a fantastic game. Over the last few years, women's football exploded in its development.

It's tactically and technically on an incredibly high level. The physical intensity of the games is perfect, and I love watching them. England is slightly favorite playing at home, but Germany has a chance.

After defeat in the men's Euros final last summer, England fans will be desperate to avoid double heartbreak. But against a German team desperate to reclaim its European crown, that is an entirely likely possibility.