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Sarina Wiegman’s second camp in charge of the Lionesses has drawn to a close, but what have we learned so far? Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses: What Have we Learned? Back Sarina Wiegman’s second camp in charge of the Lionesses has drawn to a close, but what have we learned so far? Girls on the Ball Friday, 29 October 2021 By Charlotte Stacey England have now played four of their World Cup qualifying games for the 2023 tournament and find themselves top of the group with four clean sheets and a mammoth 32 goal difference. In September, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses took on North Macedonia at St. Mary’s Stadium in which they enjoyed the first of their large scorelines with an eight-nil victory. They then travelled to Luxembourg and earned a similar success with a thumping ten-nil win, which included two goals apiece from centre backs Alex Greenwood and Millie Bright. October’s international break arrived and the Lionesses went on to host Northern Ireland in a historic night at Wembley Stadium. Beth Mead became the first women to score a hat-trick at the infamous ground, which was made even more impressive as she achieved this feat within a fourteen-minute period. Bethany England took the total to four and the Lionesses first competitive fixture at Wembley wrapped up favourably. In their most recent game against Latvia, England once again reigned supreme, concluding their international break with another ten-nil triumph with goals from Ellen White, Rachel Daly, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Georgia Stanway. Ella Toone also secured her first international hat-trick, taking her tally to five goals in six appearances for her country. On the surface, it appears as though England could not have asked for a better start to this new chapter. However, those of us who follow the Lionesses a little more closely will incur that this ‘early dominance’ is not quite the best-case scenario it may be perceived to be. Firstly, this is not to deny the Lionesses of their recent endeavours, outcomes have indeed been positive and there is plenty to suggest this can continue. Further to this, there is a definite sense of anticipation shared from the players on the field to the supporters in their seats that Wiegman’s tenure will bring something more liberal than her predecessors dared to try. Already we have seen selections and starting elevens based on form, as opposed to previous international experience. Examples of this include Bethany England’s and Beth Mead’s starts against Latvia after both made remarkable impact from the bench at Wembley, and the naming of five Manchester United players in October’s camp following the Red Devil’s respectable start to the season. Wiegman has also switched things up on the pitch which has served as a refreshing change compared with the static approach of the management of years prior. After Northern Ireland’s compact defending proved difficult for England to break down, Wiegman opted for a tactical change by replacing left back Demi Stokes with midfielder Keira Walsh at half time. This converted the formation from a 4-3-3 to more of a 3-2-2-3, which at times appeared almost as a 2-1-7 as Rachel Daly played high as the right sided defender, and Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson interchangeably pushed forward to flood areas in and around the box whilst the other covered the two remaining centre backs. A similar tactic was adopted for Latvia’s match. Much more so than with Northern Ireland, Wiegman expected to face a deep-set defensive side and formed her team accordingly, this time choosing a 3-5-2. This fluidity in formation is encouraging and is the mark of a manager unafraid to work to turns of the game in hand. Yet, it is when we delve further into these fixtures that we find areas in which Wiegman’s side will need to tighten up. The first thing to be considered is the gulf that separates the Lionesses and their opponents thus far. England are currently ranked 8th in FIFA’s World Rankings. This is compared to North Macedonia ranked at 131st, Luxembourg at 122nd, Latvia at 102nd and Northern Ireland at 48th. The Lionesses were expected to win by a large margin, and they achieved that, so what is the problem? Well, there isn’t one, there are many. The largest issue is the difficulty gauging a true impression of how well a team performs or how cohesively they are working when the opposition does not pose an adequate test. Playing lower ranked sides also runs the risk of complacency, lapse positioning and unconventional pot shots, the latter of which was seen prominently against Latvia. When studying the numbers, it can be assumed that the reason for these shots was down to the amount of time England had on the ball. With 78% of possession against both sides, England were allowed to press the final third without much resistance. This sounds gift-like in theory, but the reality is that the game becomes overthought, attacking phases are overplayed and the dominant side runs themselves into trouble. Against Northern Ireland the Lionesses registered 34 shots, 11 shots on target and scored four goals. With Latvia, they produced 58 shots, 21 shots on target and ten goals. A conversion rate that, by and large, needs some work. However, these numbers must be interpreted relatively. Typically, one would expect far fewer shots, yet a much finer margin between this and the number of shots on target and goals scored. This is where time on the ball, plus, the allowance of space on the peripheral of the final third comes into play. Particularly in the game against Latvia, several times England were allowed to advance upon the box in large numbers at their leisure. Yet due to almost every player from the opposition also situated within this area and holding firm, the play was either overrun, blocked, intercepted and cleared. When the cleared ball was ultimately claimed by another England player outside of the area, rather than quickly switching the direction of play or passing out to the wing to force their opponents to reposition, the receiving player, with ample time, took a shot. The opportunity to score wasted on both occasions. The final issue with the fixtures played so far is the lack of defensive work and goalkeeping. This, of course, is no fault of the Lionesses, yet it is unhelpful that defensive structure has not been competitively trialled, nor has a phase of transition, something that, in recent times, has been England’s niggling shortcoming. The Lionesses have progressed positively and Wiegman’s management already feels as if it is taking England in the right direction, yet there are still these familiar lurking deficiencies to be addressed. These recent games have required patience and England have had to persevere when the door did not open as expected which will serve them well in their upcoming games. Confidence should be high, yet personnel should be mindful that far tougher challenges will soon be on their way.

New boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her squad for the Lionesses upcoming September fixtures. A New Era: Lionesses September Squad List Back New boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her squad for the Lionesses upcoming September fixtures. Girls on the Ball Tuesday, 7 September 2021 By Charlotte Stacey Sarina Wiegman, who has just taken over the role of England’s head coach after conclusion of her tenure with the Dutch national side, has named a 25-player squad to take on North Macedonia and Luxemburg in the coming weeks. A mix of fresh faces, returning names and regular starters have offered supporters a breath means that Wiegman’s first selection has given plenty of food for thought. Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps re-joins after a lengthy sabbatical from the international squad, despite keeping ten clean sheets in the Women’s Super League last season. Similarly to her predecessors, Wiegman has opted for an experienced goalkeeper to oversee her younger cohort and Chelsea’s Carly Telford joins the ranks. Alex Greenwood has been named after consistently impressing with Manchester City, her selection no doubt a relief to supporters after she surprisingly did not make the cut for Team GB at the summer Olympics. Jess Carter makes her return to the national side, almost four years since making her singular appearance, after putting in a shift in Chelsea’s back four over recent months. Arsenal centre-half Leah Williamson has been named as a midfielder on Wiegman’s initial list. This could be due to the number of injuries sustained to England’s regular midfield contingency; however, many have long desired Williamson’s skillset in a higher position and this may well be the right time to experiment. Manchester United’s Lucy Staniforth and Katie Zelem have both been recalled and join Williamson in midfield. Forward Ebony Salmon is possibly one of the most exciting names to feature in Wiegman’s squad. The youngster has made quite the impression in the National Women’s Soccer League and has registered five goals since joining Racing Louisville in June. After reproving her attacking prowess in pre-season and setting the pitch alight in their league opener, Arsenal’s Beth Mead is also back in the fold. Established internationals Nikita Parris, Fran Kirby and Ellen White join Mead upfront. Regulars Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Jordan Nobbs, Keira Walsh and Chloe Kelly all miss out on the squad through injury The Lionesses will kick off their first game under new management against North Macedonia at 7pm on Friday 17th September at St. Mary’s Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on ITV (channel to be confirmed). Full squad - GK: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Sandy MacIver (Everton), Carly Telford (Chelsea) DF: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) Midfielders: Jill Scott (Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Katie Zelem (Manchester United) Forwards: Bethany England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Ebony Salmon (Racing Louisville), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)

England boss Sarina Wigeman announced that defender Millie Bright is second in line for the captaincy, ready for the upcoming European Championships this summer. "There's no higher honour" says new vice-captain Millie Bright Back England boss Sarina Wigeman announced that defender Millie Bright is second in line for the captaincy, ready for the upcoming European Championships this summer. Girls on the Ball Thursday, 7 April 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Speaking to the press ahead of England’s World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia, Chelsea centre back Bright briefly reflected on the exciting news. “As a player there’s no higher honour really, to, when needed, lead your country out,” Bright started, “it’s still a little bit of sinking in if I’m honest, but yes, really really happy.” The 28-year-old went on to applaud the appointment of Arsenal’s Leah Williamson as the nation’s skipper. “I’m extremely proud of Leah. She’s amazing and it’s fully deserved.” Exuding positivity about the duo’s leadership, Bright said, “it’s just natural, we don’t have to work too hard in being on the same page and I think we have the same mindset on the pitch - front footed.” “I might be a little bit louder than Leah,” she joked, “so we work off each other really well and I’m looking forward to building that relationship on and off the pitch and hopefully bringing success.” Speaking about Wiegman’s tenure, Bright noted a collective shift in mindset on gamedays and how this has transpired on the pitch. “There’s been a massive improvement. I think we’re harder to beat, certainly more ruthless down the other end and prioritising clean sheets.” On her individual game, Bright went on to speak about her goal-laden spell under Wiegman so far. “It’s something I’ve wanted to add to my game. I feel like I do have presence and it’s something I’ve been lacking, providing goals for the team. In any way, shape or form I’ll help the team be successful but I’m still going to strive to get on the scoresheet and to put other people in positions to score as well.” Tonight’s match will mark the Lionesses’ first since winning the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup in February, in which Bright was joint top goal scorer alongside Spain's Alexia Putellas. After revealing that Putellas kindly allowed her to keep the trophy, Bright insisted it is business as usual for the national side going forward. “For us, the mindset remains the same. We want to go out there and have high standards, to win the game, but first and foremost we want a good performance and to show our qualities.” “When you come off a high, we have to be prepared to go out and play again. We can’t just stay in that high moment. We have to come back down and get back to the hard work. So, for us, it’s about going out there and doing the right things and getting the job done.” England will take on North Macedonia this evening at 7pm (BST) at Toše Proeski Arena in Skopje. Coverage will begin at 6:30pm (BST) on ITV4.

Thoughts on: Ellie Roebuck Thoughts on: Ellie Roebuck Roebuck Back 12 September 2020 By Charlotte Stacey The Buck Stops Here via Getty Images Blossoming throughout the season with a record that has put her at the top of the table, plus an international call up for the SheBelieves cup, Manchester City and England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck is lining herself up for big things. Being arguably the most important player on the pitch, goalkeepers can endure a cruel business. With nowhere to hide, keepers must clean up messes left by sloppy play, but are very often overlooked for their efforts. Yet, when a mistake is made, keepers tend find themselves firmly under the magnifying glass. And so, filling in for a number one is an onerous task. There are limited alternatives if things do not work out as expected. Yet, it is a prime opportunity to showcase, not only one's technical abilities, but also to illustrate their character in coping under pressure. The options for the keeper called up are, quite simply, step up or step aside. And in this case, Ellie Roebuck has certainly risen to the occasion. Ellie Roebuck has all the makings of a world class keeper. A keen eye for an incoming play, paired with an instinctual aptitude to be quick off the mark, Roebuck has absolutely flourished over the past few months. Her assertiveness in times of danger, and her nerve to stick to her guns, has seen Roebuck look unstoppable at times. Roebuck is bold with her decisions. With a clear vision in reading a range of situations, she is adept in her response. Whether it is a standing, kneeling or diving save, Roebuck wholeheartedly throws herself into her decision, and usually gets it right. Quick to her feet after stopping a shot, Roebuck is always alert to the next threat, covering the goal remarkably well, even when the danger is seemingly unrelentless. Yet even when things do not go her way, Roebuck shows no signs of discontent, demonstrating a resilience of the highest order. Mike Stobe Crucially, Roebuck is unafraid to actively join her defence when the time calls. She does not hesitate to come off of her line when it is needed. However, she demonstrates an exceptional intellect in not doing so unnecessarily, trusting in the capabilities of her outfield counterparts. When it comes to set pieces, Roebuck is comfortable in orchestrating her defence. She is assured in coordinating her teammates to the optimum positioning of which she sees fit, demonstrating the essential communicative skills needed in a keeper to put your confidence in. Being in her early twenties, Roebuck’s age is not a hinderance to her. Rather it is a blessing for her future potential. Her youth does not inhibit her and she is more than capable of keeping up with the demand of players with far more experience. In fact, it is Roebuck that has kept these players in the game on occasion. Putting in consistently strong performances, Roebuck has most certainly been, not only a standout player at her club, but a standout player of the league; her call up for international duty is surely just the beginning. Already possessing the vital basic skills needed in goalkeeping at a top level, Roebuck really does hold an enormous amount of promise in her hands. There is no doubt that Ellie Roebuck is swaying the hopes of young girls and boys across the country. Those who were once aspiring to score goals are now dreaming of stopping them. Ellie Roebuck - our future number one.

SheBelieves Cup 2020: England vs USA 6th March 2020 By Charlotte Stacey John Raoux Having not played a match since before the turn of the year, the return of the national side has been long awaited for Lionesses fans. For a first match after their winter hiatus, facing the USWNT had its pros and cons. This was certainly not going to be a match to ease Phil Neville’s new look squad into international duty. But it served as a prime opportunity for the Lionesses to bring their A game, to rid themselves of their World Cup hangover, and to show the world champions what they are made of. Would the Lionesses approach this match with the intent to seek revenge for that notorious semi-final? Perhaps not. But would this match provide them an opportunity to right some wrongs after a somewhat lacklustre post World Cup performance? Most definitely. Starting elevens in and Neville’s line-up was perhaps not what many were expecting. Tried and trusted Carly Telford between the posts behind an unusual, yet strong back four. No starts for Jordan Nobbs or Rachel Daly, who was perhaps the expected right back in the absence of Lucy Bronze. Up front, the experience of Ellen White and Nikita Parris chosen over the current form of Beth England, arguably the Lionesses most dangerous striker of late. But a call up to the the starting line-up for Lauren Hemp, a nuisance of a winger for any defence, even that of the world number one. The USWNT, as expected, presented a side that meant business. World Cup standout Rose Lavelle alongside the distinguished Julie Ertz in the middle, behind a mighty attack of Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd and Christen Press. A late kick off for England supporters, an urging for a solid start to the tournament was sensed. With Neville’s controversial selection lining up against the world’s best, it would certainly be interesting to see how this would pan out. football.london The first half started with the USA pushing relentlessly hard for the first twenty minutes, worryingly finding space unmarked in the box, and consistently applying pressure to the English back four. Yet a number of big saves from Telford, and some robust blocks from Houghton and Bright kept the ball from finding the back of the net. With the USA’s constant threat, the Lionesses needed to slow the pace and regain some composure. At twenty minutes, a significant moment of possession for Keira Walsh, in which she spotted the run of Parris and sent a pinpoint pass her way. Parris’ head on to goal unfortunately ruled offside. The first real chance for the Lionesses. The rest of the half saw another couple of chances for England, yet no real threat from any finishing balls. But continuous heat from the USA saw looming threats build from nowhere, the Americans clearly hungry for their opening goal. Yet to the Lionesses testament, the score remained nil-nil as the half time whistle blew. The second half began a little more calmly, with the Lionesses the first to threaten the opposing goal. But responding the only way they know how; the USA began to press high up the field; every Lioness now positioned within their own half for much of the remainder of the game. Yet even with eleven players seemingly taking a defensive role, Press managed to find space between the full backs and curled a stunning shot past Telford. One nil at 54 minutes. To really assert their dominance, it was not long before the USA sunk another. A dink over the top of Houghton and Bright saw, a possibly offside, Lloyd hit the back of the net. Two nil in two minutes. With the formation of the Lionesses now hanging in the balance, a change could not come soon enough. Fresh legs were much needed to keep up with the unremitting pace of the Americans. Just after the hour mark, we began to see changes made for both sides. Notably Rapinoe replacing Press for the USA, and Nobbs and England replacing Scott and White for England. For the USA, their changes possibly just made as a seemingly entertaining rotation to enjoy the fun they were having toying with the Lionesses. But pleasingly for England, their substitutes did make a noticeable impact, with their best chance of the game coming from England’s touch in the box that was fed in from Nobbs’ cross. However, the damage was already done, and the Lionesses could not claw their way back from such defeat. As the final whistle blew disappointingly the score remained, USWNT - 2, E ngland – 0. 90.Min A disheartening start to the Lionesses campaign. Many areas in which improvements need to be made with the USA seemingly pulling the strings for the most part, yet a lot for the players to take away and learn from. Identifying the negatives in this instance is absolutely vital in working on minimising them going into the next two games, yet it is important to also pick out the positives. Hemp did not make Kelley O’Hara’s life easy on the wing and stood her ground with the physicality and confidence demonstrated by the opposition. Nobbs’ influence was plain to see, with communication between the players seeming to tighten up when she was on the field. In goal, Telford did everything she was supposed to do and more, a disappointing score line for her with the performance she gave. Moving forward, it is possibly time to rethink the game plan. Playing out from the back is perhaps not always the best option, especially when playing an opposition that push so far upfield. Younger legs in the starting line up could also prove effective. This could mean a quicker and more aggressive start, setting the Lionesses off on the front foot, rather than having to play catch up. Yet, it is easy to speculate after the event. If we cannot beat the world’s best, then we must learn from them. The Lionesses will reflect on this defeat, and will use it to develop their game. But for now, with their next game just days away, they must reset themselves and continue with business as usual. On to the next.

Team Information: Arsenal Arsenal Website https://www.arsenal.com/women Manager Jonas Eidevall - SWE Captain Kim Little Squad Arsenal Arsenal Photographer: Girls on the Ball Leah Williamson Photographer: Girls on the Ball Arsenal 1/9 Number Player Position Nationality D.O.B 1 Manuela Zinsberger GK AUT 19/10/1995 2 Rafaelle Souza DF BRA 18/06/1991 3 Lotte Wubben-Moy DF ENG 11/01/1999 5 Jennifer Beattie DF SCO 13/05/1991 6 Leah Williamson DF ENG 29/03/1997 7 Steph Catley DF AUS 26/01/1994 8 Jordan Nobbs MF ENG 08/12/1992 9 Beth Mead FW ENG 09/05/1995 10 Kim Little MF SCO 29/06/1990 11 Vivianne Miedema FW NED 15/07/1996 12 Frida Manuum MF NOR 16/07/1999 13 Lia Walti MF SUI 19/04/1993 14 Nikita Parris FW ENG 10/03/1994 15 Katie McCabe FW IRL 21/09/1995 16 Noelle Martiz DF SUI 23/12/1995 18 Kaylan Marckese GK USA 22/04/1998 19 Caitlin Foord FW AUS 11/11/1994 23 Mana Iwabuchi FW JPN 18/03/1993 24 Fran Stenson (out on loan) GK ENG 27/04/2001 25 Stina Blackstenius FW SWE 05/02/1996 26 Laura Wienroither DF AUT 13/01/1999 29 Teyah Goldie DF ENG 27/06/2004 17 Lisa Evans (out on loan) FW SCO 21/05/1992 18 Lydia Williams GK AUS 13/05/1988 20 Simone Boye Sorensen DF DEN 03/03/1992 21 Malin Gut MF SUI 01/08/2000 22 Viktoria Schnaderbeck DF AUT 04/01/1991 33 Halle Houssein MF ENG 11/12/2004 35 Alex Hennessy MF ENG 23/11/2004 4 Anna Patten DF ENG 20/04/1999 77 Tobin Heath FW USA 29/03/1988 Ground Meadow Park, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 5AL

Sarina Wiegman has named a 28-player provisional England squad for the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO Provisional Euro's Squad is announced Back Sarina Wiegman has named a 28-player provisional England squad for the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO Girls on the Ball Sunday, 22 May 2022 By Callum Davies Leah Williamson will lead the Lionesses supported by Millie Bright and Ellen White as vice-captains while Sandy MacIver, Steph Houghton, Fran Kirby, Lucy Staniforth and Chloe Kelly make welcome returns to the fold. Jill Scott is also named as she too works on her fitness, but Jordan Nobbs has been ruled out for the summer because of a knee injury. The final 23-player selection is due to be confirmed in mid-June ahead of the EURO finals starting with England’s fixture against Austria at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday 6 July in exactly 50 days’ time. Sarina Wiegman said: “The EUROs are getting closer, and this is a big step towards the tournament. We have a settled squad and I know we have players in our team that will give everything to make it a summer to remember. “It is important the players have the chance to get some rest now after a very busy season before we get back to our work. We then have a series of prep camps coming up and it is important we use this time to build an even closer connection on and off the pitch. “We also look forward to welcoming those who have been working individually and with their clubs on their fitness in the past few weeks. We are hoping to have them back on the pitch when the series of precamps start, so we can see where they are at.” ___ Full Squad GK: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Sandy MacIver (Everton), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City) DF: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwoos (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) MF: Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jill Scott (Aston Villa), Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Katie Zelem (Manchester United) FW: Bethany England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)

A quick guide to Birmingham City who compete in the Women's Super Championship. Birmingham City Website https://www.bcfc.com/womens-team/ Manager Darren Carter - ENG Captain Louise Quinn (club captain) Christie Harrison-Murray (team captain) Birmingham City Badge Square Lucy Whipp Photographer: Girls on the Ball Rebecca Holloway Photographer: Girls on the Ball Birmingham City Badge Square 1/3 Squad Number Player Position Nationality 1 Lucy Thomas GK ENG 2 Martha Harris DF ENG 3 Ellie Mason MF ENG 4 Louise Quinn DF IRL 6 Gemma Lawley DF ENG 7 Jade Pennock FW ENG 8 Jamie Finn MF IRL 9 Libby Smith FW ENG 10 Christie Harrison-Murray MF SCO 11 Katie Dungate FW ENG 12 Lily Agg MF IRL 14 Siobhan Wilson DF JAM 15 Gemma Lawley DF ENG 16 Mollie Green MF ENG 17 Lucy Quinn FW IRL 21 Claudia Walker FW IRL 22 Remi Allen MF ENG 23 Charlie Devlin MF ENG 24 Jade Moore MF ENG 27 Abi Jenner DF ENG 28 Charlotte Clarke GK ENG 28 Fran Stenson (loan from Arsenal) GK ENG 29 Lucy Jones DF ENG 29 Lucy Jones GK ENG 30 Neve Herron DF ENG 31 Libby Hart GK ENG 32 Abi Cowie DF ENG 32 Abi Cowie DF ENG 36 Louanne Worsey FW ENG 37 Taylor Reynolds DF ENG 38 Mikayla Wildgoose DF ENG 40 Delphi Cole FW ENG 40 Delphi Cole FW ENG 42 Layla Banaras DF ENG Ground St. Andrew's, Birmingham, B9 4RL

The Lionesses remain unbeaten in their last matches of the year Maya Le Tissier, Katie Robinson and Jess Park make senior debuts for the Lionesses in November friendlies Back The Lionesses remain unbeaten in their last matches of the year Girls on the Ball Thursday, 17 November 2022 Paul Donegan The Lionesses headed down to Spain to play their final two games of 2022. They were to take on Japan and Norway in friendlies as well as have a training camp in Murcia. There were a few changes from the original squad announced with Fran Kirby, Jordan Nobbs and Lauren Hemp dropping out and Jess Park and Gabby George coming into replace them. Also missing from the Japan game were Lucy Bronze who had had Covid but also a minor injury, and Alex Greenwood who had a small knock that kept her out of this match. Beth Mead was picked in the starting line-up and won her 50th cap for England. Ella Toone had an early shot saved as the Lionesses started well. Alessia Russo came close to opening the scoring in the 26th minute when her header from a Chloe Kelly cross hit the outside of the post. Mead was denied by a good save five minutes later. England did take the lead in the 38th minute when Rachel Daly got forward from right back to score with a nice low finish after Japan had been unable to clear. The Lionesses made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when a Mead ball across goal reached Kelly who smashed the ball into the net after coming in from the left side. Toone scored England’s third goal in the 77th minute with a shot that went in off the post after a nice assist from second half substitute Ebony Salmon. Jess Park came off the bench to make her senior debut late in the game. Within seconds she scored the fourth goal of the evening for the Lionesses to wrap up another impressive win. Between the two matches, Beth Mead (personal reasons), Lucy Bronze and Lotte Wubben-Moy (both injuries) all dropped out of squad. No one was called up to replace them. It was only four months since England beat Norway 8-0 in the Euros but both sides made a few changes from that match for this friendly. In fact, for the Lionesses, only three of the starters in that match started in this one. Maya Le Tissier was picked in the starting line-up to make her senior debut, whilst Rachel Daly also started up front, like she does at club level. Maya Le Tissier making her senior debut Photo: Girls on the Ball It was Daly who gave England the lead when she headed in Kelly’s cross in the 33rd minute. Norway were reduced to ten players in the 72nd minute when Anj Sonstevold was sent off after receiving two yellow cards for fouls on Nikita Parris in quick succession. Ellie Roebuck rushed out of goal but missed the ball which allowed Arsenal’s Frida Maanum to put the ball into the empty net and equalise for Norway in the 80th minute. Brighton’s Katie Robinson came on to make her debut late in the game but there were no more goals as it finished 1-1. The draw meant England had gone through the whole of 2022 undefeated, winning 16 times and drawing the other four. They scored 72 goals and conceded just seven. They won the Arnold Clark Cup in February, then the Euros on home soil in July. A pretty successful year! With another Arnold Clark Cup competition, the Finalissima and World Cup, there is plenty to look forward to in 2023 for the Lionesses!

Thoughts on: Steph Houghton MBE Thoughts on: Steph Houghton MBE Houghton Back 12 September 2020 By Charlotte Stacey Hat's Off Skip Manchester City Having recently led the Lionesses to the World Cup semi-finals, and with Manchester City a top contender the WSL, defender Steph Houghton has undoubtedly proven her importance in the women's game. Captain for club and country, Houghton is fast becoming a household name, and deservedly so. Steph Houghton serves as a symbol of hope on a football pitch. Her experience, and consequent constant presence, does much to calm any tension felt by players and fans alike. It is her ability to remain collected, under a multitude of circumstances, that allows one to take comfort in knowing that when Houghton is on the field, no matter the outcome, it will be ok. A naturally defensive player, Houghton isn't afraid to get her hands, or rather her feet, dirty. Houghton's devotion to defending her line is exceptional, and her commitment to keeping threatening play out of the box, more often than not, sees her as the last woman standing. Houghton is no stranger to a crucial late challenge, nor to clearing the ball off the line in the absence of a keeper. Adeptly taking hold of a game without hesitation, Houghton's ability to orchestrate pace, flow and tactical play is an innate gift of hers. Her ever present optimism allows her to retain a composure and level headedness when things are perhaps not going her way. Even when on the losing end, or when under intense pressure, Houghton does not display any signs of discontent. In fact, the threat of a loss only seems to have a positive impact on Houghton's play. via These Football Times A born leader, Houghton is the backbone of every team she plays with. Her performance in the World Cup demonstrated the true character of a world class skipper. In what can only be described as a bizarre game against Cameroon, Houghton reacted with paramount sportsmanship. Taking the reins, Houghton kept a firm hold on what could have easily escalated into a complete debacle of a match. Unafraid to turn her hand to a set piece, Houghton will always step up when the time calls. Boasting a fair scoring record for a centre-back, Houghton has a unique knack of hitting the back of the net from an almost unworkable close range. Yet even when the result of such pieces are ill-fated, Houghton does not deter from the job in hand. Houghton has an unwavering resilience in the face of hardship, and whilst there is always time for reflection, there is no room to dwell on what might have been. Chin up, move forward, is always the message received. Whilst there is no denying that Houghton is a masterful player, it is her dedication to her sport and her belief in her team that pushes her toward greatness. Houghton is certainly a player of great importance on the field, but off the pitch she truly is an inspiration. With the rise of the women's game, it is Steph Houghton that young girls and boys look to. With the Olympics and Euro's looming, there is, unquestionably, no one better to guide us forward. Lead the way Skip, we're right behind you.

Fara Williams receives pitch honour at St. George's Park as Millie Bright heaps praise on Aggie Beaver-Jones The Lionesses look ahead to their final Euro's qualifying match Back Fara Williams receives pitch honour at St. George's Park as Millie Bright heaps praise on Aggie Beaver-Jones Getty Tuesday, 16 July 2024 Aimee Logan On the 9th July 2024, St. George’s Park unveiled their newly named pitch 5, The Fara Williams pitch, in a tribute to her incredible England career. During the opening, the media were joined by the entirety of the current Lionesses squad to watch Williams speak about her pitch for the first time. Despite the wet weather conditions, her spirits were not dampened as she described how the pitch was ‘an honour’ and that it ‘brought a smile to her face.’ Lucy Bronze spoke at the pitch opening and helped everyone reflect on the impact that Fara Williams has had on women’s football. She said, "The love of the game that she has, she pretty much coached most the players who ever played for England because she’d tell you every single tactic there was in the entire world. That’s where I’ve got it from! The want to learn and the want to give out information you probably don’t see that much with Fara [Williams] because she always hid behind the cameras she never liked to speak in front of people, and she always sells herself short. I think she was a huge inspiration to all the players that ever played with her, especially in an England shirt." Millie Bright had her full focus on the camp ahead. She spoke about how the preparation camp in the Netherlands and the game against the Dutch team helped prepare the Lionesses for these Euro Qualifier matches. ‘It was really good! Although it was just a friendly it was a real good opportunity to have that competitiveness and not just playing against each other’. ‘It gave different threats it posed different challenges and again it was a good opportunity for us to work together as a team, problem solve and for people to get minutes in the bank ’. Bright once again had plenty of praise for her Chelsea teammate Aggie Beever-Jones who was the only goal scorer in the friendly against The Netherlands, ‘I’ve always said Aggie’s like a sponge in every environment she comes into. I think she’s always just trying to develop and learn. I think she’s really good at asking questions and sometimes saying when she doesn’t understand, she might not always verbalise that in front of everyone, but she would certainly come to me and ask a question. I always encourage her to do that because when you’re a youngster in this environment you need to take everyday and just always keep working to get bette r.’ This camp England face Sweden in their last qualifying match. They played Ireland on Friday (12/07) and secured a 2-1 victory so will look to be victorious over the tough Swedish opposition.

Sarina Wiegman has named her 23 player World Cup Squad that will head to Australia and New Zealand this summer Lionesses World Cup Squad Announced Back Sarina Wiegman has named her 23 player World Cup Squad that will head to Australia and New Zealand this summer Nathan Stirk Thursday, 1 June 2023 By Cayden Sands Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman has revealed her 23 player squad that will travel to Australia for this summer’s World Cup. Expected additions include the likes of goalkeepers Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck and Hannah Hampton, as well as the Manchester United pairing of Alessia Russo and Ella Toone. However, the biggest talking points are the absence of Arsenal superstar and Euro 2022 golden boot winner Beth Mead , who despite being subject to some speculation, misses out as she continues her recovery from her ACL injury, whilst Tottenham Hotspur’s Bethany England makes the cut after an incredible second half of the season since her move to North London in January, scoring 12 goals in as many games. When questioned on if there was a possibility of Mead ever making the squad, Wiegman said: “No I don’t think so. Beth is so positive and she’s going really well, but we said with the time schedule she has, we would have taken so many risks to try get her to the World Cup.” On England’s inclusion, Wiegman explained: “She made her move and played in a hard situation. How she did and how she performed and also how much resilience she showed, that made us make the decision to get her in the squad.” Brighton and Hove Albion’s Katie Robinson also makes the cut after an impressive showing for both club and country, helping the Seagulls maintain their WSL status in the process. Wiegman was full of praise for Robinson, saying: “She’s very talented and she has made a difference at Brighton. With us in our camp, she’s really showed quality too, so she made us choose her.” Of course, a glaring absence is that of captain Leah Williamson, who joined Mead on the long-term injury list during Arsenal’s recent defeat to Manchester United. Wiegman expressed her own disappointment in regards to Williamson’s situation, but offered a glimmer of optimism that the team can cope without her, saying: “Most of all for her it’s very disappointing and very sad, but that’s the same for Fran and the same for Beth. You have to move on too, and unfortunately this is part of top sports, that you can get injured.” “We had Leah and the vice-captain was Millie,” was a key statement in Wiegman’s comments regarding last year’s European Championships that offered a clear indication that Chelsea’s Millie Bright would indeed be the team leader in Australia, this being confirmed by Wiegman simply saying “yeah” in response to the big question. One decision that has left fans in shock is the decision to not have Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier as part of the squad, the defender instead being placed on a reserve list alongside goalkeeper Emily Ramsey and Everton forward Jess Park. On Le Tessier’s exclusion, Wiegman said: “She was really close, that was a hard call with all the defenders we had to think about.” The debate about who should and shouldn’t have made it will no doubt rumble on in the coming days and weeks before England fly out to Australia, but little can be done to change the squad now. Despite the injury setbacks, this side will definitely remain a favourite to go all the way down under and bring football home once again. Lionesses World Cup Squad Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Hannah Hampton Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy Midfielders: Laura Coombes, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Katie Zelem Forwards: Rachel Daly, Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Katie Robinson, Alessia Russo