Match report and response as England enhance their hopes of automated qualification for Euro 2025; The Lionesses additionally achieve revenged for defeat to France on Friday in Newcastle; Targets from Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo assist England to a much-needed victory
23:30, UK, Tuesday 04 June 2024
England boosted their hopes of automated qualification for Euro 2025 with a 2-1 victory over France in Saint-Etienne.
Sarina Wiegman’s facet dropped out of the automated qualification spots of their group after France got here from behind to beat the Lionesses 2-1 at St James’ Park on Friday. Sweden, who began the night second within the group behind France, piled the strain onto England with a 1-0 victory over Republic of Eire, however the Euro 2022 holders responded in high quality model.
In a near-perfect first-half efficiency from England, Georgia Stanway’s long-range piledriver gave the guests the lead within the twenty first minute earlier than Alessia Russo’s header doubled the benefit earlier than half-time.
France failed to supply a shot on course within the first half, however they have been far more threatening after the break. They have been ultimately handed a lifeline when Ella Toone misplaced possession in the course of the pitch earlier than Leah Williamson clipped Grace Geyoro within the penalty space.
Kadidiatou Diani made no mistake from the spot to arrange a giant end at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, and England wanted a giant save from Hannah Hampton, deputising for the injured Mary Earps, to disclaim Marie-Antoinette Katoto within the closing phases to seal what may show to be an enormous victory for the Lionesses.
England finish France’s spectacular dwelling run
England inflicted a primary dwelling defeat on France in 21 video games.
The outcome means England, who secured a primary win in France in 51 years, at the moment are answerable for their very own future by way of automated qualification. The Lionesses keep third within the group on purpose distinction however sit degree on factors with Sweden, who they nonetheless should play, whereas they’re now simply two factors behind group leaders France with two video games of the marketing campaign remaining.
How Group A3 stands…
Regardless of the defeat, France keep prime on 9 factors from 4 video games, with Sweden second on purpose distinction however tied with England on seven factors.
Republic of Eire keep backside after a slender defeat to Sweden.
England know they’ll return to the highest two in the event that they beat Republic of Eire of their subsequent recreation with France enjoying Sweden on the identical day.
The highest two within the group undergo robotically to subsequent yr’s championship in Switzerland.
How England avenged Friday’s defeat to France…
Picture:
Georgia Stanway celebrates her opener for England towards France.
England appeared like a facet missing confidence within the early phases with just a few passes going astray and a few heavy touches gifting possession to a France facet wanting harmful on the counter-attack.
Ella Toone’s weak shot was simply saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, whereas on the different finish, Sakina Karchaoui’s low cross was diverted simply broad by Kadidiatou Diani earlier than the Lionesses actually began to click on into gear.
England moved the ball shortly to Beth Mead, who crossed to the close to submit. Russo arrived with a perfectly-timed run however may solely side-foot broad. Mead then had an opportunity of her personal however Peyraud-Magnin made a wise block at her close to submit to disclaim the Arsenal ahead.
The momentum was absolutely with the guests and so they made their dominance depend within the twenty first minute. Hemp used her energy to maintain maintain of the ball earlier than teeing up Stanway, who unleashed a strong first-time shot into the underside left nook.
Russo was then introduced with an excellent likelihood to double the lead by Lucy Bronze, who volleyed the ball again throughout purpose. The Arsenal striker latched onto the cross on the far submit, heading the ball again throughout purpose, however Peyraud-Magnin’s outstretched boot saved the lead at one.
Russo wasn’t to be denied for lengthy, nonetheless. One other cross in from the fitting, this time from Hemp, picked out the Arsenal striker, who guided a header into the roof of the online to ship England in on the break with a two-goal benefit.
Picture:
Alessia Russo heads in England’s second towards France.
The hosts have been in search of a response and made a double change on the break, bringing on Sandie Toletti and Delphine Cascarino for Amandine Henry and Sakina Karchaoui.
And so they have been gifted a passage again into the sport with 18 minutes remaining. Toone misplaced possession deep inside her personal half, instantly placing the guests beneath strain. Geyoro then drew a foul from Williamson within the field earlier than Diani transformed previous Hampton handy France a lifeline.
The momentum was with France as England appeared to carry on for victory, and the hosts created one remaining alternative however Hampton produced a surprising save to disclaim Katoto from shut vary to get England over the end line.
England staff information
Hannah Hampton changed the injured Mary Earps in purpose with England in any other case unchanged from their defeat to France on Friday.
Earps got here off throughout the first half with a minor hip harm and withdrew from the squad on Sunday.
Wiegman: We’re in a greater place now
England boss Sarina Wiegman:
“A staff effort. You understand the second half goes to be completely different and they’ll push, however we labored so arduous to remain collectively and preserve the win.
“You understand they’ll press. They have been actually chasing us. We now have to make higher selections, be a bit calmer. We performed into their palms a bit. We all know after they win the ball there they’ve gamers which are so fast. We wish to take these moments out after all.
“In fact it provides a lift. We wish to win and we’re in a greater place now. The group is completely open. We mentioned from the start it is a actually powerful group with prime degree groups. It helps whenever you win, however most of all we did higher than Friday.”
‘England flawless in first half’
Sky Sports activities’ Karen Carney on ITV:
“The primary half was the perfect I’ve seen England play for a very long time. It was flawless.
“Second half was a bit completely different, however they obtained the outcome and that was a very powerful factor.
“England play higher when they’re beneath strain however that exhibits they’re a giant staff with large gamers. Generally they only want that little bit of a rocket, however we’re a prime staff.
“The one staff that actually beats us are ourselves. Once we apply ourselves we’re unstoppable. However can we preserve that consistency up? Can we preserve exhibiting the starvation?
“France are getting ready for a house Olympics. It’s not simple for an England staff to go away to France and beneath strain, get two targets and a outcome.
“It was an excellent efficiency from England.”
Russo: We obtained our requirements again
England goalscorer Alessia Russo:
“I feel we obtained our customary’s again to the place we needed them.
“There are nonetheless components we are going to work on for certain. We all know the extent is greater than ever and to even qualify for the Euros goes to be more durable than ever.”
“We all know our requirements should be greater. We most likely allow them to slip a bit not too long ago. We all know the expertise we now have, we all know the potential we now have and we noticed much more flashes of it tonight.”
Stanway: Large step in proper route
England goalscorer Georgia Stanway:
“We have been on the entrance foot from the start. We knew the opposite day wasn’t dangerous however there was just a few issues we needed to tweak. We did that at this time. We battled for 95 minutes, we made certain we weren’t leaving this stadium with out a good outcome. We’re not glad with how this week has been however at this time is a large step in the fitting route for us.
“It is completely huge. We knew how vital it was to get the three factors. That is a very large win for us at this time.”
What’s subsequent?
The Lionesses return to motion subsequent month with their remaining two Euro 2025 qualifying matches. Sarina Wiegman’s facet host the Republic of Eire at Carrow Street on July 12 after which finish their marketing campaign with an away journey towards Sweden on July 16.
What are the opposite Euro 2025 qualifying dates?
July 12: England vs Republic of Eire, Norwich, kick-off 8pm
July 16: Sweden vs England, location TBC, kick-off 6pm
Play-off draw: July 19
Play-off spherical one (two legs): October 23-29
Play-off spherical two (two legs): November 27-December 3
Euro 2025 finals draw: December 16
Euro 2025 finals: July 2-27 2025 – Switzerland
