England’s spine the key to containing Germany’s Popp star and securing Euro 2022 glory

Sarina Wiegman’s England Lionesses stand on the brink of a landmark triumph ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2022 final against Germany.

A talented, highly likeable squad has captured the heart of the nation and will have done immeasurable good for the women’s game, regardless of the outcome in front of what promises to be a record crowd at Wembley.

Here Metro.co.uk provides the lowdown ahead of what promises to be a pulsating encounter…

Go on, say it. Germany were the team we didn’t want to face in the final. The old rivals, eight-time champions, ranked fifth in the world – three above the Lionesses – are the team standing in the way of Sarina Wiegman’s side being crowned European champions for the first time.

Spain and Sweden have provided differing tests in the knockout stages for England so far but the Germans remain a fearsome prospect, with their skipper Alexandra Popp red-hot in front of goal.

They will be the ultimate test of just how good this Lionesses team is. The stats back that up. Germany are a very hard-working side – Giulia Gwinn has covered the most distance of any player at the tournament (51.6kilometres) while Sara Doorsoun has the greatest passing accuracy (96 per cent) and Lena Oberdorf the most tackles (20). But the cherry on the cake for them is Popp and if they can keep her quiet, England will have earned their moment of glory.

The crucial shift in mindset under Wiegman has been that the manager is not too concerned by who her side play against.

What she is bothered about is what her team does and that has rubbed off on a super-confident group of players, epitomised by the spine – the rock Millie Bright so commanding at the back, Keira Walsh pulling the strings in midfield and Ellen White the workhorse up