{"id":80072,"date":"2022-07-28T14:41:55","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T14:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=80072"},"modified":"2022-07-28T14:41:55","modified_gmt":"2022-07-28T14:41:55","slug":"prolific-popp-sends-germany-into-euro-2022-final-against-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=80072","title":{"rendered":"Prolific Popp sends Germany into Euro 2022 final against England"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> Germany captain Alexandra Popp said she is savouring a starring role at Euro 2022 all the more following years of injury struggles after scoring twice beat France 2-1 in Wednesday's semi-final.<\/p>\n

Popp's side will face hosts England in front of an expected record crowd for a women's Euro match of 87,000 at Wembley on Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Just making it to the Euro was a success for the Wolfsburg striker after missing the two previous European Championships through injury.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old battled back from two knee surgeries in the past 15 months to make the tournament and has exploded in England with six goals in five games.<\/p>\n

“I am enjoying these moments a lot more. I enjoy football a lot more,” said Popp after setting a new record by becoming the first woman to score in five consecutive women's Euro matches.<\/p>\n

“It doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it before, but it became a bit pedestrian. Now to have the moments on the pitch, I really value that a lot.<\/p>\n

“It makes it very special to be here with such a performance individually, but also as a team being so successful.”<\/p>\n

Popp's double also took her level with England's Beth Mead on six goals in the battle for the Golden Boot, matching the record for a single women's European Championship held by Inka Grings from Euro 2009.<\/p>\n

That tournament ended in a German rout over England in the final and Die Nationalelf will be hoping for a repeat as they aim to upset the hosts.<\/p>\n

“England versus Germany is a classic,” said German boss Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.<\/p>\n

“We will play at Wembley in front of 80 or 90,000 people. Most will be supporting England but we accept the challenge. It will be a incredible final.”<\/p>\n

In contrast to Germany's pedigree as eight-time winners of the women's Euro, France were in the last four for the first time.<\/p>\n

Les Bleues were left to regret a series of missed chances early in the second half as they lacked a clinical goalscorer without the injured Marie-Antoinette Katoto.<\/p>\n

“Unfortunately we weren't efficient tonight,” said France coach Corinne Diacre. “We weren't able to hone in on the goalscoring chances we had.”<\/p>\n

Popp gave France a warning of what was to come when her powerful free-kick from the edge of the area was brilliantly clawed away by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.<\/p>\n

The French goalkeeper was helpless five minutes before half-time when Svenja Huth's cross picked out Popp, who smashed home a volley into the roof of the net.<\/p>\n

However, the lead lasted just five minutes in unfortunate circumstances for German goalkeeper Merle Frohms.<\/p>\n

Kadidiatou Diani's fierce strike from outside the box came crashing off the post into the back of the Wolfsburg stopper and into her own net.<\/p>\n

Frohms more than made amends at the start of the second period with a brilliant save to her left to turn Wendie Renard's header behind.<\/p>\n

Selma Bacha's goalbound effort also rebounded behind off Kathrin-Julia Hendrich's face and Diani's shot from a narrow angle stung the palms of Frohms.<\/p>\n

But France failed to make that bright spell count and were made to pay by Popp's predatory instincts.<\/p>\n

Another Huth cross was hung high into the Milton Keynes sky and Popp timed her leap perfectly to power a header into the ground and past Peyraud-Magnin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: Germany captain Alexandra Popp said she is savouring a starring role at Euro 2022 all the more following years of injury struggles after scoring twice beat France 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final. Popp’s side will face hosts England in front of an expected record crowd for a women’s Euro match of 87,000 at Wembley […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":80073,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n