Euro 2022 Quarter-Final Recap & Semi-Final Preview
England, Sweden, Germany and France advance.
Quarter Finals (# is World Ranking)
Wednesday
#8 England 2–1 #7 Spain (After Extra Time)
Spain dominated this match, from the start until the moment that England equalized in the 84th minute. Spain went ahead in the 54th minute, Athenea Del Castillo beating Rachel Daly and playing the ball back into the path of Esther González, who supplied the finish. Del Castillo also provided the biggest other chance, when a cross-shot had Mary Earps in the England net scrambling to palm it away. The equalizer came via a move initiated by Lauren Hemp on the right, whose cross was headed down by Alessia Russo into the path of Ella Toone.
As the match went into Extra Time, it was busted coverage by the Spanish midfield which would provide the final twist, leaving Georgia Stanway the freedom of their attacking half from midfield. With the defense backing off, Stanway arrowed the ball from the top of the penalty arc past a despairing Sandra Paños in the 96th minute and England held on.
Thursday
#5 Germany 2–0 #21 Austria
Austria had the strongest chances in the opening minutes, with Marina Georgieva hitting the post with a header from a corner in the 13th minute. However, Germany scored against the run of play, trapping an indecisive Austrian defense before Klara Bühl set up Lina Magull to go ahead in the 26th minute. With the goal came more confidence and possession in dangerous areas but Manuela Zinsberger blocked a shot on goal by Svenja Huth in the 45th minute and it was a narrow lead at the half.
Guilia Gwinn started the second half hitting the post in the opening moments for Germany. Barbara Dunst hit the top of the crossbar on a dipping shot from Austria, deep in midfield in the 53rd minute. Sarah Puntigam hit the post from a corner only four minutes later but Austria could not break through. Bühl hit the crossbar in the 78th minute as Germany tried to push for a second goal. Bühl missed a tap in in the 82nd, but in the end it took until the 89th minute for Germany to score again, with captain Alex Popp charging down Zinsberger in the six yard box, breaking a record for consecutive games with a goal scored by a German woman.
Friday
#2 Sweden 1–0 #19 Belgium
A valiant rear-guard action by Belgium held out until the second minute of second half stoppage time, and Linda Sembrant broke the tie and Belgian hearts. Nonetheless, the Red Flames offered precious little in an attacking manner.
Saturday
#3 France 1–0 #4 Netherlands (After Extra Time)
France dominated the first half and probably deserved the win against an underpowered Netherlands squad featuring Viviane Miedema only just back from Covid. The winning goal came courtesy of a PK following a tackle which was largely a tangle of legs, but was a legitimate PK. Ève Périsset stepped up to score the winner and France weathered a spell of desperate Netherlands attacking to move on to their first ever major Semi-Final.
Upcoming Schedule (# is World Ranking):
Semi-Finals
Tuesday
#8 England v #2 Sweden— Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Both sides need to improve their efficiency, given their close victories in the Quarter-Finals. England also needs to prove its defensive solidity, since the hosts cannot gamble their tournament on rallying from behind in every game.
Wednesday
#5 Germany v #3 France — Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Germany are looking both efficient and lethal whereas France are lacking a finishing touch. I would expect Germany to advance.
