Prince William will also be sitting in the stands in London’s cult arena on Sunday (6 p.m. CEST/ARD and DAZN) – not far from Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Franz Beckenbauer wants to keep his fingers crossed in front of the screen again and bets on a final victory for Germany after penalties – “and our women win because they are physically and mentally better,” said the 1974 world champion, who coached the German men’s led the team to the world title, the “Bild” newspaper. The 76-year-old “Kaiser” is certain: “Our women will win the Wembley title, but it won’t be easy against the strong English women.”
DFB goalkeeper Merle Frohms has already saved a penalty against England at Wembley – in 2019 in a 2-1 friendly win. Alexandra Popp and Klara Bühl scored the goals in front of 77,768 fans. “I think what’s waiting for us will go beyond all dimensions,” said Frohms about the scenery on Sunday. The 3000 tickets that the DFB received after reaching the final were gone in no time.
And the German team can boast another sense of achievement from history: in the 2009 European Championship final in Finland they defeated England 6:2. Liverpool’s star coach Klopp sees England’s footballers as slightly favored this time because of the home advantage. “In a sold-out Wembley Stadium with English spectators, it will be a huge challenge for Germany,” Klopp said on Thursday, but Germany have a chance. “As much as I love England – my heart will be with the German team,” said the 55-year-old former Bundesliga coach.
“I think the pressure is more on the English, especially because it’s taking place in their own country,” said Popp. She was reminiscent of their own home World Cup eleven years ago, when the DFB women were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual world champions Japan. “We know that from 2011: Suddenly everyone expects something from you. We have nothing left to lose. With that attitude we can go into the game completely free.” In addition, hardly anyone expected that their team would make it to the final.
“It’s going to be a great festival of football”
For record European champions Germany it is about the ninth title, Sarina Wiegman’s team has not yet won an international tournament – but the head coach triumphed at the EM 2017 with the Netherlands. “It’s going to be a great football festival, it’s a classic,” predicted national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. “Obviously what England have shown in this tournament is brutally good.” Initial weaknesses in the semi-finals against Sweden and the deficit in the quarter-finals against Spain did not go unnoticed by the 54-year-old.
In the final of the 13th European Championship, the award for the best tournament goal scorer is also at stake. Germany semi-final heroine Popp and England’s Beth Mead have each registered six goals. The Wolfsburg woman is also big in the headlines on the island. “Ex-zoo keeper wants to tame lionesses,” was the headline in the renowned Times newspaper on Friday, referring to the striker’s learned profession.