England Women have won the hearts of the nation during their impressive run to the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship Final and are set to be backed by a record-breaking crowd at Wembley Stadium
By Sienna Parrish
England Women have won the hearts of the nation during their impressive run to the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship Final and are set to be backed by a record-breaking crowd at Wembley Stadium. The audience is set to be more than double the highest attendance of any previous European Championship Final, as well as millions tuning in across the country.
England have the chance to make history against Germany on Sunday, as the Lionesses aim to become the first England team to win a major tournament since the men’s team won the World Cup at Wembley Stadium in 1966. The men’s final saw England victorious against old rivals Germany so the chance of history repeating itself has only increased anticipation ahead of this chapter in the historic rivalry between England and Germany. Leah Williamson could be the only other England captain to lift a major trophy apart from Bobby Moore. The England Women’s captain stated, “Tomorrow is a day of opportunity that’s the only thing that makes it any different to any other game, the stakes are that much higher” adding “this is what we live for, and this is why I play football.”
Germany are giants of this competition and will be looking to gain their ninth European title.
Germany beat England 6-2 in their last meeting at the final of UEFA Women’s EURO 2009. England midfielder Jill Scott was part of the England squad who faced Germany in the final of UEFA Women’s EURO 2009 and is now competing in her 10th major tournament. Addressing the final this weekend, Scott explains “We have to try and remain logical and it’s one more game to go out there and achieve our dreams.” Germany’s talisman, Alexandra Popp, expressed her view on the occasion with a simple but powerful statement “The important thing is that we get the title.” The German striker has become a standout player in this tournament scoring 6 goals and is joint top goal scorer with England’s Beth Mead.
England are unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman, with 17 victories and only two draws over the past two years. In all competitions under Wiegman, England have scored 104 goals and conceded just four. England and Germany have both conceded only 1 goal so far in their respective European campaigns. In total, 92 goals have been scored in the 20 matches, a trend which has raised the profile of women’s sport within Europe. Premier league managers including Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, have marvelled at the quality of the Women’s game in England this summer.