UpdatedJuly 20, 2022, 11:38 PM
Women’s EuroEngland pull off a small miracle against Spain
The English went six minutes from elimination during “their” Euro 2022. But they ended up playing Spain in the quarter-finals (2-1 ap).
Scorer in the 84th minute, Ella Toone allowed England to stay alive in this quarter-final of the Women’s Euro.
AFP
The “Lionesses” roar again! But the ax did not go far for the organizing country of this European Championship. Close to six minutes in fact, during a quarter-final of one hell of an intensity. The English ended up getting out of it and fortunately for the tournament, which needs them so that the fervor remains in place between now and the final at Wembley, scheduled for July 31.
Was it the pressure? Or a certain tension that tends to invade English players as soon as a trophy seems within reach and their fans finally believe in a first title since the 1966 World Cup won at home by these gentlemen? Because the “Lionesses” entered their meeting very badly. Worse, they conceded the opener and almost didn’t make it.
In Brighton, they did not frame a single shot in the first period and largely abandoned possession to the Iberians who revel in it. England then tried to correct the situation, but for once the Spaniards were realistic. In the 54th minute, on their first clear opportunity of the match, the first real chance for that matter, Esther Gonzalez turned a cross shot taken in the penalty area into gold.
Toone blows up the stadium
In the aftermath, England threw all its forces into battle. It was, however, very messy and apart from a quadruple chance fifteen minutes from the end – all the shots were blocked by the Spanish defence, we ended up believing that they would never succeed. Fortunately, Ella Toone blew up the stadium in the 84th, on a discount that the Spaniards have long considered tainted with a fault. In the extra time, it was Georgia Stanway who finished the job and sent his troops to 7th heaven with a clear shot from 20 meters which Spanish goalkeeper Sandra Paños will undoubtedly have a nightmare for a long time.
Thursday evening, it will be Germany’s turn to try to find their place in the last four. The players of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, the former coach of the Swiss team, will start as the big favourites. The proof? Even the Austrian coach already seems happy to be on the pitch at Brentford. “It’s fantastic and already hard to believe that we passed the first round, laughed Irene Fuhrmann in a pre-match press conference. However, we are realistic about our next opponent: Germany are playing well and it will be complicated…”