Germany ready for latest step to regain Euro title but France are on the up

Germany hope to restore their European Championship reputation but will have to topple history-making France in their semi-final on Wednesday to get to Wembley. Germany crashed out in the quarter-finals in 2017, ending their 22-year reign as champions, and they want their crown back. But France have a taste of Euros glory and are hungry for more.

France have reached a Euros semi-finals for the first time after defeating the Netherlands 1-0. They had to battle for the win despite having more than 30 shots, and only an Ève Périsset penalty in extra time put them through. Germany beat Austria 2-0 in 90 minutes and played two days before France, meaning they could have a fitness advantage.

Germany are the favourites, particularly as they are the only team left not to have conceded a goal, but they are not underestimating France. “France are very strong opponents who have deservedly reached the semi-final,” said Germany’s Lena Lattwein.

“They have incredible individual quality and a lot of pace in attack. But when it comes to defence, especially how they deal with losing the ball, there will be spaces and opportunities for us. I’m looking forward to an even contest.”

Germany (4-3-3): Frohms; Gwinn, Hegering, Hendrich, Rauch; Oberdorf, Däbritz, Magull; Huth, Bühl, Popp. 

France (4-3-3): Peyraud-Magnin; Périsset, Renard, Tounkara, Karchaoui; Geyoro, Bilbault, Mateo; Cascarino, Diani, Malard.

France will just be glad to have the focus back on the football. Before the tournament the squad were making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Rumours of bad blood between the team and the manager, Corinne Diacre, and with big names such as Amandine Henry left out of the squad many believed they would not go far.

They blew those