England must stop Popp to get edge on classy Germans

Louise Quinn

Germany's Alexandra Popp only needs one chance to decide a game like this. Photo: Getty Images

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England head coach Sarina Wiegman and Millie Bright during a press conference at Bramall Lane. Photo: PA/Reuters

Germany's Alexandra Popp only needs one chance to decide a game like this. Photo: Getty Images

Louise Quinn Headshot

England head coach Sarina Wiegman and Millie Bright during a press conference at Bramall Lane. Photo: PA/Reuters

Germany's Alexandra Popp only needs one chance to decide a game like this. Photo: Getty Images

July 30 2022 02:30 AM

I had planned to go to the England-Sweden semi-final the other night, but between my friend’s broken phone and lost tickets I wasn’t able to go along, so I had to make do with watching it in the pub in Birmingham.

Living in England now you are just surrounded by the women’s Euros, and it was amazing to sit there in a pub and see so many people interested in the game, talking about the match. The next day I was just having a coffee and the two women beside me were talking football, women’s football, debating the team England would pick and the tactics for the final. I heard a few lads at the next table debating how good Beth Mead was and if we’ve yet to see her at her best in the Euros.

That is all great to see and I know that England will, as a nation, be switched on to the final against Germany tomorrow. The final itself will be absorbing, and I will come back to that, I’m looking forward to a fascinating battle.

But I also feel that Ian Wright was spot-on with his comments on BBC TV after the Sweden win, that this is an opportunity for women’s football that cannot be wasted. That the Euros will ultimately mean nothing to England if girls cannot have the same access to playing football in school.

The potential is massive, and there is a spin-off for Irish football from that too as our football industry is so closely linked to England. I think Wright also loves seeing Arsenal players in the England team, that means a lot to him, he has a powerful voice but he’s been saying this for years, I love hearing him speak.

It has to start in the schools, in Ireland and in England. It means us senior players going into schools to chat to the kids and to take a coaching session. I have seen it in Sweden when I played there where it’s just the norm for girls to play football. In Sweden they have every single thing they need and they use it well. England have a long way to go. These players in the England team now are national heroes but for this to count, it has to be possible for the six-year-old girl watching Beth Mead to be able to play football without any fuss, to follow a women’s football team, not just support the men’s team that their dad follows.

In Swedish schools, PE is a class where you get marks, it’s important to them and football is a part of that. In England – and in Ireland – we have to use the exposure that the women’s Euros is getting, it cannot be a one-off.

After this tournament, if people in England just assume girls are not that interested in sport or football, it will have been a wasted opportunity, these players are inspiring English kids – living in England I see it every day.

I feel the same about the Ireland team. Our game against Finland in September is sold out and it’s brilliant that it did so quickly… but we have to aim for that all the time, not a one-off. That brings pressure on us as Ireland players to deliver and we have to deal with that, the same way England have to deliver for a nation that expects.

England have been the best team at the Euros, by far. As an international footballer playing at a high level, even I am watching some of the stuff England do, the passes they make, the first touch, the sheer brilliance of Alessia Russo, the technique, and finding that it’s astonishing, the confidence that those players have.

Germany are different, a very diligent side, very clinical in how they play, even how they think. I doubt Germany have created half as many chances as England have, but their finishing is so impressive. They are masters at locking off a game that needs to be won.

And that will be England’s big worry – that German know-how. I feel if Germany do go 1-0 up, it will be very hard for England to get back into it. Germany can be quick-starters, again that’s where England can suffer. Austria and Spain both started well against England, even Sweden looked bright early on but couldn’t take their chances. That was the difference.

So if a team can score early that will change things for England. They’ve not been under pressure, they have made it to the final without being really tested, Spain took the game to them but not for long enough. They have got away with it a little bit as teams like Sweden didn’t put away their chances, and in Lena Oberdorf Germany have someone who can just run the midfield. She can break up the good things that England like to do.

Germany won’t waste their chances, Alexandra Popp is a stunning finisher and she might need only one chance to decide a final like this. So that’s how it will be decided, Germany never let a game run away from them, they always look to be in control. If they go a goal down it will only be one, they never go 2-0 down. England are desperate to bring the trophy ‘home’.

I do expect Germany to score at some stage, but if England go ahead, they will go on and win it.