The dream is over for the France team. Les Bleues were beaten by a very solid German team in the semi-final of the Euro (2-1), Wednesday July 27, at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes. Players and legs, especially in the second half, the French ended up cracking in the last quarter of an hour against the rigor and German technique. Despite Kadidiatou Diani’s equalizer just before half-time – the first goal conceded by Germany in the tournament – Les Bleues were punished by the irresistible Alexandra Popp, author of a magnificent double.
Alex Popp’s brace sends Germany through to their Women’s EURO final! #WEURO2022 | #GER
— UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 27, 2022
The France team was playing its first Euro semi-final, it was able to observe everything that still separated it from a European cador like Germany. Launched to attack the German surface as soon as the locker room returned, when the score was tied, the French women multiplied the big chances, without managing to break through the opposing wall. Selma Bacha, Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Clara Matéo, at the helm during the tricolor highlight, successively came up against the German rearguard. The efficiency that has been so lacking in the French since the start of the competition has this time definitely lost them.
Opposite, a good opportunity was enough for Alexandra Popp, particularly prominent on the lawn of Stadium MK and author of the opener in the first period after overtaking Eve Périsset, to go there with her double and buries French hopes. This now makes six goals in five games for the German serial scorer, simply irresistible. A quarter of an hour from the final whistle, mass was said. Neither the video refereeing, quickly called by the referee, nor the encouragement of Ella Palis and Marion Torrent, warming up at the edge of the field at the end of the match, could relieve the Blues, who have enough to feed regrets.
Faced with the German solidity, the French had nevertheless tried to hold their rank in the first period, carried by some beautiful combinations between Delphine Cascarino and Grace Geyoro on the left side. In front of an audience rather won over to the German cause, where timid “Go Blues” were sometimes heard, the players of Corinne Deacon had applied to build. But they made the mistake, like Sandie Toletti, warned from the 20th minute of play, offering great opportunities to the Nationalelf on set pieces.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin had postponed the deadline with a superb save on a direct free kick, applauded by the whole stadium, before the defense finally cracked, and France found themselves behind for the first time in the tournament. Kadidiatou Diani had thought to relaunch the tricolor clan by equalizing in stride, just before returning to the locker room, on a shot that hit the post and then the back of the German door.
21′ Magnificent parade of @PeyraudMagnin18 on a German free kick from 20 meters!
0-0 | #ALLFRA | #ProudToBeBlues #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/4hL1YpIx4L
— French Women’s Team (@equipedefranceF) July 27, 2022
But Corinne Deacon’s players failed to capitalize on their good attacking momentum. They leave the competition on a great disappointment, at the gates of the first final in their history. It is the good Germans who will find England at Wembley (London), Sunday July 31, to try to win a ninth coronation record, against the organizing country.