Germany vs France LIVE: Euro 2022 result and final score as Alexandra Popp double sets up England final

This is France’s first ever Women’s Championship semi-final tie, the only one of this year’s four semi-finalists to reach this stage for the first time.

Each of the last four first-time semi-finalists were eliminated (Spain 1997, Finland 2005, Netherlands 2009, Austria 2017).

Germany were the last team to progress in 1989.

Germany have won eight of the last 10 European Championships. There have only been 12 Euros to date.

They progressed from eight of their nine semi-finals, failing only against Italy in 1993.

They are the giants of this competition.

Warm-ups are underway, just over 30 minutes to go until kick off.

The weather has turned in Milton Keynes and it’s drizzling over the fans as they arrive at the stadium ahead on kick off.

This is going to be a close match, either team can win it and the odds of it going to extra-time are quite favourable. Which sets of supporters will be cheering at the end of the night?

Captain Leah Williamson has stressed England’s focus is on completing their task after the Euro 2022 hosts secured a place in Sunday’s final at Wembley.

After goals from Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby saw them power to a 4-0 semi-final victory over Sweden at Bramall Lane, the Lionesses are in their first major tournament final since Euro 2009.

Either Germany or France will be the opponents as they look to get their hands on major silverware for the first time in their history.

When asked about the development English women’s football has had and working towards a moment like Sunday, Williamson said: “We started a journey, and people have changed the game.”

Alessia Russo has spoken of how much she is enjoying herself on the pitch after her brilliant back-heel in England’s 4-0 Euro 2022 semi-final triumph over Sweden.

Substitute Russo notched the third goal at Bramall Lane in the 68th minute when she back-heeled the ball through Hedvig Lindahl’s legs after the goalkeeper had parried her initial shot.

It was a fourth goal for the Manchester United striker in the Lionesses’ home Euros campaign, which will now conclude with Sunday’s final at Wembley against either Germany or France.

Russo, who is at her first major international tournament and has come off the bench to replace Ellen White in each of England’s five matches, said when asked about her confidence levels: “I’m loving it, so that helps with confidence.”

England are preparing for their first European Championship final since 2009 thanks to a stunning 4-0 win over Sweden at Bramall Lane.

The Lionesses, who have never won the competition, will face either France or Germany in Sunday’s Wembley decider following goals from Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby.

Here we pick out three players who have been instrumental to the hosts’ Euro 2022 campaign.

Just over an hour to go until kick off.

Germany captain Alexandra Popp has won a lot with her country. She’s got an Olympic gold, a Fifa Under-20s World Cup, multiple Uefa Women’s Champions League and Frauen-Bundesliga titles as well as individual honours including 118 international caps.

But, she’s never won the Women’s European Championship.

Popp was sidelined with serious injuries for both the 2013 and 2017 editions of the competition, with a torn ankle ligament and a meniscus issue respectively, then in early 2021, she suffered a potentially career-ending injury when a piece of cartilage broke off inside her knee.

Had the tournament not been postponed until 2022, she would have missed the finals for a third consecutive time and after playing Germany’s opening fixture at Brentford Popp said:

“It was a really special moment because I had the feeling that many people had already written me off,

“I was able to show with my fighting spirit and mentality that I’m still a force to be reckoned with. I’m not just here to make up the numbers.”

Germany boss, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, makes one enforced change as Klara Buhl drops out after testing positive for Covid-19 and Jule Brand comes in to replace her.

France are unchanged from the side that defeated Netherlands in the quarter-finals.