Magull and Schüller lead Germany to emphatic opening win over Denmark

German’s Lena Lattwein (right) celebrates scoring her sides third goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B match at Brentford Community Stadium, London. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Never underestimate the Germans. Their coach, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, had wondered whether they might catch a few opponents off guard this summer after a couple of modest showings at major tournaments, as wild a notion as that might seem given they have won the European Championship eight times. On this evidence, who could possibly believe they will not win a ninth?

A fancied Denmark were overwhelmed in an urgent, fluent performance that would have merited an even wider margin of victory. Germany settled for a first-half goal from the excellent Lina Magull before strikes later on from Lea Schüller and two substitutes, Lena Lattwein and Alexandra Popp; it means their meeting with Spain here on Tuesday will probably settle the winners of Group B and ensures Denmark, for whom Pernille Harder had little chance to shine in a subdued attack, cannot afford to fall short when they face Finland.