England set for women's EURO 2022 final clash against Germany

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - England's lionesses are set to face Germany in the historic EURO 2022 final on Sunday, seeking their first championship.

The English team will play in their third European championship final after 1984 and 2009 when they were the runners-up.

In case of a triumph, England's women would end their nation's at least five-decade long ill-fate in major football tournaments.

English men won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the country's sole major title in football. They reached the UEFA EURO 2020 final, but to no avail.

Italy were crowned the EURO 2020 winners defeating England on penalties at London's Wembley Stadium.

Germany are the most successful team in EURO tournaments, winning it for eight times, the last one in 2013.

In the 2017 tournament, Germany reached the quarterfinals.

England have been eliminated in the EURO 2017 semis as the Netherlands, who were crowned the champions then, beat them 3-0 in Enschede.

The Lionesses on Sunday will play in front of a home crowd at Wembley, and the match will start at 1600 GMT.

- Road to final

The EURO 2022 hosts, England won Group A, beating all their opponents: Austria, Norway and Northern Ireland.

The Lionesses scored 14 goals, but did not concede any in the group stage.

England eliminated Spain 2-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals, and then hammered Sweden 4-0 in a semifinal match on Tuesday.

Germany won Group B, having nine points in three matches against Spain, Denmark and Finland. They scored nine goals and had clean sheet in their group.

In the quarterfinals, Germany beat Austria 2-0, and toppled rivals France 2-1 in the semifinals this week as midfielder Alexandra Popp scored twice.

As a team, England scored 20 goals, while Germany tallied 13 goals.

Germany's Popp scored six goals in five matches to tie English forward Beth Mead in the tournament's top scorers list.

English midfielder Alessia Russo currently ranks third in this list as the 23-year-old scored four goals.