Today, England will meet Germany in the final of Euro 2022 at Wembley Stadium.
England will be looking to make history when they take on Germany at Wembley Stadium today after cruising to the final with a 4-0 victory over the Olympic champions Sweden at Bramall Lane.
After a flawless group stage, the Lionesses advanced to their first major women’s tournament final since 2009, courtesy of Georgia Stanway’s extra-time goal against Spain in the quarterfinal. They then defeated Olympic champions Sweden 4-0 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, cruising to their first major women’s tournament final since 2009.
Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessandra Russo, and Fran Kirby scored to lead Sarina Wiegman’s team to a surprise victory.
Today, England’s men’s and women’s teams will compete in their fifth major competition final.
The men won the World Cup in 1966 but lost to Italy at the European Championships last year, while the women have placed second at three tournaments, including the first European Championships in 1984 and Euro 2009.
Here, we highlight each player and introduce you to the Lionesses, who are seeking triumph this summer, as well as the Dutch manager who hopes to lead her team to victory…
This summer, England’s captain was formally given the armband, succeeding Steph Houghton.
Leah Williamson has played every minute of the Euros campaign thus far and guided the squad to victory in the first Arnold Clark Cup in March.
It marks the conclusion of her ascent through the England ranks, where she also served as captain from U17 to U20.
The Arsenal defender, who was used as a midfielder in pre-tournament friendlies before being converted to central defense, had a defining season as the club challenged for the Women’s Super League championship.
She signed a new contract with her childhood club in January 2022 and is slated to become the future Arsenal captain.
She will be expected to carry the weight of expectation that a home tournament carries, but she is more than up to the task.
What does Williamson have to say…
It is vital to have a test so that you can expose yourself to adversity and prove to yourself that you can overcome it. That is the significance of what we just did [against Spain].
Regardless of the opponent, this is our first test of the tournament, and it is essential that we played with heart.
Mary Earps, the goalkeeper for Manchester United, has revealed that she had written off her prospects of traveling to the Euros as late as September of last year until she received an e-mail from the FA informing her that she would be invited to Sarina Wiegman’s first training camp.
In the past, Earps has been on and off the senior team.
She participated in the Euro 2017 training camp, when she got her maiden international cap, and the World Cup 2019 squad, but did not play.
However, her growth at Manchester United under Casey Stoney and Marc Skinner has made her a serious contender for the No. 1 shirt this summer.
She has started every Euros match to date and has only conceded once.
An amazing comeback from the wilderness would be finished off with a victory tonight.
The words of Earps…
“I was resigned to the reality that [getting to the Euros] would never occur until I received an e-mail informing me of my selection for the September camp.
“I never imagined this would occur.
“Then, when I was asked to that camp, I thought, ‘OK, this is good, thank you, I’m going to give it my all,’ but the Euros were too far away at the time.
“However, there are so many things that could occur between now and then, so wherever I am, I am present and I hope that everything falls into place.
A year ago, when we had that talk, I was truly at peace.
“Everything I said before was so sincere, and I am still so amazed that it changed since I was so okay with what had been and done. However, I am very, very glad that it changed, and I am so thrilled to be here and grateful for every day I get to wear this badge.”
Ellie Roebuck is maybe unlucky not to have played more international football, having won the WSL Golden Glove, the Women’s FA Cup, and represented Great Britain in the Olympics by the time she was 22.
She was only 19 years old when she made her international debut in 2018, although she has only earned eight complete caps due to the presence of more experienced players and the current resurgence of Earps.
She missed five months of the domestic season for Manchester City due to a calf injury but is now completely recovered and ready to add to her four international clean sheets if called upon.
What Roebuck has said…
“They’ve made it a major event, and I believe it illustrates the general direction of women’s football. It’s a pleasure to be a part of such an endeavor. It’s exhilarating and brings everything to life.
A Euro in one’s native country is fantastic and exhilarating.
In May, Ellie Roebuck spoke with MEN Sport.
Thrown into the WSL at the age of 16, Aston Villa’s No. 1 Hampton is the youngest member of the Euros squad and earned her senior England debut against Spain in the Arnold Clark Cup earlier this year, where she preserved a clean sheet.
Hampton was another goalkeeper who prospered under Marc Skinner. The current Manchester United manager recruited Hampton while he was a manager at Birmingham, and the youthful stopper has continued to improve since then.
It is a remarkable rise, not least because she began her youth career as a forward in Villarreal’s academy and has overcome a childhood deficiency in in-depth perception to become a premiership goalkeeper.
Hampton has recently rejoined the team following a positive COVID-19 test and will receive valuable major tournament experience.
In the next years, there is little question that she will be England’s number one.
