Germany 2-0 Austria: Eight-time champions reach semi-finals

Germany booked their place in the semi-finals of the European Women’s Championship with victory over Austria at the Brentford Community Stadium.

It was a tighter match than many would have expected as Germany faced their biggest test yet in their pursuit of a record-extending ninth European title.

Clara Bühl took the ball away from an Austrian defender and crossed into the box where Alexandra Popp, who scored her fourth goal in four games, unselfishly laid the ball off to the oncoming Lina Magal, who slotted in to open the scoring.

Pop got his moment in the dying minutes of the game when Austria goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger’s attempt to play from behind failed and Pop stuck out a boot to poke into the net.

The Wolfsburg forward has scored in four consecutive European Championship games, equaling the record held by Heidi Mohr, who did so between 1989 and 1993, and moves within a goal of England’s Beth Meade in the race for the Golden Boot.

“It was a very tense game – against Austria it was very difficult to play. I’m happy to score my fourth goal and I’m happy and proud of the team,” said Popp.

“In the beginning we were not the biggest favourites, but now we have shown the whole world where we are. I think team spirit is very important for us and this is the moment when we are so strong and hopefully the story is not over.”

Despite winning 117 international caps, this is Pop’s first European tournament since returning from a long-term injury that kept her out for 10 months in the build-up to the competition.

“Last year was very difficult for me [with injury] – I am very grateful to be here. I’m free, I feel good and I can help my team,” she said.

“We are very happy to have many fans here. We need the spirit, the support and it is a very good feeling. We also feel the support from Germany – we will give everything to reach the final.”

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side benefited from an element of luck against Austria but will have plenty to work on before they face France or the Netherlands in the semi-finals in Milton Keynes next Wednesday.

Germany is not without flaws

On paper, Germany’s journey to Euro 2022 appears to have been easy. And so far it has been.

They had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead at 1-0, with Bull firing wide when faced with an open goal after being denied a shot from distance, and Popp a constant threat.

But their 100% clean sheet record at the tournament – the only team left with such a return – flattered their occasional defensive frailty as Germany struggled to build on the dominance they showed in the group stages and Austria missed big opportunities to equalize 10 years old.

Austria, participating in only their second Euros, were a surprise semi-finalist in 2017 but lost their place in the final to Denmark.

Irene Furman’s side were unlucky, hitting the frame three times and putting their local rivals under more pressure than any other team to date.

“It’s a tough time right after the game,” she said. “When we look back, the team can feel very proud of how they played – not just today but throughout the tournament. We demanded everything from Germany.”

Those were only the second and third goals Austria have conceded at this tournament – the first was against England – but they also scored just three goals and poor decision-making in the final third cost them.

Despite winning the title in eight of the 12 Euros, Germany did not enter this tournament as clear favourites.

They lifted the trophy six times in a row between 1995 and 2013, but their bid for a seventh consecutive title was ended with a shock quarter-final defeat to eventual runners-up Denmark in 2017.

The absence of injured Lyon midfielder Jennifer Marosan and Chelsea’s Melanie Leippolz, who announced her pregnancy in March, made it difficult to know what to expect, but they seem to have grown as a team throughout the tournament.

Player of the match

MaccasLisa Maccas

Germany

1. Team Number 2 Player Name Kleinherne

2. Team Number8 Player Name Lohmann

3. Team Number15 Player Name Gwinn

4. Team Number6 Player Name Oberdorf

5. Team Number 5 Player Name Hegering

6. Team Number11Player NamePopp

7. Team Number 20 Player Name Magull

8. Team Number 17 Player Name Rauch

9. Team Number13Player Name Däbritz

10. Team Number 19 Player Name Bull

11. Team Number 4 Player Name Lattwein

12. Team Number9 Player Name Huth

13. Team Number3 Player Name Hendrich

14. Team Number 1 Player Name Frohms

15. Team Number16 Player Name Dallmann

16. Team Number22Player Name Brand

Austria

1. Team Number 20 Player Name Makas

2. Team Number8 Player Name Dunst

3. Team Number 18 Player Name Hickelsberger-Fühler

4. Team Number14Player Name Höbinger

5. Team Number 15 Player Name Billa

6. Team Number9 Player Name Zadrazil

7. Team Number 10 Player Name Feiersinger

8. Team Number19Player Name Hanshaw

9. Team Number3 Player Name Naschenweng

10. Team number 2 Player name Georgieva

11. Team Number7 Player Name Wenninger

12. Team Number17Player Name Puntigam

13. Team Number12Player Name Wienroither

14. Team Number1 Player Name Zinsberger

Compositions

Germany

4-3-3 formation

1Frohms

15Guin3Hendrich5Hegering17Rauch

20Magul6Oberdorf13Debritz

9Hut11Pop19Bul

• 1Frohms
• 15 Gwinn
• 3 Hendrich
• 5 Hegering
• 17 Rauch Replaced Kleinherr in 90+5 minutes
• 20Magull Substituted for Dallmannat 64 mins
• 6 Oberdorf
• 13 DebritzBooked 59 minutes agoSubstituted for Lattweina on 64 minutes
• 9Huth Substituted for Lohmannat 90+4 mins
• 11 Pop
• 19 July Substituted for Brandat 83 minutes

Substitutes

• 2 Kleinherne
• 4 Latvia
• 7 Schuler
• 8 Lohmann
• 10 Freigang
• 14 Anomie
• 16Dallmann
• 18Wasmut
• 21 Berger
• 22 Mark
• 23Doorsoun

Austria

4-1-4-1 formation

1 Zinsberger

12Wienreuter7Weninger2Georgieva19Hanshaw

17 Puntigam

18 Hickelsberger-Fühler9 Zadrazil10 Faiersinger8 Dunst

15 Billa

• 1 Zinsberger
• 12Wienreuter
• 7Weninger
• 2 Georgieva
• 19 HanshawBooked for 45 min
• 17 Puntigam Replaced Höbinger in 81 minutes
• 18 Hickelsberger-Fühler Substituted for Naschenwengat 72 minutesBooked for 90 min
• 9 Annoyed
• 10 Faiersinger
• 8 DunstBooked at 85 min
• 15Billa Substituted Makasat in 86 minutes

Substitutes

• 3Naschenweng
• 4Degen
• 5 Schasching
• 6 Schiechtl
• 11Schnaderbeck
• 13 Kirchberger
• 14 Hoebinger
• 16Eder
• 20 Makas
• 21 Scream
• 22 Enzinger
• 23Pal

Judge: Rebecca Welch

Audience: 16,025

Live text

1. End of match, Germany 2, Austria Women 0.

2. End of second half, Germany 2, Austria Women 0.

3. Shift, Germany. Sofia Kleinhern replaces Felicitas Rauch.

4. Shift, Germany. Sidney Lohmann replaces Svenja Huth.

5. Katarina Naschenweng (Austria Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

6. Merle Fromms (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

7. Foul by Katarina Naschenweng (Austria Women).

8. Missed attempt. Katarina Naschenweng (Austria Women) left footed shot from the center of the box misses to the left. With the help of Marie-Therese Höbinger.

9. Target! Germany 2, Austria Women 0. Alexandra Popp (Germany) left footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal.

10. Missed attempt. Linda Dahlmann (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Felicitas Rauch after a set piece situation.

11. Marina Hegering (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

12. Foul by Lisa Makas (Austria Women).

13. Shift, Austria Women. Lisa Makas replaces Nicole Bila.

14. Barbara Dunst (Austria Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

15. Jules Brandt (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. Foul by Barbara Dunst (Austria Women).

17. Shift, Germany. Jules Brand replaces Clara Bühl.

18. Missed attempt. Clara Bühl (Germany) left footed shot from the center of the box misses to the left. With the help of Alexandra Pop.

19. Shift, Austria Women. Marie-Thérèse Höbinger replaces Sara Puntigam.

20. Missed attempt. Alexandra Popp (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. With the help of Merle Fromms.