“Alexandra Popp’s desperate, empty eyes made the strongest impression”
German women are defeated by England 1:2
The German soccer players have missed the European title. At the famous Wembley Stadium in London, the English team won 2-1 after extra time. One of the most important players on the pitch is missing.
The English women throw their country into a frenzy after winning the European Championship final against Germany. Because of the triumph, but also because of women’s football in general. The international press celebrates the final – and feels sorry for Alexandra Popp.
Dhe German footballers may have missed their ninth triumph at a European championship, but they have still achieved a lot. The excitement has never been greater. It is no different in the country of the new European champions.
The team of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg lost the final against England in London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday without the injured missing captain Alexandra Popp 1: 2 (1: 1, 0: 0) after extra time. The international press writes about this:
Great Britain
„Daily Mail“: “The wild EURO final showed that women’s football is not a tamer and gentler version of the game. So much hard work and sacrifice paid off in two glorious (and bone-breaking) hours.”
„Daily Mirror“: “Champions!!! England win Euro 2022 thanks to a late Kelly goal in extra time in an impressive Wembley final against Germany.”
„The Sun“: “It’s come home! (He’s come home!) England’s lionesses roar with pride as they celebrate their historic triumph at Euro 2022.”
„The Telegraph“: “The deepest pain in England’s sporting soul has been erased. And it’s a liberation accomplished by women – amidst scenes of sheer ecstasy. (…) This is a sport that was officially banned for women in England for half a century. As late as the 1990s, women’s football on Fleet Street was derided as ‘a game to be played only by consent of adults in private’. (…) But today, optimism has overcome short-sightedness and contempt. It’s a lesson (…): put women first and watch them soar.”
„The Guardian“: “England crowned champions of Euro 2022 after Kelly sank Germany in overtime.”
„The Times“: “The fans chanted ‘football coming home’ and England had to defeat a team known for their resilience and whose representatives have stood in their way so often in the past. But England has withstood the incessant test of Germany. They lived up to their expectations. They took the lead, lost it and then showed their character by winning it back. That made their achievement even more significant because it was Germany.”
„The Independent“: “Kelly’s goal not only brought victory at this women’s European Championship and the lionesses the first tournament success in their history. One can assume that he will achieve much more. (…) Admittedly, whether they won or lost, Sarina Wiegman and her players had probably already achieved that. But now they have a trophy to hang anything on.”
“Not won the title, but many hearts”
At the European Championship final, captain Alexandra Popp had to pass. The DFB team lost to the English women. “If such an experienced player fails shortly before the game, that does something to the team,” says WELT reporter Max Seib.
Source: WELT/ Max Seib, Thomas Klug
France
“The Team”: “England end their curse by winning the Women’s Championship.”
“Le Figaro”: “It was not for nothing that Sarina Wiegman was voted the best FIFA coach of the year 2017 and 2020. Five years after winning the European Championship at the wheel of the Netherlands, the Dutchwoman kept her crown, but this time with England.”
“Release”: “The English women rule the Old Continent.”
Spain
“Brand”: “It was their European Championship and they couldn’t fail. England wanted to debut and they did it in a big way, with a packed Wembley and against a Germany that didn’t know what it was like to lose a final.”
“The vanguard”: “England has achieved its dream goal. Not even the best screenwriters could have written such a perfect story.”
Austria
“Crown Newspaper”: “European Champion! England celebrates hot summer fairy tale”
Switzerland
„Blick“: “England are European champions! Joker Chloe Kelly decides the final spectacle in London’s Wembley in front of a record crowd of 87,192 fans in extra time. Germany feels disadvantaged – like in 1966!”
Denmark
“Politics”: “Finally it worked: football is coming home. A rousing and dramatic final in front of the largest crowd at a European Championship game ever ended in victory for the home team. An international football classic marked the effective end of the women’s European Championship – and for once Germany didn’t win in the end.”
Norway
“Walk of the World”: “Wembley were full of English victory tears but it was Alexandra Popp’s desperate, blank eyes that made the strongest impression. This was her EM, after all. She was on her way to becoming the championship queen when the greatest day of football of her life was over before it had really begun. Instead it became England’s EM. Football has come home.”
Empty look: Alexandra Popp stands in the shower of confetti at the award ceremony for the English women
