England Women vs Germany Women preview & prediction
After 30 matches and over three weeks of action, the winners of the Women’s Euro 2022 will be decided on Sunday when England Women face Germany Women at Wembley.
The tournament hosts will attempt to win their first-ever major trophy, while Germany will try to secure their ninth European Championship title.
Under the tutelage of Sarina Wiegman – who took over the England managerial role a year ago – the Lionesses have managed to captivate a nation on their way to their third European Championship final.
The road to Wembley began with a cautious 1-0 win over Austria, but their journey gained speed with an 8-0 victory against Norway before Northern Ireland were dispatched via a 5-0 scoreline.
England’s reward for securing top spot in their group was a quarter-final tie with Spain, who took the lead through Esther Gonzalez, leaving Wiegman’s side on the brink of a tournament exit.
However, Ella Toone became England’s hero by finding an 84th-minute equaliser before Georgia Stanway found the net in extra time with a ferocious long-range effort to send the tournament hosts through to the last four.
A semi-final meeting against a Sweden side ranked second in the world did not daunt the Lionesses, who after a nervy start managed to take a one-goal lead into half time thanks to a Beth Mead strike.
Lucy Bronze doubled the advantage three minutes after the restart, before Alessia Russo produced an audacious back-heeled effort to make it three, while Fran Kirby netted her second goal of the tournament to wrap up a stylish 4-0 win.
England will now turn their attention to Sunday’s showpiece where they will look to become only the fifth different side to win the European Championships.
The Lionesses are also aiming to make amends for the 6-2 defeat that they suffered against Germany in their previous European Championship final appearance in 2009.
While England are aiming to win Euro 2022 on home soil, Germany are hoping the European Championship trophy will join them on the flight home.
With eight previous tournament victories to their name, Die Nationalelf have the chance to add a ninth title to their collection after brushing aside all challengers on their way to the final.
They set their stall out early with a 4-0 win over Denmark to open their campaign before Spain were dispatched via a 2-0 scoreline.
Although top spot in Group B was already secured, Germany remained professional to clinch a comfortable 3-0 victory over Finland, ensuring that they carried significant momentum into their quarter-final tie with Austria.
Lina Magull opened the scoring against Austria, and while they had to be patient in their search for a second, Alex Popp found the net in the 90th minute to seal a 2-0 win.
Their semi-final opponents presented Germany with their toughest test of the tournament, with a Merle Frohms own goal cancelling out Popp’s opener, ensuring that the encounter was level at the break.
Despite conceding their first goal of the tournament, Germany showed no signs of taking a backwards step and subsequently booked their place in the final thanks to Popp’s sixth goal of Euro 2022.
The midfield trio of Lena Oberdorf, Sara Dabritz and Magull will attempt to get the better of England’s Stanway and Keira Walsh in the fight for supremacy in the middle of the park.
Popp will be Germany’s main goal threat, and the forward has the chance on Sunday to score on every matchday of Euro 2022.
possible correct score:
England Women 2-1 Germany Women
Value Bet: England win or draw & over1.5