Euro 2022 final: latest news and buildup to England v Germany at Wembley! | Women’s Euro 2022

Sky are showing Sarina Wiegman’s pre-match press conference, and her composure is just unreal. The ability to amp the players up, at the same time as calming them down, is one bestowed on very few, but every interview with her that I read or watch advertises that in very big letters. And when to that you add tactical nous and overall likability, you get the entirely ludicrous record that is P19 W17 D2 L0 F104 A4. England may lose today – football is chaotic, goals are rare, Germany are good – but those numbers tell you there’s something serious going on here.

It is impossible to describe the potential impact of winning a home Euros, but in reaching the final in the swaggering way the team have done, win or lose they have changed the status of the game, themselves as well as attitudes towards women and their involvement in sport more generally. England’s captain, Leah Williamson, highlighted that on Saturday when she said the tournament had not only provided ‘a change for women’s football but for society in general’.

There is nothing – nothing – like football.

Here’s more from Suzy Wrack:

Things you love to see:

Ah go on then, you’ve twisted my arm.

I’m biased because she plays for my team, but Russo, then. The first time I saw her, it felt obvious she was a player, an unusual blend of skill, physicality, imagination and attitude, and at just 23, she has so much scope for improvement.

I guess there’ll be those who’d like to see Alexia Russo replace Ellen White, but that’s silly on two grounds:

1) She may not be scoring goals, but White remains crucial to how England play. She presses, puts herself about, and clears routes to goal for teammates.

2) Imagine the physical and mental aggravation of facing White, Mead, Hemp and Kirby for an hour, then someone as brilliant, grooved and fresh as Russo turns up. Wiegman’s ability to affect games from the bench is a big part of what England got here.

Back on Sky, we’re wondering which XI Sarina Wiegman might pick to start today. I know! She’s made a grand total of 0 changes during the competition, even when England were through the group with a game to spare, so it’s not hard to predict what’ll happen today. And how refreshing that is: a manager picking her side, rather than compromising, feart of its opponents.

And here’s another piece on Popp that I enjoyed, touching on the sensation of watching someone as special as she is for the first time.

I must confess, I’m a little surprised by how much Millie Bright has improved, but she – and Leah Williamson – have their work cut out today. Alex Popp has done unbelievably well these last few weeks, even if you forget the terrible luck she’s had with injuries. But if we factor in her missing Euro 2013 and 2017; that she got hurt again at the start of this year, before contracting Covid in June; then her work these last few weeks is just rrrridiculous. Here’s Anita Asante on her:

It’s a grey morning in norf Lahndahn, but Sue Smith and Karen Bardsley are on Sky brightening it up. “Its like Christmas,” says Bardsley, taking us through the strict standards of fish-finger preparation demanded by her England side by way of pre-match meal.

I’ll also share some of the best writing I’ve seen during the tournament – and on women’s football in general – starting with this review and extract from our own Suzanne Wrack’s excellent book on the subject.

Preamble