OneFootball
Dan Burke·28 July 2022
OneFootball
Dan Burke·28 July 2022
And then there were two.
But before then, it’s time to update our Power Rankings after the semi-finals.
The Swedes made a great start in Sheffield on Tuesday and it would have been a very different game had they taken one of their early chances.
But ultimately, with the home crowd against them, they were well beaten by a superior side on the night. They can be proud of their efforts this summer nonetheless.
It felt like the loss of injured striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto would hamper France eventually and so it proved against Germany on Thursday.
There wasn’t much between the two sides but Les Bleues lacked a cutting edge in front of goal and only managed two attempts on target all evening, with their goal being an unfortunate own goal from Germany goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
Die Nationalelf have been consistently excellent throughout the tournament and are well worth their place in the final.
There were some shaky defensive moments against France but their attacking play was a masterclass in composure, with the brilliant Alexandra Popp once again delivering the goods with her fifth and sixth goals of the tournament.
Now let’s see if they can spoil the party in England’s capital on Sunday.
Wow.
Another big challenge was thrown at the Lionesses this week and once again they casually sidestepped it and kept moving.
After weathering an early Sweden storm at Bramall Lane, the brilliant Beth Mead broke the deadlock with her sixth goal of the tournament, and then there was only going to be one winner.
Sarina Wiegman has got this team playing some lovely football with Alessia Russo’s genius backheel finish epitomising the hosts’ confidence and though nothing should be taken for granted, this surely has to be considered the best England team ever to have reached the final of this competition.