World Cup qualifiers

ADA HEGERBERG says she could not have imagined a better comeback to Norway action after their clinical trouncing of Kosovo.The Lyon striker, 26, made a storming return to the international stage, bagging three goals in her nation’s 5-1 World Cup qualifier win.
Ada Hegerberg netted a hat-trick on her return to international football for NorwayCredit: Reuters
In a post shared with 96,000 of her followers on Twitter, Hegerberg wrote: “A thousand thanks for all your messages.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better comeback. As Norwegian as it gets.”
Hegerberg’s return comes almost after five years after she quit her national side following her concerns around the treatment of the women’s game in her country.
A change of leadership at the top of the Norwegian Football Federation is thought to have been a factor in the player’s comeback.
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The Molde-born star, who was the first ever Women’s Ballon d’Or winner, is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of her generation
To date the striker has netted 41 senior international goals in 67 international appearances.
And at club level the forward has scored 153 times in 131 games for Lyon helping them to six French top-flight titles and five Champions League crowns.
On Thursday Hegerberg made a swift impact for a Norway side which featured an array of aces from Europe’s top clubs.
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Their starting eleven included Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Manchester City’s Julie Blakstad and Manchester United’s Maria Thorisdottir and Vilde Boe Risa.
And she netted her first goal in the 21st minute after heading home following a delivery into box from Graham Hansen.
Hegerberg put her team two up moments later at the Sandefjord Arena before Arsenal’s Frida Maanum extended their lead to 3-0 near the half hour stage
In the second half Hegerberg, who has netted 131 goals in 153 appearances for the French side completed her hat-trick in the 60th minute
She did so with a low shot rifled into the back of the net with Celin Bizet Ildhusoy completing the rout with Norway’s fifth close to the final whistle.
Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum netted Norway’s third goal in their 5-1 defeat of KosovoCredit: EPA
And the victory for the team sees them remain top of the table in Group F after six wins and a draw from seven games.
They face Poland at home in Oslo in their eighth World Cup qualifier fixture on Tuesday. More

SARINA WIEGMAN admits she was wary of taking a huge risk with injuries to Alex Greenwood and Lotte Wubben-Moy.The duo were ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifier with North Macedonia due to knee issues for Greenwood and a thigh problem for Wubben-Moy.
Sarina Wiegman’s team will face North Macedonia without Alex Greenwood and Lotte Wubben-MoyCredit: Getty
Everton’s Gabrielle George has been called into England’s squad following Greenwood’s and Wubben-Moy’s injury issuesCredit: Getty
And the Man City and Arsenal aces have returned to their clubs for treatment.
The Lionesses chief, 52, said: “It’s really, really disappointing, but we have to do the right things for them.
“You don’t want to make a big risk that they get injured for a longer time, so I think we’ve made the right decision although it’s very disappointing for them and for the team.”
The withdrawal of both players has led to a call-up for Everton centre-back Gabby George.
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The 25-year-old made her senior England debut in a 6-0 World Cup qualifier thrashing of Kazakhstan in September 2018.
On George’s performances, Wiegman added: “Gabby is a young, talented player and also left-footed.
“She joined the squad before but got injured so this is an opportunity to see her in this camp.
Their Lionesses will face North Macedonia in their capital Skopje without the services of skipper Leah Williamson.
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The defender is following concussion protocols following a knock she took during Arsenal’s 5-0 thumping of Leicester in the WSL on Sunday.
It means vice-captain Millie Bright will lead the side in their seventh World Cup qualifying encounter with the team top of Group D with six wins in six games.
And the Chelsea ace believes the leadership styles of herself and Williamson complement each other, although Bright admits to being a loud figure in the squad.
Millie Bright is set to skipper England in their World Cup qualifier against North MacedoniaCredit: Getty
The Derbyshire-born centre-back said: “I don’t think we have to work too hard in being on the same page and we get on really well. 
“We have the same mindset on the pitch, front footed although I might be a little bit louder than Leah, but I think we work off each other well.
“I’m looking forward to building that relationship on and off the pitch and hopefully bringing success.” More

THE Scottish FA has hit back after Scotland Women’s stars called out the limited number of tickets for the squad’s clash with Spain.   Players criticised the allocation made available for the World Cup qualifier duel at Hampden Park.
Scotland Women players criticised the limited number of tickets available for their game against Spain at Hampden ParkCredit: The Sun
The team, who competed in the contest for the first time in France 2019, face their Spanish opponents at their national stadium on April 12.
However, just six sections at the ground, which has a 51,866 capacity, have been made available and are reportedly close to selling out.
Those sections are P1 to P3 and L4 to L6.
West Ham’s Lisa Evans, on loan from Arsenal, and Leicester’s Sophie Howard are among the players who expressed dismay at limited tickets for the match.
And they highlighted large crowds seen at a number of women’s football games in recent weeks.
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Last week Barcelona broke the attendance record for a women’s club fixture with more than 91,000 fans at the Nou Camp for their clash with Real Madrid.
A number of players from both clubs could be in line to feature in the Spain side due to visit Hampden Park next Tuesday.
Scotland aces including Manchester City’s Caroline Weir took to social media to share concerns over limited tickets for the duel.
In a coordinated statement shared via their official Twitter accounts, Evans, the rest of her team-mates said: “Following record attendances at recent women’s football matches, the SFA have only opened a fraction of the 50,000 plus capacity Hampden Park.
“How are we expected to grow the game when only limited tickets are available for our supporters?  Come on @ScotlandNT we can do better.”
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In response the Scottish FA says every seat at Hampden will be made available should they be required.
And the association responded to the tweeted posts from players.
A statement published on their website today said: “The ticketing sales process used at Hampden Park is identical to most across Scottish football, with tickets sold in blocks, in line with ongoing demand.
“This procedure is long-established for all events within our stadium.
Scotland are hoping to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World CupCredit: Kenneth Ramsay
“The Scottish FA was therefore surprised by the flurry of identical social media posts last night from members of the Scotland Women’s national team.
“Every seat in Hampden Park will be made available should the demand require it – and we urge football fans across the country to do their bit to support Pedro Martinez Losa and his team.
“The staff who will work tirelessly until kick-off to promote the match have been hugely disappointed by the post.
“We hope the Scotland Women’s National team can refocus and inspire the nation against Spain on Tuesday.”
Within the past three years, a growing number of fans have turned out to watch Scotland Women in action.
A record crowd of 18,555 attended their pre-2019 World Cup warm-up defeat of Jamaica at Hampden Park.  More

LEAH WILLIAMSON will captain the Lionesses at the Euros in July with the team looking to win the tournament on home soil.And Chelsea defender Millie Bright has been confirmed as England’s vice-skipper with Ellen White next in line.
Leah Williamson will captain England at the Women’s Euros this summerCredit: Alamy
The news comes seven months after Williamson, 25, was named England skipper in the absence of Steph Houghton.
The long-serving Manchester City ace has been out of international action since last September following an Achilles injury.
Before then Houghton, 33, has served as the Lionesses captain since she first donned armband back in January 2014.
And the WSL veteran led the team to the World Cup semi-finals in 2019 where they were defeated by eventual tournament winners USA.
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Williamson, who made her senior international debut in a World Cup qualifier win against Russia in 2017, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for me and my family and I am honoured to be asked to lead us at the Euros.
“Steph Houghton is one of this country’s all-time greats and to follow in her footsteps – and all of those special names who have led the team in the past – means so much.
“Although I will be wearing the armband, I know we have a squad full of leaders who share my pride and passion in playing for our country.
“Whether I am captain or not, I will never take anything for granted and will always do my best for England every time I pull on the shirt.”
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Lionesses chief Sarina Wiegman, 52, added: “Leah has been a great leader for us and I know she will continue to set the example we need in her work on and off the pitch.
“She joins a proud list of England captains and will be following in the footsteps of the likes of the first captain Sheila Parker but also her predecessor Steph Houghton who have all been integral for the women’s game.
“While I know this is significant news for our fans, for me the most important thing is that we work hard in training and perform to the best we can in our matches as a team.
“The main thing is we are ready for our World Cup qualifiers and then the Euros this summer.”
Williamson, a lifelong Arsenal fan, has helped the club to a WSL title, and a league cup and FA Cup wins, since making her senior Gunners debut in 2014.
Chelsea centre-back Millie Bright has been named as England’s vice-captain at the EurosCredit: Getty
And the versatile central defender, who has 27 senior England caps, led her national side to Arnold Clark Cup trophy triumph following draws against Canada and Spain and a defeat of Germany.
The Lionesses, who are top of their World Cup qualifier group, face North Macedonia away on Friday before a clash with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
The team have gone unbeaten since Wiegman commenced her role as head coach last September. More

BETH ENGLAND and Niamh Charles are set to miss the Lionesses’ duel with North Macedeonia with both testing positive for Covid-19. The news comes after their Chelsea team-mate Maren Mjelde returned a positive coronavirus test result on arrival for international duty with Norway.
The FA hopes Beth England and Niamh Charles can join their Lionesses team-mates ahead of their game against Northern IrelandCredit: Getty
The FA say Charles, 22, and England, 27, were asymptomatic following pre-camp checks.
And an official statement says the Blues duo have not come into contact with their Lionesses team-mates at St George’s Park.
England and Charles have been in fine form for Chelsea in recent weeks.
The pair have helped the club to win six of their last games across all competitions with the WSL leaders conceding just one goal.
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And England, who missed the Arnold Clark Cup tournament due to injury, has been in ruthless form for the Blues alongside Sam Kerr.
The Kingsmeadow ace has netted six goals in the team’s last three games across all competitions.
These include braces against Reading in the league and against Birmingham in an FA Cup quarter-final duel.
On England’s form Chelsea chief Emma Hayes said on Sunday: Her work in this half of the season has been outstanding.
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“She had a blip with her injury but she has kept her head down.
“Beth has done a great job of playing her part but this half of the season.
“She’s improving and contributing on a much bigger level and I’m really proud of her approach.” 
Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has opted not call up any replacements for Charles and England before the team’s game against North Macedonia on Friday.
Charles and England both tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Lionesses’ match against North MacedoniaCredit: Getty
The WSL aces were named in her 24-player squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
Wiegman’s ssistant coach Arjan Veurink was also confirmed to have returned a positive Covid-19 test result prior to joining up with England at their base in Burton-upon-Trent.
It is hoped the trio might be able to join the squad ahead of their clash with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Tuesday 12 April. More