by Johnathan Stack (17/7/22)
Above: Germany celebrate after Nicole Anyomi scored her first international goal against Finland last night. Photo: @DFB_Frauen
Alexandra Popp continued her rich vein of form as she scored her third goal in three games as Germany maintained their 100% record at UEFA Euro 2022.
A great crowd of over 20,000 fans packed into Stadium MK, to watch one of the most ruthless teams in this tournament. Even though Germany head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg rung the changes and rested players with a view towards the quarter-final clash with Austria it was still business as usual.
It took a while for Germany to get up to speed, for most of the first half they were definitely going through the gears. With a place in the knockout stage of the competition already secured, perhaps, half-heartedly there was an expectation of seeing a different German team to the one we saw in the first two games.
But even with rested players, it was job done with the outcome still the same. Three points, three more goals, and a third clean sheet. Goals from Sophia Kleinherne, Alexandra Popp, and Nicole Anyomi made sure Germany go into the quarter-final stage as one of the most dangerous teams at UEFA Euro 2022.
What makes Germany one of the most dangerous teams and a genuine threat to the other most dangerous team in the tournament? Here is my analysis from watching Germany throughout this competition.
Pressing Teams Into Mistakes
Their pressing game is absolutely blistering, from the off the German front three get right at the defence and apply immediate pressure, they apply relentless pressure. Being backed up by the midfield three who will pick up the loose passes and stray balls, the Germans have been so good at getting that quick turnaround when regaining possession.
One minute you think you are playing out from the back and moving up the pitch then all of a sudden you are severely on the back foot.
An Eye For Goal
Germany have been scoring goals they currently have the second biggest number of goals at UEFA Euro 2022 with nine. With that relentless pressure if not a case of if Germany is going to score it is when Germany is going to score. They have had 63 attempts on goal so far so have definitely brought their shooting boots with them.
Total Shutout
Merle Frohms has kept three clean sheets during the group stage and has made some great saves on the times she has been called upon. With Kathrin Hendrich and Marina Hegering at the heart of the defence this team has got through the group games relatively untroubled. Germany have dealt with the opposition in front of them accordingly and has been defensively impressive.
Up next for Germany it is back to the Brentford Community Stadium in West London as they take on Austria in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Austria is the Group A runner up having knocked out Norway in a knockout place decider. Expect Germany to be back to full strength minus Lea Schüller who is in isolation. Now the real tournament begins for Germany. It is go hard or go home from here on out.
Teams: FINLAND (4-4-2): Talaslahti, Heroum, Pikkujamsa, Kuikka, Koivisto, Engman, Alanen, Summanen, Kollanen, Sallstrom, Kemppi. Substitutes: Ahtinen, Auvinen, Myllyoja, Oling, Rantala, Rantanen, Sainio, Tamminen.
GERMANY (4-3-3): Frohms, Lattwein, Hegering, Doorsoun-Khajeh, Kleinherne, Popp(c), Huth, Däbritz, Gwinn, Dallmann, Bühl. Substitutes: Anyomi, Berger, Brand, Freigang, Hendrich, Magull, Lohmann, Schult, Waßmuth.
Scorers: Kleinherne 40’, Popp 48’, Anyomi 63’.
Referee: Emikar Caldera.
Attendance: 20,721.
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