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      England 10 Luxembourg 0: Lionesses batter minnows in final World Cup qualifier to end campaign with stunning 100% record

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      GEORGIA STANWAY bagged a brace as England put the icing on the cake of a triumphant summer by crushing Luxembourg 10-0.Golden girl Beth Mead added to her World Cup qualifying goal tally as the Lionesses ran riot in their first home game since their historic Euros win at Wembley.
      England’s Georgia Stanway scored twice as they thrashed Luxembourg 10-0Credit: AFP
      Among the players starting for Wiegman, this evening was Keira Walsh, making her 50th senior appearance.
      The midfield maestro is at the centre of one of the biggest transfer stories this summer with the Man City ace thought to be close to joining LaLiga Women’s champs Barcelona.
      And it is reported Walsh could be set to join her England and former City team-mate Lucy Bronze at the club for a world record fee.
      Any sign that transfer rumours off the pitch would be a distraction on them was blown away by the clinical performance of Walsh and her team-mates.
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      Before the fixture, Sarina Wiegman spoke of wanting the game to be a celebration for fans and players with retired England legend Jill Scott showing the Euros trophy off before kick-off.
      And the Lionesses certainly heeded the call of their Uefa Coach of the Year-winning gaffer as they hemmed a youthful Luxembourg side into their own half.
      It would take a cold heart not to feel some sympathy for their opponents whose starting line-up included two 16 -year-olds and three 18-year-olds including goalkeeper Lucie Schlime.
      And the Luxembourg shot stopper was in for a long night as the hosts laid siege to her goal.
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      It took Wiegman’s side just 11 minutes to find the back of the net.
      Georgia Stanway buried England’s opener from the spot after Alessia Russo was felled in the box.
      The striker missed a few chances moments later and saw a close range shot parried wide in the 13th-minute following a pass from Ella Toone.
      But Russo soon atoned for her missed efforts powering a header past Schlime after leaping to meet Leah Williamson’s pinpoint delivery.
      Alex Greenwood clattered the woodwork before Stanway registered her brace combining with Toone and Mead for England’s third.
      And Rachel Daly made it 4-0 after Toone followed up her cheeky nutmeg with a cross nodded home by her team-mate.
      Luxembourg barely had a chance to recover before Mead latched onto a cutback from Daly to bag her 13th goal in 10 games from this World Cup qualifying campaign.
      And Russo came close to heading in her second forcing a Schlime save on the stroke of half-time.
      The second spell saw no let-up as Wiegman made a triple substitution with Millie Bright, Katie Zelem and Beth England entering the fray.
      England tapped in the sixth goal in the 47th minute before Nikita Parris combined with the Chelsea ace and Toone to bury her second goal in two consecutive games.
      Toone notched England’s eighth from the spot before substitute Lauren Hemp made it 9-0 late on.
      And England made it 10-0 with the Euros champs matching the scoreline of their hefty defeat of Luxembourg last September.
      A stern test against the USA at Wembley awaits them in October.  More

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      Aldi worker faces being ONLY woman in Britain to banned from ALL footie grounds after hurling flare onto pitch

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      A FAN who hurled a flare onto the pitch faces being the only woman in Britain banned from all footie grounds.
      Abbie-Leigh Reay, 23, threw the missile towards the ref when her team Tranmere went 3-0 down in a League Two fixture against Forest Green.
      Abbie-Leigh Reay faces being the only woman in Britain to be banned from all football grounds
      She was caught on CCTV as she threw her arms up in celebration.
      Police later stopped the Aldi worker as she was leaving Tranmere’s stadium following her team’s 4-0 defeat in January.
      At Sefton magistrates’ court, Reay, of Bebington, Merseyside, denied throwing a missile onto a football playing area.
      But she was convicted and could be banned from visiting any UK sports ground. She will be sentenced this month.
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      Austria 0 England 2: Russo and Parris on target as Lionesses claim World Cup spot after heroic Euros triumph

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      ALESSIA RUSSO got the ball rolling as England beat stubborn Austria 2-0 to seal their place in next year’s World Cup. The striker’s opener and a Nikita Parris thumper saw the Lionesses’ red-hot run continue with the team now 21 games unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman.  
      Alessia Russo scored her ninth goal for the Lionesses who needed a draw to qualify for next year’s World CupCredit: Getty
      England aim to seal ten wins in ten World Cup qualifiers when they play LuxembourgCredit: PA
      The result saw the Euros winners bag a ninth victory out of nine World Cup qualifying games notching a whopping 70 goals in the process.
      The match also saw Lauren James make her senior England debut with the Chelsea forward entering the fray late on.
      And Wiegman acknowledged Austria provided her stars with a stern test following their Euros triumph.
      The England head coach said: “I think it was a hard game coming out of the Euros without having much rest, with some players having been in the Champions League.
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      “After all that I’m very proud of the team that we came out of this and won the game. It looked so easy, but I think it was very hard.”
      The duel saw super sub Parris smash the ball home late on.
      On Parris’ efforts, Wiegman added: “We wanted more depth and that’s one of the strengths of her game.
      “She had the runs behind and that’s what she did really well.
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      “Her finish was great. That was very successful, so we celebrated that together.”
      The Lionesses – playing for their first game since their European Championship triumph – got off to a flyer in the seventh minute at Wiener Neustadt Stadium.
      The team were also in action for the first time since the retirement of their all-time record scorer Ellen White.
      But Russo showed the future looks bright for England in attack bagging her ninth senior international goal.
      Though off balance in the box, the striker fired Wiegman’s aces ahead after getting a boot on the end of a headed ball from Lauren Hemp.
      And England almost doubled their lead moments after their seventh-minute opener with Hemp outpacing Verena Hanshaw to tee up Russo.
      But Austria, who succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against their visitors during the Women’s Euros, showed precisely why they proved tough opponents during the tournament.
      They grew into the game and blazed the ball over the bar around the 12th minute with Julie Hickelsberger firing after the hosts won possession.
      Nikita Parris doubled England’s lead to secure a win against AustriaCredit: Getty
      And the Austrian midfielder looked to cause problems shortly before half time with her cross forcing a solid block from Alex Greenwood.
      The second spell saw Irene Fuhrmann’s Austria side attempt to up the ante.
      Hickelsberger came close to levelling after pinching the ball off keeper Mary Earps.
      And the England number one made a top-drawer save in the 60th minute parrying Laura Feiersinger’s shot away from goal.
      Wiegman rang the changes with Parris and Beth England coming on for Beth Mead and Russo moments later.
      And Parris blasted England two-nil ahead in the 70th minute before coming close to netting a second shortly after.
      The visitors wrapped up the win to cap off one of the most successful summers in the Lionesses’ history.
      They will take on Luxembourg in their final World Cup qualifier before the start of the new WSL season. More

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      Former England ace Carney to lead women’s football review announced by culture secretary Nadine Dorries

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      KAREN CARNEY will head a major review on the future of women’s football in England, according to a government announcement. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries revealed the former Lioness will chair an “in-depth” examination of the women’s domestic game.
      Karen Carney is set to chair a review looking at the future of the women’s domestic gameCredit: Getty
      Broadcast revenue generated by the sport will be among the issues to be covered by the government-backed reviewCredit: Reuters
      It follows some significant changes to the sport over the years, particularly at its highest levels with the professionalisation of the WSL and FA Women’s Championship.
      The review, backed by the Culture, Media and Sports Department, will include an analysis of the sport’s elite and grassroots levels and will be launched by the FA in the coming weeks.
      It comes after England’s historic triumph at the Women’s Euros in July with the team winning their first major contest crown.
      Lionesses’ heroine Carney, 35, a Sky Sports pundit who has 144 international caps said: “Over the last few years, the game has grown significantly and at a rapid pace.
      “Of course, this is an exciting time, but there is an urgent need to ensure there are processes and structures in place that protect the interest of the game and the people working in it.
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      “I have always said that the sport needs to be built on solid foundations to give it long-lasting success in a sustainable way. 
      “For me, this is a defining period for the sport and this review will be at the heart of that.”
      The DCMS-backed review is set to cover a range of issues.
      These include the game’s infrastructure and audience reach, its financial sustainability and broadcast revenue as well as sponsorship and competition prize money.
      The stark disparity in FA Cup prize cash between men’s and women’s sides has been a concern for fans and club managers over the years.
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      In March football chiefs announced an increase in Women’s FA Cup prize money with the fund set to rise from £428,915 to £3million from this season.
      The future of the WSL is another topic that has come up for debate in recent months.
      This summer has seen calls for the top tier to become commercially independent with Chelsea chief Emma Hayes calling for the league to be taken out of the FA’s hands.
      The review of the domestic women’s and girls’ game will see industry experts invited to give evidence at meetings to be led by Carney across the country.
      Football experts are due to be called to give evidence as part of the review’s analysis of the girls’ and women’s gameCredit: Getty
      It will culminate with a report on the state of the sport to be published early next year.
      Ms Dorries added: “The Lionesses’ spectacular performance shows how far we have come at the top of the women’s game.
      “While it is right that we celebrate and reflect on that success, we need an equal emphasis on improving participation, employment opportunities, commercial investment and visibility in the media.” More

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      Arsenal sell more than 38,500 North London derby tickets as club aims to break WSL crowd record

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      ARSENAL are on course to set a new WSL match attendance record after flogging over 38,500 tickets for their clash with Tottenham.The derby could become the league’s highest-attended match should every fan who bought a ticket turn up for the game at the Emirates.
      A WSL record crowd of 38,262 watched the Gunners’ 3-0 away win against Spurs in November 2019Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Arsenal hope to draw a WSL record crowd to their duel with Tottenham at the Emirates in SeptemberCredit: Getty
      The 1:30 pm fixture – to be broadcast live on BBC One – will take place on September 24.
      The current record for the biggest crowd at a women’s top-flight game was set when Spurs took on the Gunners at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November 2019.
      Back then 38,262 match goers turned up to watch the game with the visitors winning 3-0 courtesy of goals from Beth Mead and Caitlin Foord.  
      Gunners head coach Jonas Eidevall said: “It’s been incredible to see the demand for tickets for the North London Derby,
      “You can really feel the excitement around the game at the moment so it’s amazing to see that translate into a record-breaking attendance.  
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      “Now it’s our job to repay that enthusiasm with a big performance in this crucial clash for our supporters.”
      Arsenal are among a number of top-flight sides experiencing a surge in ticket sales following the Women’s Euros.
      And the club says it has sold its full allocation of season ticket sales this term.
      Elsewhere Brighton are reported to have seen a 249 per cent rise in ticket sales.  
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      Arsenal, who finished second in the top tier last season, will play two more WSL games at the Emirates this season.
      And the North London giants plan to hold all their Champions League group stage home fixtures at the stadium should they progress to that phase.
      The Gunners will go up against Dutch side Ajax in the second round of qualifiers with both rivals seeking a place in this season’s group stage.
      Last term the club reached the quarter-finals of the competition before being knocked out by Wolfsburg.
      They are currently the only English side to have won a Champions League crown when they triumphed in the contest in 2007. More

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      ‘We’ve got a target on our backs now we’re European champions’, says England ace Rachel Daly

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      RACHEL DALY joked about feeling like a Big Brother contestant when leaving England’s camp for the first time after their Euros win.And the Harrogate-born WSL star reckons the team have a target on their backs after becoming Europe’s top dogs.
      Rachel Daly and her team-mates are targeting World Cup qualifying wins against Austria and LuxembourgCredit: Getty
      The Lionesses need a point against Austria to claim a place in the 2023 World CupCredit: PA
      Daly, who has 57 caps, admits that life has changed greatly for the team, who take on Austria in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
      The match is the first Sarina Wiegman’s aces will play since their historic triumph at Wembley on July 31.
      Reflecting on how life has shifted for the Lionesses, Daly, 30, said: “During the Euros, we were in a bubble.
      “I don’t think we were fully aware of how much of an impact we had on the nation.
      “So, coming out, it was a whirlwind. It was almost like you’d been on Big Brother or Love Island.
      “It was unbelievable to see we’d inspired the nation.”
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      A draw with their Austrian opponents would see England seal qualification for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      Daly believes the Lionesses – unbeaten under Wiegman in 20 games – instil fear in their opponents.
      The defender, who sealed a summer switch to Aston Villa from American top-flight side Houston Dash, added: “England are a team that is feared.
      “We are now European champions and that is something you have got to look at with a great deal of respect.
      “The pressure is all on our backs. Football in England is taking off.
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      “But pressure is a privilege, and we have to see it as that. Right now, we’re focused on qualifying for the World Cup.
      “We’re European champions of course, but our focus is on the World Cup qualification stage. We know what we need to do.”
      England’s duel with Austria will be the first fixture the team will play following the retirements of Ellen White and Jill Scott.
      And while their presence will be missed, Daly acknowledges there is also an opportunity for the squad’s younger players and rising stars to shine.
      Daly joked: “It’s definitely quieter without Jill.
      “They are missed as people and players, but again, it opens up a new opportunity to the youngsters to come through and shine.”
      Ebony Salmon is among the rising stars aiming to make their mark for the LionessesCredit: Getty
      “They’re two massive characters, great football but honestly even better humans.
      “When you are with them every day you’d feel the empowerment, you’d feel the support, and they’re just fantastic people.
      “They deserve the world for what they’ve done for the women’s game in England and not just here but for the women’s game in general.”
      Austria vs England will be aired on ITV on Saturday 3 September. The game kicks off at 4:00 pm More

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      Lionesses Leah Williamson & Beth Mead top list of female role models for kids – ahead of Kate Middleton & Ariana Grande

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      LIONESSES Leah Williamson and Beth Mead have topped a list of female role models for youngsters.After their ground-breaking success in the Women’s Euros, the pair took first and second place in the 20 most confidence boosting icons – ahead of Harry Potter star Emma Watson and the Duchess of Cambridge.
      Lioness captain Leah Williamson has topped the list list of female role models for kidsCredit: Getty
      Kate Middleton came in at number four in the 20 most confidence boosting iconsCredit: Getty
      Other role models include football stars Lucy Bronze and Alex Scott, and Olympian Laura Kenny.
      The poll of 1,000 parents, carers and guardians of children aged three to six also found 72 per cent feel their young children are, or were, worried about starting school, with 51 per cent of parents also sharing this anxiety.
      As a result, 74 per cent are looking for tips to help build their children’s confidence, while 65 per cent of parents are seeking role models for their kids.
      The research was commissioned to mark the launch of Ultimate Princess Celebration: Time to Shine – a new role model-led initiative created by Disney Princess and educational charity The Female Lead.
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      Fronted by Lioness captain, Leah Williamson, the campaign aims to inspire and grow the confidence of young children as they prepare to start school – and during the early years that follow.
      Leah, who led her team to Euros 2022 victory and made history by becoming the first English female football team to win the international title, said: “Early years at school are exciting.
      “I remember it as a time where I really started to recognise my love for football and how much I loved to play.
      “Having the confidence to pursue endeavours are at the heart of all Disney Princess stories – so what better way to inspire young girls than through practising self-belief and perseverance, they can be anything they want to be.”
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      Disney Princess and The Female Lead have also created a series of pep talk videos and self-affirmation mantras featuring the stories of Disney’s Princess characters.
      The Princess Pep Talks cover the themes of adventure, confidence and self-potential to prepare three to six-year-old children for their early school years.
      They use stories based on qualities like Tiana’s perseverance and Rapunzel’s bravery, and are told by teen YouTubers and authors, Kirsten and Aiyven Mbawa, from Northampton.
      The sisters, who also run Happier Every Chapter, a monthly book subscription service they crowdfunded on Kickstarter to promote literacy and diversity for children, have become the first official Young Female Leaders for the charity.
      Parenting expert, Sue Atkins, who helped co-develop the programme said: “It’s clear that children are experiencing a crisis in confidence, and our ambition is to help navigate this in those at the start of the early years of education, offering the tools needed to tackle the issue from the get-go.
      “Given children are inspired by trusted role models and stories of kindness and bravery, I hope this campaign will help them as they enter what can be an overwhelming stage of life.”
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      Sarah Fox, VP marketing and communications, Disney Consumer Products, Games & Publishing EMEA, added: “We know that starting school can be an emotional time for both parents and children.
      “We hope Ultimate Princess Celebration: Time to Shine and its incredible line-up of female role models inspire kids to find the confidence they possess as they start a new chapter of their very own story – just like Disney Princesses.”
      TOP 10 ADULT CONFIDENCE ROLE MODELS FOR KIDS
      1.            Leah Williamson
      2.            Beth Mead
      3.            Emma Watson
      4.            Kate, Duchess of Cambridge
      5.            Lucy Bronze
      6.            Emma Raducanu
      7.            Laura Kenny
      8.            Sky Brown
      9.            Alex Scott
      10.          Ariana Grande

      Beth Mead, of England Women’s team, took the second spotCredit: Getty
      Kirsten and Aiyven Mbawa have been chosen as the first ever Young Female Leads as part of Disney’s new campaign, Ultimate Princess Celebration: Time to ShineCredit: Credit: Mikael Buck, free for editorial use
      They join Lioness captain Leah Williamson as the charity’s newest recruitsCredit: Credit: Mikael Buck, free for editorial use
      Harry Potter star Emma Watson stole bronzeCredit: Getty More

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      England’s heroic Lionesses meet up for international duty for first time since Euro 2022 at St George’s Park

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      SARINA WIEGMAN and England’s stars were still on a Euro 2022 high as they met up for the World Cup qualifying clashes with Austria and Luxembourg.The Lionesses’ boss and her players were gathering for training for the first time since winning the European Championship in July.
      Sarina Wiegman’s players are looking to extend their unbeaten run under their bossCredit: Getty
      Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and their team-mates face Austria and Luxembourg in their next two World Cup qualifying gamesCredit: Getty
      A point for England against Austria would see them book their place in next year’s World Cup in Australia and New ZealandCredit: Getty
      And they arrived at St George’s Park with some of its windows adorned with stunning black and white photos of their goal celebrations during the tournament.
      Images include Ella Toone’s ecstatic celebration after her iconic chipped opener during the team’s 2-1 defeat of Germany in the final
      This Saturday the Lionesses take on Austria away ahead of a duel with Luxembourg at a sold-out Stoke City Stadium on September 6.
      The Euros title-holders are looking to pick up their second competitive win against their rivals this year when the sides at Wiener Neustadt stadium.
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      One point from the encounter will be enough for the Lionesses to book a place in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      Among the Lionesses making their return for international duty is Arsenal star, Jordan Nobbs.

      The Gunners’ ace, 29, is one of five midfielders named in Wiegman’s 23-strong squad having returned to full fitness following a knee injury.
      And Chelsea’s Lauren James and Houston Dash ace Ebony Salmon are among the forwards included.
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      Salmon is targeting a second senior England appearance with James after her first cap.
      England are top of their World Cup qualifying group after eight games with a five-point lead over Austria who are currently second.
      The Lionesses are yet to lose a match under Wiegman since she took charge of the side last September
      And they hope to extend their unbeaten run under their head coach to 21 games with a victory against Austria on Friday. More