Women’s football

SARINA WIEGMAN praised Grace Clinton and Jess Park for making a difference during England’s 1-0 friendly defeat of Switzerland. And the Lionesses boss challenged Clinton to become even more consistent following the victory last night. Grace Clinton netted the Lionesses’ winning goal against Switzerland in the eighth minute of their match at Bramall LaneCredit: GettyJess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones also impressed in attack with Sarina Wiegman making ten changes to the team that drew with the United StatesCredit: AlamyThe Lionesses kept a clean sheet in their final match this year with the team looking ahead to the draw for next year’s EurosCredit: GettyLucy Bronze was unable to come on as a substitute due to an error that resulted in the full-back not being listed as part of England’s squadCredit: GettyAfter being benched for England’s 0-0 draw with the USA at Wembley on Saturday, Clinton delivered a sharp shift in response last night. The Manchester United midfielder broke the deadlock eight minutes into the game for Wiegman’s revamped side. Her first-half strike at Bramall Lane, for a youthful England team was her third goal in five senior international appearances. Wiegman said: “Grace is improving well. She had to do a couple of things too. She had a good game. Read More Football Stories”The next step (for her) is to get into the squad more often and get consistency. “I was really happy with her. You can really see that she’s developing.”But I also thought Jess Park made a difference today.”England found themselves under pressure at times during the second half with Pia Sundhage’s Switzerland applying more pressure in the final third. Most read in FootballAnd despite having just three shots on target, Clinton’s finish was enough to ensure the 2022 Euros champions rounded off this year with a win. And this followed some mixed results during their last camp, which included a 4-3 loss to Germany.  England will now look ahead to discovering who they face in next year’s Women’s Euros, with the draw scheduled next Wednesday. Of the team’s performance, Wiegman added: “We played really well in the first half, we challenged them all the time, played mainly on their half of the pitch, created chances, and scored one goal. “I was really happy with that because what we wanted to do with a very young team, some debuts and some starters for the first time in (a while) who hadn’t played for us. “In the second half our level dropped. We were more sloppy. “We didn’t find the pockets well enough. So that was a little bit harder. “I wanted to see many things. I wanted to try out things, but also manage loads of players, because there is a quick turnaround. “All of these things together make me take the (selection) decisions that I did.”On a night in which the head coach made ten changes to the team that drew with the USA, the only significant error was one concerning their team sheet. During the second-half Lucy Bronze was getting ready to come on for the hosts. But the full-back ended up having to retake her seat on England’s bench due to not being included on the Lionesses’ squad list.Wiegman said: “That was a human error from our side and that’s very frustrating of course, and very disappointing because we wanted to bring her in – mainly for her. “These things happen sometimes.”On Monday, Wiegman declared she would experiment and made ten changes to the team that faced the United States last time out.Senior debuts were handed to Leicester midfielder Ruby Mace and Man City forward Laura Blindkilde-Brown. In a nod to the future eight of Wiegman’s starting line-up was under the age of 25.Blindkilde-Brown and Mace the youngest at 21. Before last night, Wiegman urged Clinton to be switched on international shifts. And she wasted no time in showing her alertness, smashing England’s early opener into the roof of the net. Park dragged a shot wide shortly after the half hour mark before Maya Le Tissier had a tame shot comfortably claimed by Switzerland keeper Elvira Herzog. Alessia Russo almost doubled England’s advantage with a 51st-minute header after replacing Park. Wiegman’s players will find out who they will face in the group stage of next year’s Women’s Euros when the draw takes place on December 10Credit: AlamyAnd England keeper Hannah Hampton made a swift stop to keep out Iman Beney’s strike as the visitors upped their tempo. READ MORE SUN STORIESHer well-timed tipped ball over the bar denied Meriame Terchoun a long-range leveller with England holding firm.And substitute Georgia Stanway struck the post with a shot in injury-time before her team saw out the win.  More

SARINA WIEGMAN warns England stars must get used to feeling uncomfortable with their Euros title defence drawing nearer. Her remarks follow Leah Williamson reflecting on testing moments for the Lionesses in two intense end-of-year camps. Sarina Wiegman expects players to feel uncomfortable as England push to improve ahead of next year’s EurosCredit: ReutersThe Lionesses is planning to field a much changed England side against side Switzerland following a 0-0 friendly draw with the United StatesCredit: AlamyEngland skipper Leah Williamson told Sky Sports England’s most recent camps with games against Germany, South Africa, and the USA have been moulded to test themCredit: AlamyTomorrow the England skipper, 27, and her team-mates host Switzerland in an 8pm Bramall Lane clash in their last friendly before 2025.  The duel with next year’s Euros hosts comes seven months before the 2022 champs begin their quest to win the tournament back-to-back. Before then Wiegman’s side will resume their build-up with Nations League action in February with World Cup winners Spain among their group stage foes. And 51-capped Williamson reckons England’s recent camps have been moulded to test them.  Read More Football StoriesLionesses boss Wiegman, 56, said: “That’s what you need at moments. “At the end, before we go into a tournament, you want clarity and that everyone knows their role, which we know in top sport can also change very quickly. “But now you’re trying out things, you want everyone to compete at the highest level, compete against opponents, but also compete against each other. “That’s what you need to become better and that’s uncomfortable. Most read in Football”It’s also trying out new things and we’re not going to get everything right, but we’re learning and it gives us information.”With Wiegman due to whittle her squad down to 23 for the Euros, Jess Park expects the battle for squad spots to be more intense. The in-form Lioness forward, 23, added: “That’s the best way a team needs to be. “If there is no competition it’s never going to bring out the best in you.”Wiegman is likely to field a much-changed line-up to the team that drew with the USA on Saturday. However the England chief will be without the services of Chloe Kelly and Fran Kirby with injuries forcing the duo to return to their clubs. The Manchester City and Brighton forwards came on as second-half substitutes against the United States. However Kelly sustained concussion during the match while Kirby picked up a calf injury. With Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone also injured, England’s forward ranks are depleted. Among the up and coming stars vying to start is midfielder Grace Clinton who did not feature in the 0-0 draw at Wembley. Along with Jess Naz, Grace Clinton (left) and Ruby Mace (right) are vying for a tarting spot for England against SwitzerlandCredit: ReutersWiegman added: “What we want is consistency and what I talk with Grace about a lot is she needs to stay switched on at all times. READ MORE SUN STORIES”She’s tight on the ball but she also shows she can come into the box. “Defensively her understanding needs to be improved, the consistency and to know what the bigger picture is than only her own task.” More

SARINA WIEGMAN will not be letting friendship get in the way of her determination to guide England to victory over Emma Hayes’ USA. The duo go toe-to-toe as coaches for the first time tomorrow when the Lionesses face the United States at Wembley. Sarina Wiegman is aiming to guide the Lionesses to friendly wins against the USA and SwitzerlandCredit: GettyEngland’s clash with the United States women’s team will see Wiegman pitted against USA boss Emma HayesCredit: GettyUSA captain Lindsey Horan says her side enjoy “the pressure moments” when facing teams like EnglandCredit: GettyThe 5:20pm Saturday clash will be Hayes’ first homecoming as USA chief this year. She began her role in June, after ending her reign as Chelsea boss leading the Blues to a seventh WSL title. Tomorrow’s fixture follows Hayes, 48, steering her US stars to a gold medal win at the Paris Olympics in August. And with the team unbeaten in 11 games since Hayes took charge, Wiegman is ready to give her rival her first taste of international defeat. Read More Football Stories The Lioness chief, 55, said: “Emma and I used to collaborate, but now we’re opponents and I’m really looking forward to that.”With friends, you really want to beat them, maybe even more than if they’re not your friends. “We play at Wembley, there’s going to be around 85,000 people there, plus the USA won at the Olympics, so it’s really exciting.”The Lionesses’ clash with the United States will be the first time the teams have faced each other since England’s 2-1 victory two years ago in October. Most read in FootballSince then the Lionesses reached a World Cup final for the first time last summer, falling to a 1-0 loss to Spain. Results for both sides in the last international window have been in contrast. While Hayes’ players saw off Iceland and Argentina with 3-1 and 3-0 wins, Wiegman’s team suffered a 4-3 loss to Germany before defeating South Africa 2-1.And though the USA have been the victors in 12 of their 19 duels with England, full-back Lucy Bronze believes the rivalry between both sides is respectful. The Lioness, who is a Fifa 2024 women’s player of the year nominee, added: “As much as there is a rivalry, there is that level of respect.”You get that when you have a rivalry with two teams that get to the highest level. “As an English team we’ve always understood that the US have had to do so much to get to where they are, “That’s something we really admire in them and something that they’ve inspired us to do as an England team after winning the Euros. “We’re rivals, we’re a community but at the same time we still want to beat each other. “With England and America, it’s always that high level of rivalry but also respect.”With more than 83,000 fans expected at Wembley, Hayes was asked her thoughts on how the women’s game is currently faring here compared to across the pond. However the USA chief believes the sport in both locations should be celebrated equally. The USA chief said: “It’s fair to say that both countries are committed to women’s sport and developing the women’s game. Lucy Bronze is among the five Lionesses who have been shortlisted for this year’s Fifa women’s player of the year awardCredit: Getty”As always, we talk about the things we need to keep doing to improve it, but I think we need to celebrate how far we’ve come. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Having 80,000 paying fans to watch a great match-up is, again, not just a sign of progress, but shows that the Lionesses are sustaining a lot.”It’s about celebrating both countries and celebrating the work that’s being done, as opposed to picking it apart.” More

ANNA MOORHOUSE is ready to push Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton all the way in the battle to start in goal for England.Like her Orlando Pride team-mate and Brazil legend Marta the uncapped shot-stopper, 29, hopes to leave her mark on the game. Anna Moorhouse hopes to make her first senior appearance for England after helping Orlando Pride become NWSL championsCredit: GettyMoorhouse, who began her senior club career at Everton, received her first Lionesses call-up in JulyCredit: ReutersMoorhouse says her experience with Orlando Pride has helped her come out of her shellCredit: ReutersMoorhouse’s first England call-up came ahead of their July camp and Euros qualifier duels with the Republic of Ireland and SwedenCredit: Getty2024 has been a standout year at club level for Moorhouse.One preceded by seasons battling for game time during stints with Everton, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Arsenal before a two-year spell at West Ham from 2018 to 2020. The Oldham-born player, who once was part of a Doncaster Rovers Belles side relegated from the WSL in 2016, has been “riding the crest of a wave” at Orlando. This month she helped her club make history in the United States’ women’s top-flight with the team winning the National Women’s Soccer League title. Read More Football StoriesA first-half goal netted by Orlando star striker Barbra Banda in a 1-0 defeat of Washington Spirit led to them being crowned NWSL Champions for the first time. And four months ago Moorhouse received her first call-up to the Lionesses squad, 12 years after beginning her senior club career with the Toffees. The Orlando shot-stopper said: “I cried when I got the phone call from Sarina Wiegman. It was a dream come true. “I’ve been called up to a couple of camps and I’m starting to settle down a little bit and become more comfortable. I can let my personality out a little bit more.Most read in Football”I still have a long way to go on that journey. “I want to win an (England) cap. I’m not here just to train and be around the team.”This year Moorhouse etched her name into the NWSL’s history books keeping the most clean sheets in one season with 12 in 29 appearances for her club. She adds: “I’m sure after this week I’ll look back and realise what an incredible achievement I’ve had this season.”I haven’t really looked back and processed it. I’ve been riding the wave of what it is and what it has been”As a team, we didn’t really listen to pressures from outside, from the media, from opposing teams’ fans and stuff like that. “We were just so focused on getting the job done and bringing the trophy home.”Orlando’s triumph saw football icon Marta, 38, lift the NWSL Shield in the 24th year of her professional playing career. Playing football with a forward who has competed in six World Cups has influenced Moorhouse’s own international aspirations.I really want that cap and I want to push Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton to get that.Anna Moorhouse The goalkeeper, who joined the US club from Bordeaux two years ago, adds: “I’ve taken experiences from the way Marta acts around the team, but I’ve always had the belief that I had the ability to be here. “Things didn’t go my way when I was younger but I still made it and everyone’s journey is different. “I’m kind of a shy person which is weird for a goalkeeper. “This year I’ve definitely been able to come out of my shell a little bit at Orlando Pride.”Like Marta, who retired from international football this year after a Paris Olympics silver medal win, Moorhouse hopes to shape the growth of women’s football.She said: “We all want to grow the game and be that role model. It’s definitely something I want to do.”Moorhouse was in goal for West Ham when they competed in an FA Cup final in 2019 where the fell to a 3-0 loss to Man City at Wembley.This Saturday could see her back at Wembley again when the Lionesses host the USA. The friendly duel with Emma Hayes’s side and with Switzerland at Bramall Lane next Tuesday will be England’s final fixtures for this year. Both are being used as preparation for Nations League games in February and the Lionesses’ bid to retain their Euros champions title. Securing a place in Wiegman’s squad for next year’s Euros is a target for Moorhouse.And the 6ft tall shot stopper reckons her height could give her an edge in addition to her skills between the sticks. She adds:  “I really want that cap and I want to push Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton to get that.”Mary and Hannah are really good goalkeepers in their own rights respectively. Moorhouse hopes to give England boss Wiegman food for thought on her goalkeeper optionsCredit: Getty”I think I can add a little bit of something different. READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’m very tall. I think that’s a big part of my game. I definitely want to be a part of the Euros squad. “Hopefully I can impress Sarina in this camp.” More