England Triumphs Over Germany: Tactical Breakdown of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final
After decades of waiting, England’s national football team finally clinched their first major international women’s trophy, defeating Germany 2-1 in the climactic Euro 2022 final. Sarina Wiegman’s side showcased exceptional discipline and tactical acumen throughout the tournament, conceding just two goals while netting an impressive 22. Their hard-fought encounter with Germany was not only a testament to their skill and resilience but also highlighted the coaching decisions and adaptability that set them apart. This analysis unpacks England’s journey to victory, including detailed tactical insights from the final.
England’s Tactical Approach: Consistency and Structure
England’s manager, Sarina Wiegman, prioritized stability in her squad throughout the Euros. She fielded the same starting eleven and relied on a trusted group of substitutes through all six matches — a rare feat in modern tournaments. This unchanging setup fostered excellent chemistry and understanding across the pitch. Rachel Daly’s deployment at left-back typified Wiegman’s approach: maximizing effort and attacking threat, even if it meant occasional vulnerabilities. However, England found renewed confidence and attacking dynamism as impactful substitutes such as Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, Alex Greenwood, and Chloe Kelly entered the match, especially during the tense moments of the final.
Key Players: Individual Brilliance Underpinning Team Success
Beth Mead emerged as a standout performer, earning the tournament’s Golden Boot thanks to her clinical finishing and creative influence. On the day of the final, Chloe Kelly’s high-energy cameo disrupted Germany’s build-up and helped England see out the closing moments. Mary Earps, the team’s goalkeeper, delivered another commanding display, making five crucial saves and demonstrating calmness under pressure with a remarkable tally of 14 recoveries. However, it was Keira Walsh’s midfield mastery that truly stood out in the final. Her composure, vision, and ability to dictate play played an instrumental role in England’s attacking transitions and control of the tempo.
England in Possession: Intelligent Build-Up and Game Management
England’s shape with the ball often mirrored a 2-4-4 structure, with Georgia Stanway dropping deep to partner Keira Walsh and facilitate safe progression from the back. Walsh acted as the orchestrator, consistently seeking forward passes and slotting balls through defensive lines, notably supplying Beth Mead and triggering attacks. Leah Williamson, operating primarily at center-back, often attracted pressure before releasing the ball to Walsh, manufacturing pockets of space for England’s midfield to exploit.
The highlight of England’s possession dominance came during crucial game phases. After taking the lead, the Lionesses expertly managed the clock, spending much of the final minutes shielding the ball in the corners — a testament to Kelly and Russo’s tactical awareness and composure. These efforts frustrated Germany, preventing them from gaining any meaningful late momentum.
England’s Defensive Tactics: Adaptability and Intensity
Defensively, England shifted flexibly between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, demonstrating discipline in screening passes aimed at Germany’s attacking threats. The double pivot of Stanway and Walsh was key in limiting service into the opposition’s creative midfielders. During moments when England became narrow in transition, Germany sometimes found space out wide, but England’s center-backs and goalkeeper were unwavering — consistently blocking shots and intercepting dangerous plays.
Walsh was pivotal in transitions, frequently the first to win back possession with 15 recoveries. Nonetheless, the entire English defensive unit showed extraordinary bravery, with Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, and Earps making crucial interventions to keep Germany at bay.
Germany’s Setup: A Flexible Formation and Standout Performers
Germany approached the final with a nominal 4-3-3 formation, though this shifted throughout the game. Lina Magull operated in an advanced midfield role, effectively driving attacking transitions. The heart of their setup was Lena Oberdorf, who anchored the midfield, broke up play, and allowed creative teammates like Magull and Sara Däbritz to advance. Kathrin-Julia Hendrich delivered a commanding defensive performance, using her pace and timing to thwart England’s wingers and clear dangerous situations.
Crucially, late substitutions, including the introduction of Tabea Waßmuth and Sydney Lohmann, injected greater attacking intent, sparking Germany’s best moments and resulting in their only goal. However, the absence of striker Alexandra Popp (a last-minute omission) forced Germany to adjust centrally, affecting their threat in crucial moments.
Germany in Possession: Direct Attacks, Missed Opportunities
Germany favored swift attacking transitions, with full-backs like Giulia Gwinn pushing forward to deliver crosses (although few met their targets). Key attacking moves involved seeking out Lea Schüller with through-balls exploiting gaps between England’s center-backs. Despite building pressure, Germany’s final passes and crossing were often off-target, and they struggled to fully capitalize on promising situations.
Set-pieces provided a notable threat, particularly with Marina Hegering nearly converting at the back post. Germany’s goal, orchestrated by Lohmann and finished by Magull, showcased their ability to break down organized defenses with intricate combination play.
Defending Out of Possession: Germany’s Pressing and Defensive Structure
Out of possession, Germany varied their shape between a 4-3-3 and a more compact 4-1-3-2, depending on the match phase. Lena Oberdorf remained at the base, tirelessly covering ground and tracking midfield runners. Hendrich excelled in one-on-one duels and was instrumental in breaking up English counters.
Germany’s pressing was highly ball-oriented and adaptable, but this sometimes left them exposed to England’s quick combinations, particularly when Keira Walsh bypassed the press. The German backline’s inability to contain Walsh’s pinpoint passing was a crucial factor, especially during England’s first goal and set-piece situations leading to the decisive winner.
Conclusion: England’s Historic Moment and Lasting Impact
England’s triumph at Euro 2022 was the product of meticulous preparation, tactical flexibility, and outstanding individual displays. With their first major women’s international trophy secured — and their first since the men’s 1966 World Cup — England’s victory marks a new era for women’s football in the country. Their blend of consistency, key player performances, and well-rehearsed tactical plans overcame a formidable German side and resonated with fans at home and abroad. This historic win cements England’s place at the pinnacle of European football and sets the stage for continued growth of the women’s game.
