Thank you so much for joining me for this semi-final, it lived up to expectation! What a thriller that was, Alexandra Popp has propelled herself into folklore.
If you want a recap of all the action, have a read of Suzy Wrack’s report from Stadium MK.
This adorable moment happened at half-time, you have to watch it - I may have shed a tear or two at it.
Tess is off to the #WEURO2022 final
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 27, 2022
The little girl who captured the nation's hearts dancing along to 'Sweet Caroline' is on her way to Wembley to cheer on the #Lionesses 😍😍@BBCSport @GabbyLogan broke the news on @BBCOne - we'll have more on #BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/pg37mTHdjl
Alexandra Popp, who is starring in her first Euros after injuries stopped her from playing in tournaments past, is now level with Beth Mead for the Golden Boot. The players have six goals each but Popp has scored in each game in the tournament - a new record!
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France are deflated but they can hold their heads high. Diani, Renard and Bacha all had a great game but the team just couldn’t take their chances when they had them. A record-breaking tournament for them.
So England will face Germany in the final! What a perfect clash, full of rivalry and the tension will be amazing. England have only beaten Germany once in England before - that came in the Arnold Clark Cup earlier this year.
Full-time! Germany 2-1 France
Alexandra Popp is the hero of Germany as she not only breaks the goal record but she fires her side into the final! France have heartbreak but they can be proud of their best ever Euros.
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90 + 4 min: Oberdorf gets a yellow and concedes another free kick! Oberdorf saves her own skin as she cuts out the kick from Bacha, making sure Renard doesn’t get to it.
90 + 3 min: Bacha takes the kick but it sails over the bar. France are coming again, they need to create something now!
90 + 1 min: Dallmann takes a shot, it goes wide but she was offside anyway. Huth is off for Wassmuth for Germany and there will be five minutes added. Lohmann concedes a free kick in a great position for France!
89 min: Germany are doing well to run down the clock but France are now in possession. Sarr wins a free kick from Oberdorf after a foul, the ball comes in but Frohms comes out to punch away.
87 min: Mateo gets in a good position, she takes a touch and takes a shot but it sails over the bar. France are coming again and Bacha wins a free kick. Renard can’t get to it and it is smashed back into the box, the French captain has another header but Frohms saves. It look as though she would have been offside regardless.
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84 min: Huth looks like she’s in tears but she is staying on. Renard puts in a great ball into Geyoro whose shot is skied but she was offside anyway. France need to start throwing everything at this.
82 min: Hegering is off for Doorsoun for Germany, all the changes coming in these last few minutes. Huth is down, the game continues for a while but it is eventually stopped so she can receive treatment.
80 min: Bacha has been amazing since coming on and she has a long range effort just wide. I gasped! Toletti is off for Sarr for France. They have 10 minutes, can France come back?
78 min: Goal given! Alexandra Popp is loving this Euros, her first ever as injuries have kept her out. She is now level with Beth Mead for the Golden Boot. France immediately react but Frohms collects.
76 min: They are checking the goal, will Popp have this?
GOAL! Germany 2-1 France (Popp, 75')
Germany have several shots but blocks come in from France, it comes to Popp with a great run who heads it home. Wow! What a tournament for the captain.
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74 min: Germany keeps coming forward but France are doing really well to maintain their defence shape. Gwinn gets a yellow for pulling Bacha, who has injected pace into this French side, and there’s a free kick to come.
72 min: Bilbaut loses the ball in the midfield by Huth, she feeds out to the right and her resulting shot is fluffed. Maurice has got in touch on Twitter and said: “A little bit harsh on the German keeper calling the French goal a howler on her part. Really couldn’t do anything about it surely! Great game.” You’re right, when I watched replays I thought my description was a bit harsh, it was a tricky one for her.
69 min: Bacha puts in a huge cross to find Renard, her shot is blocked. the ball comes back out for Bacha whose strike is way off target. Germany makes changes as Magull comes off for Dallmann and Dabritz is off for Lohmann.
67 min: The ball bungles around the box and France deal with it. Frohms does so well to save Hegering’s blushes. The player puts in a loose pass feeding Diani, her shot is saved by the keeper who concedes a corner.
65 min: Germany are trying to take the sting out of this French momentum and have kept the ball. Brand attempts to get into the box but Renard runs her back, conceding a throw.
63 min: Huth gets a good ball from Popp but she runs it around the box instead of putting in the cross and France muscle her off the ball. Diani feeds Bacha in the box who takes a shot and Hendrich heads away - that must have hurt. The corner comes in and Renard gets to it but Frohms saves well!
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61 min: Toletti gives away a cheap ball but Huth is soon dispossessed. Cascarino is fed who passes to Bacha but she runs it out of play. France make another change as Mateo comes on for Cascarino.
59 min: Geyoro does well but her superb run and subsequent shot is blocked by Popp, who does so well to get back to defend that. Geyoro is down from a foul by Dabritz, she’s not down for long and remains on.
57 min: Oberdorf is hit in the face by Bacha, who gets a yellow card for the action. The German is receiving medical attention but she is up and staying on.
55 min: Peyraud-Magnin comes out to collect and it alleviates some of the German pressure. Here come France but Bacha hits it out of play.
53 min: Germany are so good on the ball and they have had the lion share. Huth again feeds Magull but it has just a bit too much on it. Brand does extremely well around the box to thread the ball through two defenders but Magull can’t get to it and Geyoro clears.
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51 min: Huth is fed a great ball but she takes a heavy touch sees a goal kick. Huth gets in a great position again but there’s a miscommunication with a good ball missed by Magull.
49 min: Frohms takes a while to clear the ball and it then runs between her and her defence. Bacha, who was subbed on for Malard at half-time, is already making a nuisance for herself in the midfield.
47 min: Geyoro almost ceases upon a great through ball but she’s swarmed. Magull wins a corner up the other end, their fourth of the match, and the ball from Magull comes out to Huth. Her shot goes wide but worries the keeper enough to dive for it.
Back underway! Germany 1-1 France
So will conceding throw Germany off? Can France capitalise? All will be answered! At half-time Gabby Logan spoke to Tess, the little girl who danced at full-time against England yesterday, and they have given her free final tickets. She was so excited and it was such a cute moment!
Germany were the only team not to concede ahead of this match but that stat has been smashed by that own goal! This game has been all pace and set pieces, nothing separates them and we are in for an exciting second half! I hope you’ve been enjoying our coverage this summer and read this to find out how we can create more:
Here’s the record score from Popp:
What a strike from Germany's Alexandra Popp. 🤩
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 27, 2022
She's having an incredible tournament at #WEuro2022! 🔥
📺💻📱 Live on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds & @BBCSport app. #BBCFootball #BBCEuros
Half-time! Germany 1-1 France
Well those last few minutes were thrilling! It’s a record goal from Popp, scoring in five consecutive matches, but their lead didn’t last long. Frohms has a howler with Diani’s shot smacking the post, hitting the keeper and going in! It’s all to play for!
GOAL! Germany 1-1 France (Frohms OG, 44')
They are checking it but Diani fires and it rebounds off of Frohms from the post!
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42 min: France immediately came together after the goal, Renard shouting instructions and they have come more to life since conceding. But it is Germany who come away with it again, they are just so deadly. Renard heads away and France can clear - for now.
41 min: Popp makes a sensational run, beating the defender easily and makes a one-touch finish to become the first player to score in five women’s Euros matches.
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GOAL! Germany 1-0 France (Popp, 39')
Popp has ran through and absolutely smashed it home! She has the record!
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39 min: Malard is fouled and France will have a free kick from their own half. Renard puts in a great ball but Hendrich covers well to force a goal kick.
37 min: Frantic is how I would describe this semi so far, scramble defence. Renard barges Magull off the ball again, no foul was given and that battle is tasty.
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35 min: Great defence from Germany, particularly from Brand, who nicks it back and again Germany are in possession. Gwinn attempts a one two with Huth but Karchaoui does enough to battle it back.
33 min: Geyoro is fouled by Oberdorf who concedes a free kick. What can France do with this? Toletti passes back to Perisset, whose long cross in almost reaches Renard but Popp does enough to keep her opposite captain out.
31 min: There are some calls for a penalty as Renard brings down Magull, there has been a check and nothing has been given. It did look like a dive from Magull, so no surprise in no penalty.
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29 min: France retain possession and they are slowly moving forward, the patience here is impressive. But all that work ends is a loose pass between Malard and Diani.
27 min: Rauch takes the kick this time but it sails over the bar. Just heard Germany have never failed to score in a Euros knock-out match so we’ll see if they can continue that cracking record.
25 min: The pace of the game has slowed with France retaining possession but Germany claim it once more. Huth makes a great run down the left but Perisset blocks, conceding a corner. The ball comes thundering in but there are too many touches and then Gwinn wins another free kick. There have been a lot of set pieces for Germany now.
23 min: The resulting corner from that save almost sees a blunder with Peyraud-Magnin out of position but they bungle it away. France attempt a counter but Cascarino can’t get the ball out from under her feet in the box.
21 min: Geyoro shoves Magull to the floor but no foul is given and France build an attack from their own half. It doesn’t last long and Germany are on the hunt, they win another free kick with Toletti fouling and earning herself a yellow card. Popp launches a rocket and Peyraud-Magnin makes a sensational save.
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19 min: Perisset launches a long range effort but Frohms catches well. Germany counter and Huth wins a free kick right on the edge of the box. Magull takes the kick, on target, but Peyraud-Magnin makes a good save.
17 min: Rauch is fouled by Diani, giving away a free kick in a good position but Magull’s hit sails over the strikers. Peyraud-Magnin jumps to punch but she takes a bit of a knock, she wins the ball back and while she looks like she is in pain she remains on.
15 min: Germany are being patient in their build-up but the last pass seems rushed. The last pass there goes beyond Gwinn and France are able to breathe once more. Diani plays it down the right but her cross is blocked, Diani again tries to get through but Huth closes her down. Germany look to counter and Peyraud-Magnin comes out, putting a hefty challenge on Magull.
13 min: Renard is putting in a good defensive shift already, running the ball out for a German throw. Dabritz does expertly well to win a corner, booting it into the French defence. Peyraud-Magnin comes out and punches away. There’s frantic battles in the midfield but Germany come away the better, building from the back now.
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11 min: Hegering puts in a very loose ball and France pounce but again they lose it in the final third. It’s the final few touches and passes that aren’t coming off for both teams so far.
9 min: Gwinn looks to clear with a long ball but she’s closed down. Germany lose it at halfway, it’s been a nervous early stage for both teams - still settling into this one. Malard is offside and again possession is exchanged.
7 min: The ball bounces around, it didn’t find Renard, and Frohms punches away. They do enough to keep it out but that was frantic from Germany. Magull steams away with it from a loose French pass but she’s tackled. Diani then runs rings around the German defence but, again, the ball switches hands.
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4 min: Popp looks to pounce but she fouls Bilbaut and France have a chance to break. Diani wins a throw but they are ran back to halfway. A cracking pull is zoomed into the box by Cascarino and she wins a corner.
2 min: Bilbaut hits the ball out of play just after kick-off for a German goal kick. Germany are working the ball well in the early stages and Bilbaut gives away a free kick for a foul on Magull. It’s whipped in but France do enough to keep it out.
Kick-off! Germany 0-0 France
Here we go! Will it be history for France or will Germany get back into a Euros final? We’ll soon find out ...
The teams are out at Milton Keynes and the anthems will soon be underway! Who are you predicting as the winners?
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France have a killer attack but Germany are yet to concede a goal so it will be a battle all across the pitch! Not having Buhl will be frustrating for Germany but their strength in depth means they won’t have a weakness upfront in Brand.
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Have you been reading our weekly women’s football newsletter Moving the Goalposts? If not, sign up for free! It’s informative and brings you a wide range of topics in the sport. The latest edition dropped today all about the ground-breaking Euros for England, give it a read:
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We would like to hear your thoughts and experiences of Women’s Euro 2022. How have you watched matches? What are your favourite moments so far? Has the tournament inspired you?
If you want to share your thoughts, and are over the age of 18, get in touch. All the details are below:
England sealed a 4-0 victory over Sweden in an impressive performance but there was one goal people are speaking about over the others.
Alessia Russo missed a shot but managed to recover. She then nutmegged two players with a backheel shot to hit the back of the net. If you didn’t see it last night, take a look below, I would argue it is the goal of the tournament so far.
Another look at that Alessia Russo goal? Oh, go on then. 😍
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 26, 2022
Live: https://t.co/zg8cPsrbEf#BBCFootball #BBCEuros pic.twitter.com/9y7bdKLZ5r
Get in touch and let me know what you’re up to! Let’s have a chat about anything and everything. You can contact me on Twitter, @rendellx, or on email.
Here are some articles to read ahead of tonight’s match!
Germany v France preview:
Germany team guide:
France team guide:
The French haven’t made any changes for their clash against Germany!
France starting XI: Peyraud-Magnin, Perisset, Bathy, Renard, Karchaoui, Bilbault, Toletti, Geyoro, Diani, Malard, Cascarino
Germany have made one change and it comes as Buhl has Covid, Brand is in her place.
Germany starting XI: Frohms, Hendrich, Hegering, Oberdorf, Huth, Popp, Dabritz, Gwinn, Rauch, Magull, Brand.
I’m just searching for France’s and I’ll update you as soon as I have it.
Preamble
Welcome to France v Germany, the second of the Euro 2022 semi-finals, where we will find out who will join England in the final at Wembley on Sunday.
Sarina Wiegman’s side defeated Sweden 4-0 last night and both Germany and France will want the chance to face off against the hosts. Whatever the result of tonight’s match France would have had their most successful Euros campaign ever after reaching the semi-final stage for the first time. The history-making team will want to extend their records but Germany are on the hunt to restore their European domination.
They suffered an early exit in the 2017 tournament, crashing out after losing to Denmark in the quarter-finals, and so they will want to play once more on the main stage of a Euros final. Their star striker Alexandra Popp will be targeting a goal record in the semi too, she has scored in four consecutive Euros matches, equalling the record set by her compatriot Heidi Mohr.
Germany have suffered a blow ahead of the match with forward Klara Bühl has tested positive and so is out of the semi-final.
All the team news is up and so stay tuned for all the updates ...
