White Backs Germans for Final

England women's captain Faye White hopes that Norway break Germany’s domination of the UEFA European Women’s Championship in Sunday’s 2005 final at Ewood Park – but she feels that the Germans will collect a fourth successive title.

Germany eased into the final with a 4-1 victory on Wednesday evening against Finland, while 24 hours later Norway booked their final place with 3-2 win in extra time as they battled with Scandinavian rivals Sweden.

White said: "There are one or two factors working in Germany’s favour and not just the fact that they’re the top-ranked team in the world.

"For a start they’ve got an extra 24 hours to recover from their semi-final, which they were never really pushed in, and on top of that Norway had to expend so much energy not over 90 minutes but 120 to get past Sweden.

"With due respect to Finland, who did brilliantly to reach the semi-finals, the game was over almost before it started once the Germans had scored three times in the first 12 minutes.

"They’ve now got 12 goals and only conceded one, whereas Norway have scored nine but also conceded seven. So the Germans have been stronger in defence as well as attack and if they’re on form on Sunday, then Norway will have to be at their absolute best to win the match.

"I’d like to see the Norwegians do it to make a change from the usual outcome, although if the game goes as I think it probably will and Germany win then it will be four championships in a row for them and that would be an amazing feat.

"Norway will be tough opponents for them, though. I thought the Germans were a bit fortunate to beat them 1-0 when they met in their first group game and the Norwegians, although they’ll be tired after their semi-final, will be absolutely buzzing after beating their old rivals in the semi and I’m sure they’ll be firing on all cylinders.

"They’ve got one of the tournament’s outstanding players in Solveig Gulbrandsen, a great box-to-box midfielder who scored twice against Sweden and she’ll be one of the players to watch out for on Sunday.

"They’ve also got a great goalkeeper in Bente Nordby, who could be very important against the Germans, and their 16 year-old striker Isabell Herlovsen could be a real danger up alongside Lise Klaveness and Dagny Mellgren.

"I think the key battle could be Gulbrandsen against Renate Lingor in midfield, but all over the pitch there a big players who can cancel each other out.

"Where the Germans might have an important edge is up front. Their top striker Birgit Prinz hasn’t hit form yet after coming into the tournament injured, but they’ve got excellent players like Conny Pohlers and Inka Grings to take the weight off her and to score goals too.

"So although it would be nice to see different winners of the tournament for a change, I feel it will Germany again. I think it will be tight and Norway will give them a great fight, but I’m going for a 2-1 win to the Germans."