Martina Voss-Tecklenburg praises Germany’s ‘very solid’ performance after win

Germany boss Martina Voss-Tecklenburg praised Alexandra Popp and a “very solid” performance from the team after they wrapped up their Euro 2022 group games with a 3-0 victory over Finland in Milton Keynes.

The eight-time champions, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals as Group B winners after beating Denmark 4-0 and Spain 2-0, made a string of unsuccessful attempts on goal at Stadium MK before going in front in the 40th minute via Sophia Kleinherne’s header.

Germany skipper Popp then notched her third goal of the tournament with a 48th-minute header, and substitute Nicole Anyomi subsequently added a strike just after the hour mark.

There has been a headed goal in each of the group games for Popp, who is at her first Euros finals having missed the last two editions through injury, and only returned to action a few months ago after being sidelined for just under a year by a knee issue.

Voss-Tecklenburg said of the 31-year Wolfsburg striker’s scoring streak: “That’s what you expect from a centre-forward.

“We know how good she is with her head and what an effect she has on the opponent, so we consciously gave her 90 minutes today so she could get a bit more fitness – and I think she is ready to score her fourth goal!”

Giving her assessment of Germany’s display, Voss-Tecklenburg said: “We didn’t always reward ourselves but Finland did a lot at the back.

“If we had scored a bit earlier then things would have been a bit easier for us. It wasn’t a brilliant performance but it was a very solid one, everyone was full of passion.

“We tried hard. Not everything worked. But nine points, 9-0 goals (for and against), we would not have believed that before – if someone had bet on that, they would have made a lot of money