Bobby Moore and Millie Bright
Bobby Moore [left] lifted the 1966 World Cup for England after they beat West Germany in the final, while Millie Bright (right) scored in the Lionesses' first win over Germany on home soil in February

In English football history, there is no greater rival than Germany, so it is only right that the two teams play each other on Sunday.

The fairytale ending to England's summer is a possibility, but they must do what no other women's team has done before - beat Germany.

Germany are not just any team.

Their football history is intertwined with that of England. Since 1966, when Bobby Moore's side won the World Cup, the men have been afraid of them.

The women's rivalry with Germany was not called that because it was one-sided.

13 years after Germany beat England in the last Euro final, SarinaWiegman's side now have a chance to get back in the game.

Casey Stoney, Kelly Smith and Karen Carney
(From left to right) Casey Stoney, Kelly Smith and Karen Carney all played in the 2009 final defeat by Germany

Meeting with Germany have not gone well, that's an understatement.

They have beaten the Lionesses in 21 of their 27 matches, with England only winning twice and suffering more losses than any other nation.

It was a 19-game losing streak against their rivals that left England's players in tears as they were defeated in a game in 2009.

"I'm surrounded by the familiar sound of boisterous, jubilant Germans, and I'm not the only one," said commentator and host Jacqui Oatley. We have been here before.

Germany has dominated European football for a long time. In the tournaments they have competed in, the eight-time champion have never reached the final. Their fourth place finish in 1993 is still their worst.

You have to go back decades to understand why there has been a gulf between Germany and England.

Between 1921 and 1971 England banned women from playing football, while Germany allowed it.

While their domestic league was established, a successful youth system, a growing professionalism and trained coaches appeared in Germany.

Germany's foundations for success were already in place when England arrived.

England lose to Germany in 2009 final
England have lost both of their Women's Euro finals to Sweden in 1984 and Germany in 2009

Both the men's and women's sides are changing.

It was 55 years ago that England's men last won a knockout tie against Germany.

England's women won the Arnold Clark Cup in February for the first time.

England's 14 goals in the group stages of the Euros set a new record, beating Germany's 11 from 2001.

When England and Germany meet again in a major tournament final, will they still fear each other as they used to?

In 2009, the gulf between England and Germany was huge. Alex Scott, who played for England, said after the semi-final win over Sweden that they were part-time.

Since that time, the game has evolved on the continent. The teams are not afraid of Germany. There is a feeling of being in front of them.

England against Germany in the 1996 penalty shootout
England manager Gareth Southgate missed the decisive penalty in the 1996 shootout defeat to Germany

There are penalties.

It is enough to make any England fan shiver. It's the stuff of nightmares if you add Germany.

The men's team has won six of the seven shootouts they have played in major tournaments, and two of them were against England.

England lost in the 1984 Women's Euros final when they went to a penalty shootout.

Is England more prepared this time?

"We have been doing our work and I'm not giving away any training secrets but we have been doing it," said the captain.

Alexandra Popp celebrates for Germany
Germany striker Alexandra Popp is joint-top scorer at Euro 2022 alongside England's Beth Mead

Both teams won all three of their games at the Euros.

England's Beth Mead and Germany'sAlexandra Popp each have six goals to their name.

Even though England are the favorites to win the competition on home soil, the side have done well.

Fara Williams, who played for England, said that they seem to be the Germany of old.

They were unknown when they entered the tournament, but now we know who they are.

England lose to Germany in a friendly at Wembley in 2019
England lost in a friendly to Germany at Wembley in 2019 as the women set a new home crowd record

It will be a last to remember.

Wembley has a capacity of 87,200 and tickets for the game have sold out.

It could be the most watched Euros game ever.

The current record for a Lionesses' home international was broken when 77,768 watched England lose to Germany.

England fans feel a sense of nostalgia, dread and hope as they prepare for the final.

It would be the most romantic of endings for the Lionesses to win their first major tournament and defeat Germany in the final of the European Women's Championship.

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