Finland 0-3 Germany: Player ratings as routine win sets Die Nationalelf up for knockout stages
By Tom Gott
Germany ended their Group B journey with a 100% record as they comfortably sent Finland packing with a 3-0 victory.
Both sides' fates had already been sealed prior to kick-off - Germany had already secured top spot while Finland were guaranteed to end up bottom - but goals from Sophia Kleinherne, Alexandra Popp and Nicole Anyomi ensured that Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side maintained their momentum heading into the knockout stages.
The group leaders came out with immense pace and had a number of half-chances within the opening minutes, with their movement proving far too much for Finland. Anna Signeul's side had to defend with real desperation at times and even had the odd run forwards on the counter, but Germany were overwhelmingly on top and you could sense that a goal was coming.
Striker Popp was a massive threat and twice close to opening the scoring 26 minutes in. She first poked a shot wide of Katriina Talaslahti's post before Marina Hegering's long-range strike indadvertedly struck Popp in the face and came perilously close to squeezing into the bottom corner.
That pressure finally paid off five minutes before the interval as Kleinherne found herself unmarked in the box to head home a Giulia Gwinn from just a few yards out.
Three minutes into the second half, another header found its way into the Finland net. This time, it was Popp who rose highest to thunder home from close range to get the goal that her performance deserved.
The pressure continued and young substitute Anyomi fired home a third after the hour, showing nice footwork in the box to create the space to open her international account for the team.
A string of late substitutions took the sting out of the game but Germany remained in cruise control for the remainder of the game, with one eye on the quarter-final against Austria on Thursday.
Finland vs Germany player ratings - Euro 2022
Finland (4-4-2)
GK: Katriina Talaslahti - 5/10 - Not as busy as the stats sheet may suggest.
RB: Nora Heroum - 4/10 - Had a tough time up against Buhl and was out of position for Kleinherne's opener.
CB: Elli Pikkujamsa - 4/10 - Can't fault the effort. Threw herself at everything but was simply no match for the quality facing her. A costly error for the third goal.
CB: Natalia Kuikka - 4/10 - Like Pikkujamsa, put an absolute shift in but to no avail.
LB: Emma Koivisto - 3/10 - Struggled massively up against Huth and co. Given the run-around whenever Germany came forwards. Mercifully withdrawn at the break.
RM: Adelina Engman - 4/10 - Didn't get a whole lot of time to strut her stuff on the ball and had to do more work defensively.
CM: Emmi Alanen - 5/10 - Found it hard to get time in possession as well. Constantly chasing the Germans.
CM: Eveliina Summanen - 6/10 - Did a nice job of getting Finland forward on the rare occasions in which that was possible.
LM: Heidi Kollanen - 4/10 - Ran a lot but wasn't afforded the chance to make any real impact.
ST: Linda Sallstrom - 4/10 - Similarly, did what she could but largely forced to chase lost causes.
ST: Juliette Kemppi - 4/10 - Tried to make something happen but, again, had neither the time nor the space.
SUB: Anna Auvinen - 5/10
SUB: Ria Oling - 5/10
SUB: Essi Sainio - 5/10
SUB: Amanda Rantanen - N/A
Germany (4-3-3)
GK: Merle Frohms - 6/10 - A spectator for the most part.
RB: Giulia Gwinn - 8/10 - Marauded down the right side with real ferocity. A lovely cross for the opening goal.
CB: Marina Hegering - 6/10 - Nearly had an excellent assist when her strike thundered off Popp's face.
CB: Sara Doorsoun - 7/10 - An intelligent performance to disrupt Finland's rare attacks before they had even really begun.
LB: Sophia Kleinherne - 8/10 - A nice move into the box for her opening goal. Had an injury scare early in the second half but appeared to shake it off.
CM: Sara Dabritz - 8/10 - Some sensational movement and vision to keep Germany in the ascendency.
CM: Lena Lattwein - 7/10 - Class on the ball helped Germany keep coming forwards time and time again. A classy performance.
CM: Linda Dallmann - 8/10 - A really impressive showing. Absolutely everywhere as she made as much of an impact as possible.
RW: Svenja Huth - 9/10 - Just a constant threat down the right. Flew forward and breezed past everyone in the first half.
ST: Alexandra Popp - 9/10 - Showed really smart movement to offer a focal point to Germany's attack. Got up very well for her headed goal.
LW: Klara Buhl - Not as devastating as her attacking team-mates but still looked a real problem for Finland.
SUB: Kathrin Hendrich - 7/10
SUB: Nicole Anyomi - 8/10
SUB: Tabea Wassmuth - 6/10
SUB: Jule Brand - 7/10
SUB: Olga Ahtinen - 7/10
SUB: Laura Freigang - N/A