Alexandra Popp’s headed brace saw Germany beat France 2-1 at Stadium MK to qualify for 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro Final against England.
A tight first-half saw both Germany and France fail to create many opportunities until Alexandra Popp struck a 40th minute left-footed volley from Svenja Huth’s cross.
Merle Frohms however five minutes later helplessly deflected Kadidiatou Diani’s equalising strike into her own net off her back as the ball rebounded off her left post.
Popp eventually got her second goal of the match as she headed in from Huth’s 76th minute cross to send Germany through to their ninth UEFA Women’s Euro Final.
Germany will now meet England at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday 31 July in the Final, where the winners will be crowned champions of Europe and book their place in the first UEFA-CONMEBOL Women’s Finalissima.
Pre-match, Germany made an enforced change from their Quarter-Final victory over Austria as Jule Brand replaced Klara Buhl who was ruled out with Coronavirus, whilst goalkeeper – Almuth Schult replaces Brand on the bench.
France meanwhile named an unchanged starting line-up from last Saturday’s extra-time win over the Netherlands, in which they wasted several chances to finish attacks clinically throughout in a frustrating performance.
Those finishing issues though remained as both teams made a tight cagey start with numerous attacks coming to nothing in the opening 15 minutes.
Germany’s Felicitas Rauch won a 16th minute free-kick following a foul from Diani, with Lina Magull’s free-kick finding Marina Hegering who could only foul as Pauline Peyraud-Magnin as the pair collided with Popp also making contact in the incident.
Popp six minutes later curled a free-kick towards the left corner following a foul on Jule Brand, yet could only watch as Peyraud-Magnin punched her effort behind for a corner which was ultimately flicked onto the right post and cleared.
Giulia Gwinn then drew a 25th minute foul from Melvine Malard but Germany’s latest chance failed to come to fruition as Rauch’s curled strike flew over the bar.
Wendie Renard wasted a rare first-half chance for France as she poked a shot wide in the 33rd minute from a free-kick, as neither team looked set break the deadlock by half-time having failed to find that penetrating edge.
Germany’s experience however eventually told as Hutch picked up Brand’s pass and crossed on the turn, which found Popp to volley in on her left foot to put the eight-time champions ahead with five minutes until half-time.
Their lead however only lasted four minutes as France began to show more urgency in their attacks which paid dividends, as Diani picked up a knockdown header and rifled in via left post deflection onto Frohms’ back which bundled the ball into the left corner.
Match officials however deemed that France’s equaliser was a Frohms own goal just inside the 45th minute, amidst Diani’s celebrations of her supposed second goal of the tournament as both teams went into half-time locked at 1-1 apiece.
During the half-time break, France manager, Corinne Diacre opted to substitute Malard for Selma Bacha.
That decision however didn’t change France’s outlook much as Germany came out and dominated much of the opening exchanges, although the first decent chance fell the French way as Bacha’s 63rd minute shot from Diani’s pullback pass was blocked.
Diani four minutes later saw a shot blocked by Frohms but Huth then crucially blocked Renard’s header at the back post from the consequential corner.
Bacha then put a 75th minute header wide from a free-kick and Germany broke on the attack, culminating in Brand’s shot being blocked out to Huth, who whipped in a high cross which found an unmarked Popp to head in for her sixth goal of the tournament.
France nevertheless refused to give up as Bacha and Grace Geyoro fired wide whilst Frohms saved Renard’s 87th minute header, yet Germany clung on despite substitute – Linda Dallmann firing wide in the 90th minute to book a ninth UEFA European final appearance.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s Germans will now meet England in a repeat of the 2009 Final which Germany won 6-2 in Helsinki, Finland, although this latest showdown is set to be more competitive with the Lionesses playing on home soil and as favourites for the title.
Teams
Germany: Merle Frohms, Giulia Gwinn, Kathrin Hendrich, Marina Hegering (Doorsoun 81′), Felicitas Rauch, Lina Magull (Dallmann 68′), Lena Oberdorf, Sara Dabritz (Lohmann 69′), Svenja Huth (Wabmuth 90+1′), Alexandra Popp, Jule Brand
Substitutes: Sophia Kleinherne, Lena Lattwein, Lea Schuller, Sydney Lohmann, Laura Freigang, Almuth Schult, Nicole Anyomi, Linda Dallmann, Tabea Wabmuth, Ann-Katrin Berger, Sara Doorsoun
France: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Eve Périsset, Griedge Mbock Bathy, Wendie Renard, Sakina Karchaoui, Grace Geyoro, Charlotte Bilbault, Sandie Toletti (Sarr 80′), Kadidiatou Diani, Melvine Malard (Bacha 45′), Delphine Cascarino (Mateo 61′)
Substitutes: Mylene Chavas, Ella Palis, Marion Torrent, Aissatou Tounkara, Clara Mateo, Selma Bacha, Kenza Dali, Justine Lerond, Sandy Baltimore, Ouleymata Sarr, Hawa Cissoko
Referee – Cheryl Foster (Wales)
Attendance – 27,445
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