Germany 2-0 Austria: The eight-time champions advance to the semi-finals

Germany booked their place within the semi-finals of the European Girls’s Championship with victory over Austria on the Brentford Neighborhood Stadium.

Klara Buhl deflected the ball from the Austrian defender and pushed into the field, the place Alexandra Popp, who scored the fourth aim in 4 video games, unselfishly left the ball to the coming Lina Magulli, who opened the scoring.

Popp acquired her second within the dying minutes of the match when Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger’s try and play out the again rebounded and Popp caught out her boot to push into the web.

The Wolfsburg ahead has scored in 4 consecutive European Championship matches, equaling Heidi Mohr’s file from 1989-1993, and strikes one aim away from England’s Beth Mead within the Golden Boot race.

“It was a really tight sport – it was very tough to play in opposition to Austria. I am completely happy to complete with my fourth aim and completely happy and happy with the workforce,” stated Popp.

“At first we weren’t the most important favorites and now now we have proven the entire world the place we’re. I feel workforce spirit is essential for us and that is the purpose the place we’re so sturdy and we hope that historical past has not ended.”

Regardless of incomes 117 caps, this can be Popp’s first European match since coming back from a long-term harm that sidelined him for 10 months in preparation for the competitors.

“I had a extremely exhausting time final 12 months [with injury] – I’m very grateful to be right here. I’m free, I really feel good and I may also help my workforce,” he stated.

“We’re very completely happy that now we have loads of followers right here. We want spirit, assist and it’s a excellent feeling. We additionally really feel the assist of Germany – we’ll give every little thing to get to the ultimate.”

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s aspect had been fortunate in opposition to Austria however have loads of work to do earlier than they face France or the Netherlands within the semi-finals in Milton Keynes subsequent Wednesday.

Germany shouldn’t be with out its faults

On paper, Germany’s journey to Euro 2022 seems to have been simple. And thus far it has been.

They’d loads of probabilities to increase their lead at 1-0 when Buhl fired into an open web after a long-range shot was blocked and Popp was a continuing risk.

Nevertheless, their 100% clear sheet file within the match – the one workforce left with such a comeback – belies their occasional frailties in defence, as Germany struggled to consolidate their dominance within the group levels and Austria missed massive probabilities to attract stage 1. -0.

Austria, who gained their second Euro, had been a shock semi-finalist in 2017 however misplaced their place within the last to Denmark.

Irene Fuhrmann’s aspect had been unfortunate, hitting the woodwork 3 times and placing their native rivals underneath extra strain than some other aspect to this point.

“It is a powerful second proper after the sport,” he stated. “After we look again, the workforce might be very happy with the best way they performed – not simply at the moment, however all through the match. We demanded every little thing from Germany.”

They had been simply the second and third objectives Austria have scored this match – the primary in opposition to England – however they’ve additionally scored simply three objectives and poor decision-making within the last third has price them.

Regardless of having gained the title in eight of the 12 European tournaments, Germany didn’t come into this match as outright favourites.

They lifted the trophy six occasions in a row between 1995 and 2013, however their bid for a seventh successive title ended with a shock quarter-final loss to 2017 runners-up Denmark.

The absence of injured Lyon midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan and Chelsea’s Melanie Leupolz, who introduced her being pregnant in March, made it exhausting to guess what to anticipate, however they appear to have grown as a workforce all through the match.