Martina Voss-Tecklenburg believes Sunday’s European Championship Final between England and Germany will be a “classic”, but warned the hosts: “Sweden showed us how to hurt you!”
Germany booked their place in the Wembley showpiece with a 2-1 victory over France at Milton Keynes last night, captain Alexandra Popp scoring twice either side of Merle Frohms’s unfortunate own-goal.
The result sets up a mouthwatering clash between the old rivals after England hammered Sweden 4-0 in the opening semi-final, though the scoreline did not tell the full story, as the Lionesses relied on two crucial saves from goalkeeper Mary Earps in the nervy opening exchanges, while the Swedes also hit the bar before Beth Mead’s opener set the home side on their way to a famous victory.
“It will be a great football feast, a classic game,” Voss-Tecklenburg said. “England have been incredible in this tournament, every game they’ve been dynamic, scoring loads of goals.
“They are so confident and know what they have to do, but the first 30 minutes against Sweden showed you can hurt them and that will be our task. We’ll play in front of 80,000 or 90,000 supporters at Wembley, most of them rooting for England, but we accept the challenge.”
Popp’s opener had seen her become the first player to score in five consecutive matches at the Women’s Euros, but it was swiftly cancelled out, as Kadidiatou Diani’s strike hit the post and rebounded off Frohms into her own net.
France had been looking to reach their first-ever major tournament final but saw their dream shattered by the eight-time champions when Popp headed home the winner 14 minutes from time, her sixth goal of the campaign taking her level with Mead in the race for the Golden Boot.
“You couldn’t have dreamed of a better final, facing the host nation in their own stadium,” said Frohms, who made a string of vital second-half saves with the scores level. “The majority of the fans will be against us, but that can also help motivate us. The atmosphere will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
England beat Germany 3-1 during the invitational Arnold Clark Cup earlier this year, but it was the Germans who triumphed last time the sides met at Wembley, as an England team then managed by Phil Neville lost 2-1 in front of a record crowd of more than 77,000.
However, Voss-Tecklenburg, who was in the visiting dugout that night, insists the experience will have no bearing on Sunday’s heavyweight clash.
“You can’t compare that because England are three years more mature and Sarina Wiegman is an incredible coach,” she added. “We know each others’ strengths. It will be about small details, forcing certain things, making fewer mistakes, but we know what we have to expect so we’ll be ready.
“We both have high respect for each other. Sarina proved with the Netherlands she can win a title and I hope for now that it stays at that one title.”
