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The final of the Women’s European Nations Football Championship (Euro 2022) will oppose the teams of England and Germany on July 31 in London. The Germans eliminated the French 2-1 in the semi-finals of this Euro 2022, this July 27 in Milton Keynes.
« Football is a game played 11 against 11 and in the end, Germany wins. This legendary quip, launched by the former England striker Gary Lineker, one evening of defeat against the FRG at the 1990 World Cup, seems to work as well for the men’s national team as for its female counterpart.
The French, who hoped to bring down the formidable Germans – twice world champions and eight times European champions – learned it again to their cost, this July 27 in Milton Keynes, in the semi-finals of Euro 2022 .
Alexandra Popp’s double
In the 22nd minute, a vicious free kick from striker Alexandra Popp went through the French wall, and forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to deflect the ball for a corner. In the 40th, however, the German captain leaves no chance for the Blue goalkeeper. She takes the outside of the right foot a well-worked cross: 1-0.
The French, however, show character in the image of Kadidiatou Diani. A few minutes later, the striker extricated herself from the marking of three players to send a heavy strike on the opponent’s right upright. The ball bounces off the back of goalkeeper Merle Frohms and crosses the line: 1-1, 45th. Germany has just conceded its first goal during this edition.
The second is not far, in the second half. In the 63rd minute, the side Selma Bacha sends a powerful shot, narrowly deflected by the front of defender Kathrin Hendrich. In the seconds that followed, it was a header from defender Wendie Renard that sowed panic in the rear of the Nationalelf (64th). Frohms still has to intervene on a cross shot from Diani (67th).
But it is Alexandra Popp who is once again decisive: in the 76th minute, the number 11 places a whim which sends her selection to the final of Euro 2022, against England (July 31 in London) . Les Bleues will still have to wait before reaching the semi-finals in a major tournament.