The U.S. Women’s National Team played its final home match before kicking off the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, taking on Wales on Sunday, July 9 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
With less than three weeks until opening the group stage in New Zealand, the USA ran out against a Wales side that narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification.
Ahead of this special game, midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Alex Morgan were named by U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski as captains of the U.S. Women’s National Team leading into the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Morgan has 206 caps and 121 goals and will be playing in her fourth World Cup. She has 18 World Cup matches and nine World Cup goals while helping the USA to victory in both 2015 and 2019.
Horan has 128 caps and 27 goals and will be playing in her second World Cup.
The pair formally step into the leadership void created by an injury to Becky Sauerbrunn.
The squad for the tournament features experienced veterans such as Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan – both of whom were World Cup winners in 2015 and 2019 – as well as rising stars in the shape of forwards Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman.
Wales were skippered by Agharad James for this game as regular captain Sophie Ingle was suspended.
USA passed the ball with comfortable style in the opening exchanges as the visitors scurried about in the Californian midday sunshine, denying their hosts time on the ball whenever possible.
Horan led the line with presence though. Her header from the centre of the box was saved in the centre of the goal by Olivia Clark. Horan was assisted by Andi Sullivan.
Despite the dominance of the home side, the determined visitors kept their hosts at bay during the first half an hour. Lily Woodham collected a real shiner from a heavy collision with Alyssa Thompson. She was replaced by Esther Morgan at half time.
Sophie Smith had sparkled for the hosts and a late header from Ashley Sanchez almost gave the USA an interval leader. Hayley Ladd, Josie Green and Rhiannon Roberts in particular, had stood tall for the Welsh though to send the teams in at 0-0.
Wales continued to battle in the second half. Gemma Evans was composed at left back. Up top, Kayleigh Green led the line with energy. USA began to look a little frustrated? Their poor finishing was costing them.
The wonderful Green did superbly to head off the line to deny Alana Cook on 67 minutes. She and the tiring Carrie Jones left the proceedings shortly afterwards.
The home fans had their moment to cheer though as, on 76 minutes, Smith broke through the Welsh ranks to set up an easy chance for Rodman. The Washington Spirit star made no mistake to fire into an empty net. Much glee for 18,000 spectators.
Ceri Holland saw yellow as Wales tried to rescue the game but the US team were showing a swagger now as, inevitably, the Welsh began to wilt. Rodman curled in a second with style and panache.
The hosts had been made to work hard for this victory. Wales had stood firm but, in the end, the guile of Smith and composure of Rodman had proved too strong.
USA head to the forthcoming World Cup as the team to beat.
USA 2
Cymru (Wales) 0
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Scotland moved one step closer to their dream of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Austria & New Zealand with a narrow 1-0 victory against Austria after extra time in their semi-final play-off at Hampden.
Before the match there was a presentation on the field to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Scotland’s first Women’s match back in 1972.
Surviving members of that team came on to the pitch to receive a warm round of applause from the record 10,182 crowd for a competitive Women’s match in Scotland.
The conditions were tough for the players as the relentless rain continued throughout the majority of the match and both teams were finding it hard to get a grip of the game.
With few chances for both sides it seemed inevitable that the match would drift into extra-time and be decided either by a single goal or penalties.
A moment of magic from Scotland’s substitute Abi Harrison won the match when she bulleted a header from a corner kick past the Austrian keeper in the first couple of minutes of extra time.
After the match Scotland’s manager Pedro Martinez Losa was pleased with his win over the Euro 2022 quarter finalists:
“The mental strength helped us find the result against a very difficult opponent.”
The reward for Scotland’s victory is a one-off home match against the Republic of Ireland in the play-off Final. However the complicated qualifying system means that the winner of that match is not guaranteed a place at the finals as only the top two ranked playoff winners advance automatically.
The third play-off winners having instead to compete in an inter-confederation play-off tournament early next year involving nine other teams.
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]]>Evergreen Wales star Jess Fishlock struck a wonderful volley during extra time to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina and clinch a memorable victory at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Even by the standards of recent football nights in the Welsh capital, this was an evening of the highest drama. The game saw four disallowed goals for Wales before Fishlock’s spectacular winner.
The victory sets Wales up for a challenging encounter with a talented Swiss side next week. Victory could see Gemma Grainger’s side qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
A complex series of potential results could also see them feature in an inter-confederation play-off in New Zealand in February to try and reach the finals.
A crowd of 15,200 attended the Cardiff City clash, breaking the attendance record for a home Welsh women’s football international set as recently as September at the same venue.
Fishlock returned from injury for the home side, but evergreen Natasha Harding was missing due to personal reasons. Rhiannon Roberts and Rachel Rowe each earned their 50th cap for Wales.
The game also saw the use of VAR for the first time at a women’s international in Wales.
Wales almost made a dream start but Fishlock’s drive was blocked by the visiting defence with barely a minute played. Brighton’s Kayleigh Green also eluded her markers a moment later to send a dangerous cross into the box. Perhaps a hint of offside though.
It was Fishlock again who stung the hands of visiting keeper Almina Hodžić next as Wales looked rampant going forward. The holder of 119 caps was in determined form for the home team.
However Wales were grateful to their own keeper Laura O’Sullivan who kept out a clever effort from Marija Aleskić before Ceri Holland headed firmly at Hodžić as this entertaining game swung from end to end.
Green had the ball in the net on 14 minutes following neat footwork by the effervescent Fishlock but an offside flag denied her the goal. Fishlock’s endeavour also led to a chance which Holland sent crashing against the woodwork.
The game settled down as Bosnia and Herzegovina slowly came into things, though a flick-on on from Green led to a chance for Holland as we neared the half-hour mark.
Rowe also tested Hodžić from 20 yards or so but the custodian was up to the task. Angharad James sent an acrobatic effort over the bar as half-time loomed.
Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle sought to drive her team on at every opportunity as a Welsh goal seemed increasingly likely. Visiting skipper Melisa Hasanbegović had been in determined mood throughout though as she led her side off level at the interval.
The opening exchanges of the second half lacked the gusto of the first as the visitors, led by the impressive Minela Gačanica up top, forced the hosts onto the back foot.
Birthday girl Hayley Ladd, who had enjoyed a sound performance so far, almost blotted her copy book on 55 minutes as her header back towards goal eluded O’Sullivan. The Manchester United defender saved her own blushes though by scrambling the ball clear.
The Red Wall of home fans did their best to lift the spirits of the Welsh team as Green and Fishlock continued to give their all. Chances had become rare though. Green had a second effort chalked off for offside on 64 minutes.
Spanish Referee Marta Huerta De Aza brandished yellow cards as tempers began to fray with so much to play for.
Despite the Welsh efforts, most of the chances came from around the edge of the penalty area. Fishlock stretched to connect with into a deep ball into danger as extra time beckoned.
Ffion Morgan replaced Carrie Jones with 10 minutes left on the clock and the youngster smashed the ball home with what may have been her first touch. Yet again an offside flag denied Wales – assisted by VAR. The decision seemed harsh. Fishlock soon had the ball in the net again but was also denied glory by the officials. The fourth disallowed goal of the night.
The Welsh threw everything forward as the seconds ticked away towards four added minutes. More yellow cards as bodies tumbled all around.
Extra time.
Morgan posed a threat out wide as Grainger’s girls threw their tired limbs forward against a packed and determined defence. Holland headed narrowly over from one of many unproductive corners. One way traffic now though.
The moment the home crowd craved finally arrived as the talismanic Fishlock hooked in a memorable volley with virtually the last kick of the first spell of extra time. Wild scenes erupted on the field as the entire side engulfed her in celebration.
Wales rolled up their collective sleeves. Nerves jangled in the stands as this long night continued to thrill. The visitors threw on a collection of subs as the moments ebbed away.
Unsurprisingly, an exhausted Fishlock left the field with five minutes to go, to be replaced by the experienced Helen Ward.
It should have been all about game management now but the home side continued to drive forward in search of a crucial second goal. Megan Wynne replaced the mighty Green with three added minutes left at the end of extra time. The home crowd roared out the anthem. It was enough to drive the Welsh home.
The final whistle brought scenes of glee and exhaustion as the home side collapsed to the turf.
Fishlock was grabbed by the media for interview before she had even left the field as the whole stadium milked the moment.
What a night.
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Republic of Ireland defeated Finland 1-0 in front of a record home crowd in their penultimate Women’s World Cup qualifying group match.
Victory for the Irish secured them second place in Group A behind leaders Sweden and brings with it the prize of a play-off spot for next year’s World Cup Finals in Australia and New Zealand.
A record crowd for a Women’s match in Ireland of just under 7,000 filled the Tallaght stadium in Dublin for the crucial match against Finland.
It was a nervous first half from the Irish and as early as the fourth minute Finland nearly got in around the back of the Irish defence but the attack was cleared for a corner by Megan Connolly. Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan then flapped at the cross from the corner kick and the ball had to be cleared off the line by Katie McCabe.
Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)
It was 25 minutes in before Ireland got their first corner from which they nearly scored. The corner went deep into the back post where Quinn headed it back across goal for Diane Caldwell to head off the crossbar. A couple of minutes later there was pinball in the Irish box with Brosnan having to make a great save to keep it at 0-0.
Irish eyes were smiling in the 54th minute when a free kick was floated into the Finland box from Connolly. Lily Agg found herself unmarked to head it home to make it 1-0 to Ireland and a step closer to that elusive place in the play offs.
Amazing the difference a goal makes as the Irish players looked so much sharper after their goal with McCabe and O’Sullivan taking control of the game.
In the 67th minute Payne should have wrapped it up for the Irish but her shot was weak and straight into the goalkeeper’s hands with the goal wide open. In the 93rd minute Ireland were nearly punished for not getting that second goal as a great chance fell to Sällström whose header sailed wide of the Irish goal from only ten yards out.
Tears of relief from the Irish players greeted the final whistle as they kept their dream alive of qualifying for a Women’s World Cup for the first time.
If Ireland win in Slovakia on Tuesday in their final group match they will increase their chances further by going into the play off draw as a seeded team.
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]]>Gemma Grainger’s gallant Welsh side had to dig deep into their reserves at the Cardiff City Stadium but held out to record another historic night for Welsh football.
Wales had never reached the final stages of a major tournament before but, thanks to that great 1-0 away victory over Greece last week, Grainger’s side entered the tie against Slovenia requiring just a single point from this final qualifier to reach next month’s play-offs
Such is the interest in the national side these days that the game was held at the Cardiff City Stadium, where Gareth Bale and the boys had themselves clinched World Cup qualification against Ukraine earlier this year.
Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle captained the home side whilst the scorer of that all important goal against Greece, Carrie Jones of Leicester City also started.
Angharad James from Pembrokeshire started in midfield to win her 100th cap for Wales, the youngest ever centurion for Wales at only 28 years of age and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Lara Prašnikar led the attack for Jarc Borut’s dangerous side.
Swirling rain did little to dampen the spirits of a record breaking crowd of 12,74. The attendance dwarfed the previous record for a Welsh Women’s international of 5,455 set when Wales beat Estonia 4-0 in October. The “Red Wall” of Wales fans delivered renditions of all their terrace anthems as the game enjoyed a “big match” atmosphere.
With the visitors also assured of a play-off spot if they could overcome their hosts, the opening exchanges were lively as neither side seemed ready to sit back.
Slovenian captain Mateja Zver warmed the hands of Laura O’Sullivan after 10 minutes as the hosts faced a spell of pressure. The save brought enthusiastic cheers from the home fans behind the amateur goalie’s net.
Slovenia continued to show their intent but Rachel Rowe led the way with some spirited defence for the home side. Brighton’s Kayleigh Green and Tash Harding of Aston Villa chased everything up front.
The dangerous Zver almost opened the scoring after half an hour but her effort whizzed narrowly over the woodwork with O’Sullivan beaten.
Wales responded with a cross from Green which skipper Sophie Ingle could only push wide of the post with a delicate touch.
The large crowd were enjoying a robust encounter. The visitors attacked with verve and the hosts also enjoyed their share of the spoils.
As we neared the interval Green narrowly failed to connect with a searching cross from Rhiannon Roberts. The massed ranks of home fans responded with a lusty rendition of the Welsh hymn Calon Lân as the game continued to excite.
Visiting No 1 Zala Meršnik had been the quieter of the two goalkeepers and a tame shot from James failed to unsettle her as the second 45 began.
Green looked the liveliest of the Welsh strikers but the teen titan Jones was also active, firing over with venom on 52 minutes.
With so much at stake, this toe-to-toe battle was becoming something of a stalemate as the combatants fought themselves to a standstill. The hard working Green looked to be clear around the hour mark but fluffed her lines somewhat, slipping on the damp Cardiff surface.
Jones brought a fine save from Meršnik on 69 minutes. From the resulting corner the visiting keeper was further tested as she forced away Gemma Evans’ firm header – her feet looking to be behind the line to this writer.
Yellow cards began to litter the game now as neither side conceded an inch. Green and Sara Agrež were cautioned during an unsporting exchange on 75 minutes. Hayley Ladd also soon saw yellow for Gemma Grainger’s team.
The record crowd did their best to roar the Welsh home but that golden chance just would not come. Ingle led her troops with determination as the game entered the closing minutes.
Green chased and chased. Bodies tumbled all around the wet pitch as Grainger prowled the line like a lioness on a hunt.
O’Sullivan dashed out to thwart Prašnikar with barely a minute on the clock. The exhausted Green hobbled her way off as Grainger made a late switch.
With only five minutes of added time to endure, Jones felt it was time to take the ball into the corner. The Welsh were out on their feet but in no mood to yield. The crowd knew it and roared their support.
Rhiannon Roberts battled her way forward in extraordinary fashion to force a throw-in deep in Slovenian territory.
The final whistle brought gleeful scenes around the stadium. Many of the Welsh team sank to the deck in exhaustion before the emotion and adrenalin kicked in to inspire gleeful celebrations.
Wales still face a few hurdles if they are to reach the finals in Australia/New Zealand 2023 but nobody in the stadium was giving too much thought to those complicated arrangements. This was a night for celebration again in the Welsh capital.
Rarely has a nil-nil draw in the Welsh woman’s game been such an occasion.
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The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the first time that the FIFA Women’s World Cup will have two host nations. It will take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023.
The 2023 tournament will see the Women’s World Cup expanded from 24 to 32 teams as the female game continues to expand.
Carrie Jones’ first ever goal for the Welsh was enough to see them narrowly push aside Greece in the heat of the almost deserted Panthessaliko Stadium at Volos in Greece last Friday evening. The Leicester City midfielder – on loan from Manchester United – fired Wales ahead after half an hour, shooting home from close range.
The conditions were far removed from the sleet and rain which had characterised the earlier encounter between these sides at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli on a wild, West Wales wintry night. Wales won that one with ease.
In a far from exciting game, the yellow-shirted visitors rarely looked troubled and saw out the final stages with shrewd game management.
A record crowd for a Women’s international game in Wales will be present for the Slovenia game with a five figure gate already assured.
The game takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium, which has grown into an intimidating fortress for Robert Page’s male squad in their recent successes in qualifying for European and World Cup final stages. Wales boss Gemma Grainger will be hoping that the “Red Wall” of bucket hat wearing Wales fans can inspire her girls over the line against tough opponents.
There would still be some hard work ahead for the Welsh even if they were to make it over the line on Tuesday.
If Wales qualify for the playoffs it’s likely to mean a playoff against one of Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Bosnia or Portugal and then a second game against Switzerland, Iceland or Belgium.
This will not be at the front of the minds of Jess Fishlock, Tash Harding, Sophie Ingle and Kayleigh Green though as they eye up what could they be their last chance of pulling on that famous red shirt on the biggest stage of all.
Tickets for the match on Tuesday are available at faw.cymru/tickets.
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Glenn Moore is World Soccer’s women’s football columnist, who has reported from the Lionesses’ last four tournaments. He is also the first regular columnist on Prost International, kicking off our new series earlier this year.
Hard though it is to believe it was suggested in the euphoric wake of England’s 2005 Ashes victory that cricket could be ‘the new football’.
That never seemed likely and when asked the question on a sports new programme, I countered it was more likely to be the new rugby, referring to the union code’s trajectory after Jonny Wilkinson kicked England to 2003 World Cup glory.
There would be occasional headline moments, but for the most part the sport would remain within the confines of the already converted.
So it has mostly proved. The national team continues to attract attention when things go well (or very badly), but the domestic game drifts along in the shadows, to such an extent it often seems the national governing body are attempting, in their desire to find a new audience, to kill the county game off.
[Annie Chave: Skyscapers hover over county cricket/]
Can women’s football, its star shining brightly after England’s triumph in the Women’s Euros, break this pattern? Or is it the new cricket? Reappearing in the spotlight when a major international tournament comes along, but otherwise restricted to the margins while the travails of Manchester United absorb the columns and airwaves?
“The product has been good enough for some years now, full-time training having raised technical, physical and tactical standards, especially in goalkeeping which had previously been a weakness.
What I had underestimated was the level of misogyny”
Parity with the men’s game is clearly out of reach, but there is reason to believe women’s football will become relatively mainstream with coverage outstripping that of men’s rugby and cricket.
That there are some matches on terrestrial television will help (with most others free-to-air on the FA Player). That avoids cricket’s error in restricting itself to subscription coverage. More significant is that the country is already in thrall to football, and most fans dedicated to individual club ‘brands’.
Having first watched a women’s international in the flesh in 2009, an England defeat to Italy in the Euros in Finland, I have always felt that once the product was good enough people would want to watch it.
The product has been good enough for some years now, full-time training having raised technical, physical and tactical standards, especially in goalkeeping which had previously been a weakness.
What I had underestimated was the level of misogyny.
Many, many football fans were simply not prepared to countenance women in football, especially talking and writing about or playing it. And plenty of those within the game were not keen either, from the traditional wing of the Football Association downwards.
It has taken success to break down that barrier; success and exposure.
England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada was the start, despite the difficult kick-off times. Another two major semi-finals followed, each adding converts, before this summer’s triumph created an explosion of interest in print and on the airwaves.
With the BBC throwing their huge resources behind the tournament, and newspapers and websites jumping aboard, come the final most people in England knew the Lionesses were playing – and more than 20 million watched them win.
Now comes the hard part, turning that interest into bums on seats in the Women’s Super League.
Average WSL attendances last season were below 2,000 compared to above 3,000 in the season before Covid-19. That can be partially, but not fully explained by a reduction in usage of parent (men’s) club grounds which in 2019-20 attracted some big attendances. But even stripping those out gates were down.
“Harnessing the passion fans have for the parent club could also lead to a rise in aggressive tribalism. Rather like the Hundred in cricket that could drive away existing fans, for many of whom women’s football represents a safe space.”
Early signs for this season are promising with clubs reporting a big uplift in season ticket purchases and advance sales for matches such as Arsenal-Spurs at the Emirates. The question is can this be sustained as winter bites and inconvenient TV-dictated kick-off times – a problem in the women’s game as much as the men’s – take effect?
Hopefully. The WSL has been laying foundations, developing rivalries, traditions and support-bases. It also increasingly resembles the Premier League, for good and bad, in participant clubs.
It is also very cheap compared to watching men’s football and much easier to get tickets. Now fans have seen the quality of elite women’s football will many of those priced out by the men’s game be tempted to watch the women, both in the WSL and second-tier Championship?
The FA and the clubs will hope so, but there is a risk. Harnessing the passion fans have for the parent club could also lead to a rise in aggressive tribalism. Rather like the Hundred in cricket that could drive away existing fans, for many of whom women’s football represents a safe space.
Supporting a team does not have to mean denigrating and threatening the opposition. I went to Bristol v Bath in rugby union’s premiership last season. A local derby with plenty of rivalry, but more than 23,000 fans mingled without aggro.
Women’s football is like that at present, but can it remain so as it draws in more fans of the men’s game?
The key to becoming a mass audience sport is ensuring it does.
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]]>At a sold-out Windsor Park on Tuesday, The Lionesses secured a 5-0 win over the Green and White Army leaving their dream of reaching the World Cup in 2023 well and truly over.
Lets take a look at 5 other things we learnt from this England masterclass.
1. The Lionesses have all but qualified for the World Cup in 2023
England went into the game topping Group D, they sat comfortably on 21 points. Sarina Wiegman’s side had conceded no goals, lost zero games and scored a total of 63 goals.
The Lionesses were unfazed by the record breaking home crowd in Northern Ireland and they soon became dominant, they could have been 2 goals up within the first ten minutes. But after 26 minutes star winger Lauren Hemp got them swiftly underway to victory.
From that moment on, The Lionesses asserted their control and were on fire in the second half, they scored 4 goals. Manchester City Women midfielder Georgia Stanway got 2, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone got 1 and Lauren Hemp grabbed another.
The win leaves Wiegman’s side top of Group D still and they are now 5 points clear of second placed Austria. In order to secure qualification they need just one point in their penultimate match against the Austrians in September.
As for Wiegman her focus now turns to her Euros squad selection for the summer, she surely will be keeping a close eye on everyone during the WSL season run-in.
2. The World Cup dream is well and truly over for Northern Ireland
Despite playing in front of a home record crowd of 15,348 at Windsor Park, Kenny Shiels’ side failed to beat England.
And even though mathematically his side can still finish level on points with second placed Austria, the Austrians have a far superior head-to-head record which therefore means the Green and White Army’s dreams of qualifying for the World Cup are over.
They can’t even make the play-offs next summer.
In truth, The Northern Irish side were dominated from start to finish in the game and were miles off the pace compared to The Lionesses.
However Shiels and his squad should still see their qualification process as a success. Despite not qualifying they’ve only conceded 14 goals (so far) and they’ve scored 31 (so far). And of course they can still finish third in the group which would be an amazing achievement for them without qualifying for the playoffs.
3. Lauren Hemp is going to be an England star
Manchester City Women winger Lauren Hemp starred in her sides victory over Northern Ireland on Tuesday. After scoring two goals, she showed not only for the first time, that she is going to be a future England star for many tournaments to come.
The 21-year-old has only 19 caps so far for her country. At this time she has already scored 6 goals and is proving to be one of the first names on the team-sheet under new boss Sarina Wiegman.
During the current WSL season, Hemp has made 18 appearances so far and has scored 6 goals and grabbed 3 assists.
If she keeps up her current run of form and avoids any injuries, she surely has to be one of the first choices for Wiegman other than new captain Leah Williamson for the Euros this summer.
4. Kenny Shiels had to apologise for some controversial comments he made after the game
The 65-year-old made the comment “women are more emotional than men, so they take a goal going in not very well.” The comment came after his side conceded 4 goals in 27 second half minutes.
Following a meeting with the Irish FA on Wednesday, Shiels immediately apologised for his comments. Also Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan issued a statement, in which she said: “we (the squad) collectively stand by our manager.”
She also said that his comments were in relation to a pre-match meeting where the team’s problem of conceding goals in quick succession was discussed.
Shiels has been backed by the Irish FA, and will continue to be Northern Ireland manager for the foreseeable future.
Maybe next time he just needs to be careful what he says after a game as some people may find it offensive.
5. England could be a real contender at the Euros this year under Wiegman
Since being appointed as Phil Neville’s successor as the England manager in September 2021 Sarina Wiegman has built nothing short of an outstanding team.
In fact, The Lionesses have not lost a game since the 52-year-old took over. She has taken charge of the team for 11 games so far, they have won 9 and drawn 2. In this time, her side has scored a total of 72 goals and conceded just 2. They also won the first ever Arnold Clark Cup under the new manager which was her first piece of silverware as England boss.
Some arguments will come, as The Lionesses haven’t played against top opposition such as America, Brazil or Wiegman’s old side The Netherlands yet with the Dutch national in charge.
However, if the team at the moment is anything to go by England look in pretty good shape for the home Euros tournament this summer, especially with a lot of younger talent breaking through.
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England will look to extend their unbeaten run under new manager Sarina Wiegman on Tuesday night when they face Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
After comfortably beating North Macedonia 10-0 on Friday, England go into the game in excellent goal scoring form and will look to extend their unbeaten run during the qualifying stages. However, Northern Ireland will be looking to win themselves in order to reignite their chances of qualifying for the tournament in 2023.
The Lionesses have made an excellent start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, they have played seven games and have won all seven giving them 21 points. Wiegman’s side head into the game top of Group D, the team have scored 63 goals so far during the qualifiers while conceding none.
Ahead of the game Wiegman said:
“It’s going to be a tough game and a great crowd. It’s a big occasion so I’m really looking forward to that, and the team too. It’s the last chance they have to win to have any chance of qualifying… For us, we want to win and get as close as possible to qualifying.
“We have a job to do. We want to be a mature team, we want to play our game and how we want to play football and that won’t change.
“Hopefully the crowd will make lots of noise so it’s a little harder for us to talk to each other so we have communicate in passing and body language a little more to execute the actions we want to take. So I’m actually really looking forward to it.”
Northern Ireland currently sit third in Group D with 13 points. They themselves have only conceded nine goals in seven games making the game tomorrow night an interesting challenge for England. A win for the Green and White Army would not only see them cause an upset but they would move onto 16 points therefore, piling the pressure on Austria who are currently sit in second place and set their qualification campaign back on track.
However manager Kenny Shiels, has somewhat conceded the defeat to England before kick-off, he said:
“This is not a must-win game because qualification is out of the equation,
“If we won by five goals, that would be different. But we’re being realistic and we’re not expecting that to happen.
“If we were to beat England, it would be an unbelievable achievement in itself, in isolation to the group.”
Team News
Newly appointed Euro’s captain Leah Williamson is set to return to the England side after missing Friday’s game due to concussion protocol, but The Lionesses will be without Alex Greenwood (knee injury) and Lotte Wubben-Moy (thigh injury).
Wiegman also said that Jill Scott has had to withdraw from the squad and will not be making an appearance on Tuesday.
Head to head
The teams met twice last year.
Firstly, in a friendly fixture where England comfortably won 6-0. Secondly in the reverse qualifying fixture where again The Lionesses comfortably won 4-0.
So it’s a big ask for Northern Ireland to beat this superb England team.
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]]>Hege Riise’s Team GB face Bev Priestley’s Canada on Tuesday in their final group stage game, with both sides looking to top the group.
Unbeaten in the group stage, having won against Chile and Japan last week, GB will hope to continue their perfect record against a tough Canadian outfit, having already secured a place in the knockout stage.
Manchester City striker Ellen White has been clinical in front of goal so far during the tournament and will undoubtedly be looking to add to her tally of three goals as Riise’s team set their sights on a possible podium finish.
Her 74th-minute strike against Japan was enough to secure qualification for the knockout stages with one game to spare.
The 32-year old is currently joint fourth in the golden boot race and with GB expected to progress towards the latter stages of the competition, that tally should only continue to increase.
With Canada needing at least a point to guarantee a place in the knockout stage, Priestley’s threatening attack will look to break down GB’s strong defensive line.
However, the likes of Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly and Steph Houghton have so far not let in a single goal during the first two games and have been superb defensively.
Canadian record goal-scorer Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie will spearhead the attack and look to break Ellie Roebuck’s run of clean sheets.
If GB succeed, they will face a third-placed nation in the knockout round and would have what is considered to be a more favoured route to the final.
With a whole wealth of talent going forward and a backline who have looked strong so far, Riise’s side will certainly be fancied to come away with the three points.
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