EC, Sunday 31 July
What happens?
Final:
18.00 England-Germany, Wembley, London. SVT.
The road to the semi-finals
Germany: 4–0 against Denmark, 2–0 against Spain, 3–0 against Finland, 2–0 against Austria (quarter-final), 2–1 against France (semi-final).
England: 1–0 against Austria, 8–0 against Norway, 5–0 against Northern Ireland, 2–1 against Spain, after extra time (quarter-final), 4–0 against Sweden (semi-final).
The world ranking
England: 8.
Germany: 5th.
The situation in the law
England have not reported any injury or illness concerns, but will have all 23 players available for play. The national team captain Sarina Wiegman has so far chosen to start with the same eleven players in all matches. After several successful appearances – including the semi-final against Sweden – several voices have been raised for the striker Alessia Russo must get a place in the starting eleven. But Wiegman dares to bench experienced Ellen White?
Germany’s Klara Buehl tested positive for covid-19 on the same day as the semi-final against France and also misses the final match. The national team captain Martina Voss-Tecklenburg hope, however, that the Bayern Munich striker will have time to test negative so that she can come to the arena as a spectator.
– England’s shooting queen Beth Mead is lifted by teammate Rachel Daly.
Foto: Nigel Keene/Shutterstock
The battle for the shooting league
Both Beth Mead in England and Alexandra Popp in Germany have scored six goals each and share the scoring lead in the European Championships before the final. 31-year-old Wolfsburg striker Popp has scored in all five matches Germany has played. 27-year-old Arsenal player Mead scored the EC’s first goal, when England beat Austria 1-0, and then struck with a hat-trick in the big win over Norway (8-0).
Both top scorers also scored in their respective semi-finals: Popp scored both of Germany’s goals against France (2–1) and Mead scored the first of England’s four goals against Sweden.
“Alexander Papp”
With Alexandra Popp’s hysterical goalscoring form, joking voices on social media have been raised because the captain of the German men’s national team Hansi Flick should take her to the men’s WC in Qatar this winter under the name “Alexander Papp”. In response, Popp appeared at a press conference ahead of the final wearing a backwards cap and a loose moustache.
“I’m glad to be here,” Popp said, his voice noticeably deeper.
https://twitter.com/DLF_Sport/status/1553017076482277384
Previously EM-does
The EC is usually Germany’s tournament. The team has won gold eight times, in ten attempts. In 2017, the championship ended unexpectedly already in the quarter-finals (loss against Denmark), but before that Germany had six straight titles.
For the home nation England, it has been 13 years since the last EC final. In 2009, England lost heavily 2–6 against – Germany.
The quote
“Everything we have learned, all the matches and all the championships. All the moments we’ve been part of culminate on Sunday. You learn a lot from losses, but when you get to win, it makes up for everything.” – England’s 35-year-old inside midfielder Jill Scottwho is the only one in the team who was in the European Championship final loss against Germany in 2009.
Previous meetings
Germany historically has a large advantage over England. The Germans have emerged victorious from six of the last twelve meetings, four have ended in a draw and England have won just two. However, one of the victories came the last time the teams met, in a training match in February this year when England won 3–1 in Wolverhampton. England’s goal was then scored by Ellen White, Millie Bright and Fran Kirby. Germany’s goal was scored by Lina Magul.
– Lena Oberdorf, left, has been one of Germany’s most important players during the European Championship.
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/TT
Watch out for: Three German stars
● Lena Oberdorfmidfielder, Wolfsburg.
Was selected for Germany’s World Cup team as a 17-year-old in 2019. Now she has turned 20 and is already established in the star-studded German midfield. Has dominated his part of the court in all matches so far.
● Merle Frohmsgoalkeeper, Wolfsburg.
Has been responsible for several important saves, not least in the semi-final against France but where she was unfortunately also noted for an own goal.
● Felicitas Rauchback, Wolfsburg.
With a fantastic strike, is a constant threat in fixed situations, but also long passes and shots from distance. Has not been noted for any goals so far during the EC – but two hard shots on target.
Watch out for: Three English stars
● Fran Kirbymidfielder, Chelsea.
Has bounced back from several tough injuries and illnesses. Missed pretty much the entire spring due to fatigue symptoms, but was still included in the EC squad. There, she has made success from her creative, attacking midfield role.
● Georgia Stanwaymidfielder, Bayern Munich.
Formerly in Manchester City, but has now signed for Bayern Munich, where she will move after the EC – and thus plays against several of her future teammates. Has an awesome shot that makes the crowd shout “skuuuut” as soon as she has the ball.
● Lucy Bronzeback, Barcelona.
Just like Stanway, has just left Manchester City and will be teammates with Fridolina Rolfö in Barcelona in the autumn. Right-back with many offensive qualities that make her a constant threat when she makes her way up the court.
– Englands Georgia Stanway.
Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP
The judge
Kateryna Monzul from Ukraine is the main referee who gets the honor of judging the EC final. 41-year-old Monzul also refereed Sweden’s quarter-final against Belgium.
In 2016, she became the first woman to referee matches in the Ukrainian men’s league. She has also refereed matches in the men’s Europa League, Europa Conference League and Nations League as well as in the men’s World Cup qualifiers. Monzul has also refereed in three different WC tournaments on the women’s side. Including the WC final in 2015 between the USA and Japan (5–2).
Audience records are expected
The final could be the biggest EC match ever. All 87,000 tickets for the final arena Wembley have been sold, and if the ticket holders show up, it means a record attendance. The largest ever attendance for a European Championship match is from the men’s final between Spain and the Soviet Union in 1964 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid. Then there were 79,115 people in the audience. The championship in England has already meant a doubling of the previous total attendance record for a women’s EC before the final. The total attendance figure after 30 out of 31 matches is up to a record 487,683. At the 2017 European Championship in the Netherlands, the total attendance figure was 240,055 for 31 out of 31 matches, according to Uefa.
– Wembley stadium.
Foto: High Level/TT
The arena
The final is played at Wembley Stadium in the Wembley district of north-west London, which is England’s national football stadium. It is called “The Home of Football”. The stadium has a capacity of 90,000 people, but under Uefa arrangements takes in around 87,000. The current stadium was inaugurated in 2007 and replaced the old stadium of the same name which stood on the same site and was demolished in 2002. Wembley is the second largest football stadium in Europe, after Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Possible starting elevens
England (4–3–3): Mary Earps – Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Rachel Daly – Georgia Stanway, Farn Kirby, Kiera Walsh – Beth Mead, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp.
Germany (4–3–3): Merle Frohms – Giulia Gwinn, Felicitas Rauch, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich – Sara Däbritz, Lena Oberdorf, Lina Magull – Svenja Huth, Alexandra Popp, Jule Brand.
Read more:
Veteran Popp shines in EC debut: “People had counted me out”
Wanted the national team to fail – now Beth Mead can push the EC gold to England
Sweden’s EC journey – from gold favorites to heavy final miss
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