Germany Women vs Austria Women. Women's European Championship Quarter-Final.
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Report as goals in either half from Lina Magull and Alexandra Popp see Germany through to Euro 2022 semi-finals with 2-0 win over Austria in Brentford; Austria hit woodwork three times as underdogs fail to find way through against old rivals
Friday 22 July 2022 07:06, UK
Germany showed their ruthless streak again as Lina Magull and Alexandra Popp pounced on defensive errors to beat Austria 2-0 and reach the Euro 2022 semi-finals.
Germany had blown away Denmark, Spain and Finland to win Group C at a canter but were given a run for their money by a surprisingly front-foot Austrian performance, and were indebted to some fine luck and wayward finishing before Popp's late second from a Manuela Zinsberger howler.
Marina Georgieva's early header first cannoned back off the post in a bright Austria start, before Germany took the lead when their high press caused a defensive mix-up which gave Magull a simple finish from 12 yards (25).
Both sides would strike the goalframe twice after half-time, with Sarah Puntigam denied when she looked certain to score from a corner Germany had failed to clear.
Klara Buhl then struck the bar herself from long range before missing an open goal minutes later as Germany pressed for a second.
It did follow in the final minute of normal time when Zinsberger's goal-kick cannoned off Popp's back and in to leave the goalkeeper red-faced, and Germany celebrating another win - and another clean sheet - to set up a semi-final against either France or Netherlands next Wednesday.
Lefty Gomez, a New York Yankees baseball pitcher from the 1930s, is credited with the saying "I'd rather be lucky than good." Being both is certainly not a bad position to be in.
That is about where this Germany side find themselves now - having scored 11 goals without reply in their four Euro 2022 games to move themselves two wins from the trophy.
They haven't needed to draw on much luck to this point but it was in strong supply to secure safe passage past Austria, who will leave with a tinge of regret given their brushes with the Germany goalframe in either half.
Both of Germany's goals came from Popp's pressing on Zinsberger, the same tactic which had borne fruit in their group-stage win over Spain. For the first, she forced the Arsenal goalkeeper into a hurried clearance, which was quickly nodded back in midfield for Klara Buhl, whose square was worked to Magull to sidefoot home.
The second was simpler - and a nightmare for the Austria No 1. Teed up by Georgieva at a goal kick, her attempted clearance hit the Germany striker and rebounded straight into the empty net, although it likely came too late to make a difference to the end result.
As much as Germany made their own luck through their quality of attack, so Austria made theirs with some wayward finishing. Georgieva was left unmarked at an early Austria corner but could only find the woodwork.
Puntigam later had the goal at her mercy from 12 yards when another fell to her, before she again rattled the goalframe to let Germany off the hook.
On paper, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side will face their toughest test yet in the semi-finals. Whoever they come up against in Milton Keynes will need to learn from Austria's mistakes, because Germany have proven they will be relentless - and clinical - if they don't.
Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg: "We're very happy to win, we were deserved winners and it was as intense as we expected. Austria played well from set-pieces and in the moment where we didn't do things well, they hurt us. Thankfully, they didn't score, which helped us.
"We wanted to come over the flanks and the opening goal was fantastically played, at half-time we changed a few things in terms of positioning. We weren't courageous enough in terms of getting into the right positions before half-time and spoke about it at the break, and then we were a lot calmer after half-time.
"It took a long time to score the second which was a pity, but it was a great game for the fans - compliments to Austria, they did what we expected which was to play good football, with a clear plan and a good mentality."
Germany will take on the winner of Saturday's quarter-final between France and reigning champions Netherlands at Stadium MK next Wednesday; kick-off at 8pm.
Quarter-finals
Wednesday July 20
Quarter-final 1: England 2-1 Spain (AET)
Thursday July 21
Quarter-final 2: Germany 2-0 Austria
Friday July 22
Quarter-final 3: Sweden vs Belgium - kick-off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village
Saturday July 23
Quarter-final 4: France vs Netherlands - kick-off 8pm, New York Stadium
Semi-finals
Tuesday July 26
Semi-final 1: England vs Sweden or Belgium - kick-off 8pm, Bramall Lane
Wednesday July 27
Semi-final 2: Germany or Austria vs France or Netherlands - kick-off 8pm, Stadium MK
Final
Sunday July 31
Winners semi-final 1 v Winners semi-final 2 - kick-off 5pm, Wembley
Sky Sports News and Sky Sports' digital platforms will be following every step of England's Euro 2022 journey ahead of Tuesday's semi-final.
On the road, the Sky Sports News Mobile Presentation bus will continue to bring you all the best guests and analysis from the likes of Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Laura Bassett offering their expert insight. The bus will be based in the heart of Sheffield ahead of England's last four fixture, before heading to Wembley for the final.
Across SkySports.com, the Sky Sports App and on social media, we'll have all the big moments covered with our previews, features, reports, analysis, plus the the Sky Sports Women's Euros podcast with Sky Sports' senior football journalist Charlotte Marsh and Sky Sports News reporter Anton Toloui.
And if you're new to the England squad, don't worry - here's our guide to meeting the Lionesses.
As well as England, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports digital will also be covering all the knockout games as we head towards the showpiece final on July 31.
