Interviews

Gross says Euros final too tough to call

German will be backing his country in today's showpiece at Wembley.

By Luke Nicoli • 31 July 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
England beat Spain 2-1 in the quarter-finals at the Amex.

Pascal Gross admits he will be cheering on Germany in today's WEUROS final against England at Wembley, and although it appears to be to close to call, he is confident it will be a spectacle to remember.

“I have to admit that I haven’t watched a lot of women’s football in the past, but this time I started watching it and it has been unbelievable.” he said. “I watched a couple of England’s group games and the semi-finals, along with the German games as well, and I have to say that the quality has been really good.

“What I have seen is really high-end football, with the players showing excellent technical ability, which is really entertaining to watch. I will definitely continue to watch going forward now.”

By Paul Hazlewood
England's Beth Mead is joint top of the tournament's goal scoring charts, alongside Germany's Alexandra Popp.

Germany head into this afternoon’s game with history on their side. They have won the competition eight times, while England are searching for their first victory, but Gross believes the game can go either way.

“It’s a tough one to call, as all Germany v England games are, be it the men’s team or the women’s team,” he added. “Anything can happen in these one-off games and often luck comes into it too.

“Of course, I hope for a Germany win but what I do know is that it’s going to be a really good final, in front of a capacity crowd at Wembley and in front of the biggest attendance in the history of this competition, which is brilliant. It will be an occasion that will again highlight the progress of the women’s game. I’ll definitely be tuning in.”

Gross, a former Germany U19 international, is hoping for a dream double this year, with the men’s World Cup finals fast approaching on the horizon in Qatar.

“You always hope for your country to do as well and win the World Cup. Like England, the ambitions are always big for Germany, the hope is always high, but it will be tough because a lot of good teams have qualified.

“You can never count against a German team though, especially in these tournaments because we know what it takes to win and we have a lot of good history in the competition. Like with the women’s team right now, it will be tough but we are always in with a good chance of success.”