Who Will Advance to the Women’s EURO Finals: England vs. Sweden and Germany vs. France
The Women’s Euro Semifinals feature four powerhouse soccer nations, all looking to add a new piece of hardware to their nation’s legacy. Sweden won the first edition of this competition in 1984, but since then, the Germans have utterly dominated everyone else. Germany has eight titles in its name, with the next closest country being Norway with two. Will any of the other three nations write a new page of football history, or will Germany reign supreme again? Here’s a breakdown of the UEFA Women’s EURO Semifinals.
England vs. Sweden – July 26, 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT, ESPN
The hosts narrowly escaped Spain despite looking like they may never score. If they advance while playing at their worst, then they will be almost impossible to beat when playing at their best. However, if you’re a USWNT fan, you know exactly what Sweden is capable of. They are giant killers, capable of beating the best because of their style of play.
The Swedes are always strong in defense and have enough creativity offensively through players like Kosovare Asllani, Fridolina Rolfo, Stina Blackstenius, and Sofia Jakobsson. This group of four is as talented and technical as it gets and is honestly getting overlooked.
If England makes any mistakes, Sweden will not hesitate to punish them. If they get a lead, they’ll be even tougher to score on than how Spain was against England. However, as hosts England truly feel like a team of destiny, the amount of money they’ve invested into the sport from women is clearly evident, and a Euro title would be their validation.
The home-field advantage for England matters, no way they have two poor performances in a row. England is getting to the final because, in every game, someone different finds a way to step up when they need it the most. England is getting to the final by any means necessary.
Prediction: England Wins 2-1
Germany vs. France – July 27, 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT, ESPN
Historically, the Germans have proven that they own the Women’s Euro and are pursuing their ninth title. Even more impressive is how they’ve yet to concede a goal this tournament. Their squad is deep in all areas, which is why they are consistently good, no matter the competition. When one generation leaves, another takes their place, which speaks to their development at the youth level. Similar to the USA, they were one of the first countries to really invest in women’s football, which is why they are the clear Queens of Europe.
On the other hand, France is in a place they’ve never been before. This is their first appearance in a Euro semis, but they made a meal of it to get here. France had numerous easy chances and would have beaten the Netherlands by multiple goals if they could take their chances.
Who knows how a penalty shootout might have gone if it wasn’t for a late penalty in extra time. France still has more than enough talent to make this closer than what the public might think based on recent play. It would be a big upset for France to pull this off, but their lack of experience in big games like this could be their downfall. Germany is always prepared and should get to the final, barring something special from France.
Prediction: Germany Wins 1-0
Featured image via @weuro2022 on Instagram
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