England fans could not have hoped for a more entertaining evening at Wembley Stadium - but with Sarina Wiegman resisting the urge to be more experimental, how much did she actually learn from it?
Midfielder’s three goals illustrate the different attributes that have made her into the player she is today England laid down a marker at Wembley on Saturday evening as they waltzed to victory over China with a scintillating show of attacking force. Among the many eye-catching performances, Georgia Stanway stood out, joining Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones by becoming the third Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley. Her three goals and assist formed part of a midfield display that was right up there with the best the national stadium has witnessed over the years. The 26-year-old has been one of the first names on Sarina Wiegman’s team sheet since the Dutchwoman took over as manager in 2021. Famous for her long-range finishing and tenacious tackling, she is emblematic of the fight and quality that this England team possess. When in top form, she and Keira Walsh form one of the best midfield partnerships out there, complementing each other’s attributes. She is one of the leaders of this team, unafraid to stand up and be counted on and off the pitch when things go wrong and at the core of their success when they go right. Continue reading...
News and discussion as we build up to the day’s action Premier League things | Get in touch Hello, football. A jam packed day awaits. Readers, any football plans for the day? What ground are you heading off to? How optimistic are you that your team will get the win this weekend? Let me know in the comments below the line or via our dedicated matchday live email. Join me as we get stuck in with the buildup to today’s matches and as we go through any breaking news and big stories. Continue reading...
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Wiegman has had to rejig defence and captaincy for a Wembley friendly with China that should pose new challenges for Lionesses When England welcome China to a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the sixth meeting between two nations who have been on different trajectories in recent years. The marketing has focused on the clash of continental champions – England as the holders of the European Championship and China as the winners of the 2022 Asian Cup – but there has since been a change in fortunes between the two. The widening gap was evident the last time they met, at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, when England put six past the Steel Roses to progress to the last 16. It caught the eye not only because of the score but because of a bold tactical change from Sarina Wiegman – a switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 – to deal with the absence of Keira Walsh. It kicked the Lionesses’ campaign into life and they made the final, while China exited, registering their worst finish at the tournament. Continue reading...
England will end another successful year with two friendly matches - but what changes might we see from manager Sarina Wiegman?
FA says 63 million people within two hours of a venue Final stadium list will come down to between 14 and 16 England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have submitted their bid to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup as the largest single-sport event staged in the UK. The Lionesses’ leading goalscorer, Ellen White, described the bid as “really special” and compared it to her experience of the 2012 Olympics as a part of Team GB. Continue reading...
The Lionesses have won back-to-back European titles but can the youngsters coming through replicate their success?
Midfielder persevered through injury setbacks and nears completing her journey through the age-group ranks When Freya Godfrey’s phone started ringing she glanced across, saw the call was from a number she didn’t recognise and ignored it. “I am a very cautious person – if I don’t have your number saved then I don’t answer,” she says. “It’s just spam.” The 20-year-old London City Lionesses midfielder was on the road heading to visit her brother, who she hadn’t seen for a while, at university. Continue reading...
Thomas Tuchel is all for the marginal gains and the Three Lions have taken to new, fluorescent red shoes to boost their focus It was certainly a strong look, impossible to ignore, something only a top-level footballer could carry off – and even then, the jury was out. When Ezri Konsa strolled in to preview Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley, the England defender did so in what, at first glance, appeared to be a cross between a pair of slippers and oversized Crocs. In garish, fluorescent red. On closer inspection, it was possible to make out grooves and nodules on them, and then it was time for the science part. Apparently, if you wear these your concentration improves. Well, that is according to the manufacturer. Something to do with the pressure points on the foot, perhaps. Was Konsa convinced? Unclear. How about Thomas Tuchel? Ditto. Continue reading...
Freya Godfrey scores twice as London City Lionesses get the better of Tottenham Hotspur in a back-and-forth 4-2 win for the home side at Hayes Lane in the Women's Super League.
London City Lionesses' thrilling 4-2 win over Tottenham feels like a watershed moment in their debut Women's Super League campaign.
Sir Gareth Southgate believes England has an opportunity to "change the narrative" amid concerns the country is becoming less united, when asked about the debate about flying the St George's flag.
Hard to recreate ‘higher calling’ of England job, he says Southgate trying to ‘make a difference’ in other areas Sir Gareth Southgate says he is not looking for a return to football management, saying it would be hard to recreate the “higher calling” he found as England’s manager. Southgate indicated he intends to focus on working with young people and helping to counter the “negative narrative” he says is found in the country. Continue reading...
