World Cup qualifiers

LEAH WILLIAMSON says the Lionesses’ trip to Belfast brought back memories of an England penalty she retook five days after netting following an officiating error.And the Arsenal ace admits captaining the national side is the ‘biggest honour in football’.
Leah Williamson will lead England on Tuesday for the first time since being announced as the Lionesses’ skipper for the EurosCredit: Getty
England are looking to pick up their eighth win in the World Cup qualifiers when they take on Northern IrelandCredit: Reuters
The Gunners centre-back was speaking to reporters before England’s World Cup qualifier clash with Northern Ireland in Belfast.
And the Tuesday evening fixture prompted Williamson, 25, to reflect on a spot-tick moment which occurred in the city during an England Under-19s match seven years ago.
In April 2015 the young Lionesses saw Williamson’s converted pen in a Euros qualifier cancelled out due to players encroaching in the 18-yard box.
But official Marija Kurtes gave Norway a free-kick during the game at Seaview when the penalty should have been retaken.
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It resulted in an intervention from Uefa which led to the pen being retaken a week later.
And Williamson netted the crucial goal that sent her side through to the Women’s Under-19s Euros in Israel.
In her light-hearted take on the moment, Williamson said: “It turned out well in the end but what I went through that week I wouldn’t wish on anybody.
“I remember I told my mum I would keep it quiet in case I missed, and nobody would ever know.
“And then you lot turned up with your Sky Sports cameras.
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“There’s a couple of the girls here that were in that squad and we were reminiscing about it the other day.
“It’s good memories because it turned out well but it could have gone very differently.”
The Lionesses’ Group D World Cup qualifier duel with Northern Ireland will see them face Kenny Shiels’ aces in front of a sell-out crowd at Windsor Park
However, the team will be without the services of veteran Jill Scott who is unavailable for the game.
A crowd of more than 16,000 are expected to attend with Williamson set to lead England for the first time since news of her captaincy of the side at the Euros was announced.
The Arsenal ace, who has 27 senior international caps received congratulatory messages from her club colleagues.
And the Buckinghamshire-born WSL star says her immediate family were the first people she broke the news to
Williamson added: “I went straight to my mum, dad and brother and they’re very proud.
“It was a nice conversation and there were some tears within the family and then it was about getting back to work and focusing on the next job which is winning on Tuesday.
“It’s a very proud moment and the biggest honour of football and I appreciate that.”
Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman is relishing the prospect of seeing her side test themselves against Northern Ireland in front of a partisan crowd.
Sarina Wiegman is keen see how side fare in front of a large crowd of Northern Ireland’s supporters at Windsor ParkCredit: Pacemaker
Wiegman, 52, said: “We have a job to do. We want to be a mature team and play our style of play.
“Hopefully the crowd will make lots of noise so it’s a little harder for us to talk to each other, so we have to communicate in passing and body language a little more to execute the actions we want.”
Northern Ireland vs England will be broadcast live on BBC Two from 7:30pm on Tuesday 12 April. The game kicks-off at 7:55pm More

BETH MEAD insists directing her disappointment at being dropped from the Lionesses in the right way has been key to her prolific form. It was just over a year ago that the Arsenal ace was left out of an England squad led by Hege Riise that faced Northern Ireland at St George’s Park.
Beth Mead has netted 12 of England’s 63 goals scored in seven of their World Cup qualifiersCredit: Getty
And the Sunderland-born forward found herself overlooked for international duty last summer with Riise opting to not to include her in the Team GB squad before the Tokyo Olympics.
Since then, Mead has pushed on and re-established herself a formidable part of England’s frontline.
Following the September arrival of Wiegman, the forward has thrived on the wing netting 12 of the Lionesses’ 63 World Cup qualifying goals scored in seven fixtures.
On her clinical form since her return to the national side, Mead said: “I’ve just channelled my disappointment in the correct way.
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“We can let these things break us or we can use them to our motivation, and I think this motivated me this season to do better on and off the pitch.
“I can control what I’m doing and enjoy my football.
“I’m a confident player and hopefully that’s showing on the pitch.
“The England team that I’m a part of right now is an amazing team.”
Since her senior debut in a World Cup qualifying draw with Wales in April 2018 Mead has emerged as a key figure in the Lionesses attack.
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The WSL ace has scored 20 goals in 35 Lionesses appearances.
These include her first international hat-trick against Northern Ireland, who England face at Windsor Park on Tuesday.
Mead added: “I never thought I would have scored a hat-trick in all these qualifiers.
I’m just really enjoying my football right now.
“It’s been free flowing individually for myself and with the team.
“I’m just glad the girls are getting on the end of some of the balls and I’m getting on the end of some of theirs.”
Mead and her team-mates face Northern Ireland next in their second World Cup qualifier duel with Kenny Shiels’ sideCredit: Getty
Mead’s England colleague Lauren Hemp has been tipped by pundits as one to watch at the Euros this summer
At club level Hemp has been instrumental in helping Manchester City overcome their early season struggles, with the team in a battle for a Champions League pace.
Mead has enjoyed a fruitful attacking partnership with Hemp on England duty with the City winger assisting two of her four goals against North Macedonia.
Mead is enjoying her partnership with Lauren Hemp and Ellen White in England’s attackCredit: EPA
Mead said: “I think Lauren could beat any fullback in the world.
“When you’re just getting the box and she’ll produce a good cross or a good effort on goal and you get on the rebound and a couple of them happened against North Macedonia.
“Her positive play sometimes becomes my positive play. It’s really nice to link up with her and Ellen (White).” More

SARINA WIEGMAN challenged her goal-hungry Lionesses to be even more relentless in attack after crushing North Macedonia.The game saw Ellen White surpass Sir Bobby Charlton’s and Harry Kane’s scoring records in an England shirt as the team romped to a 10-0 win.
Ellen White reached a half century of goals for England as they trounced North MacedoniaCredit: Reuters
Ella Toone netted a hat-trick whilst Beth Mead scored four times taking her World Cup qualifiers goal tally up to 12Credit: Getty
The Manchester City star notched her 50th international goal with Beth Mead bagging four followed by an Ella Toone hat-trick and Georgia Stanway’s brace.
White said: “I’m delighted to reach that milestone, but for me, it’s all about winning and the team winning. 
“I love playing for England and I’ll do anything to contribute in any way to play for my country.
“I know my job is to score, but I want the team to win and the three points for us to qualify for the World Cup.
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“I’ve been very blessed to have played with phenomenal players in England.
“Kelly Smith to name one, Rachel Yankey, Sue Smith and Fara Williams.
“I feel lucky I was able to be on the pitch with those talents and currently in a squad where I look around and just say to myself, ‘wow’.
Wiegman added: “We wanted to create a lot of chances and score a lot of goals and concede none, so that’s what we did.
“I’m impressed with how we scored the goals and I think we can be even more ruthless.”
The result saw England pick up a third 10-0 away win in the World Cup qualifiers before their Group D clash with Northern Ireland who lost 3-1 to Austria.
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And Beth England and Niamh Charles will join the squad before that game following their negative Covid test results with Leah Williamson back in training.
England, who thumped their opponents 8-0 at St Mary’s last time out, got off to a fast start in attack.
They forced a first-minute save from keeper Viktorija Panchurova following Lauren Hemp’s delivery to Stanway with the Man City ace firing the ball towards goal.
It was just another three minutes before England registered their opener with Mead slotting home from six yards out following Hemp’s drive and cross into the box.
Georgia Stanway scored a brace for EnglandCredit: Getty
Wiegman’s aces doubled their lead shortly after White came close to turning the ball home following a pass from Stanway.
And they did so with Mead netting through a stunning cross-shot in the 11th minute.
Ella Toone came close to scoring moments later after latching onto a through ball from Mead.
And the Man United playmaker got on the scoresheet near the half-hour stage with a thumping shot leaving the keeper with no chance.
White increased the visitors’ lead to four making the most of Toone’s delivery to direct a header home around the 41st minute.

Stanway made it 5-0 near the half-time whistle walloping the ball home after some quick-fire passes with Toone and Hemp.
The second spell saw England show no mercy with Mead bagging two more goals early on to seal her four-star performance.
And Stanway sealed her brace after drilling the ball home in the 55th minute as her side went 8-0 up.
Wiegman shuffled her deck with Jill Scott and Nikita Parris joining the fray before Katie Zelem, Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly came on in the 70th minute.
Lauren Hemp was constant threat down the left for EnglandCredit: EPA
The team went 9-0 up with Toone firing home moments later after an exchange of high passes between Parris and Russo.
And the Man United ace bagged her hat-trick shortly after as England rounded off the rout with a tenth goal with the team facing Northern Ireland next.  More

MILLIE BRIGHT insists England will maintain their high standards on the pitch in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.And the Lionesses vice-captain says it was surreal to share a golden boot with Alexia Putellas following the team’s Arnold Clark Cup triumph.
Millie Bright and her team-mates are looking to maintain England’s unbeaten run under Sarina WiegmanCredit: AFP
England face North Macedonia tonight in their seventh match in the qualifiers for a spot at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
And their clash comes seven months on from their 8-0 thrashing of the European minnows which was boss Sarina Wiegman’s first match in charge of the side.
Bright, 28, told reporters: “Our mindset remains the same.
“We want to go out there and have high standards and show our qualities.
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“When you’ve come off the high (of winning the Arnold Clark Cup), we have to be prepared to go out and play again.
“We see the quality of people coming out of their shells and playing at their best which is what we want.
“For us it’s about going out there and doing all the right things and getting the job done. We just have to keep pushing the levels.”
England’s game against North Macedonia comes a month after the team won their first trophy under boss Sarina Wiegman.
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A defeat of Germany and draws against Canada and Spain saw them triumph in the pre-Euros warm-up Arnold Clark Cup contest.
And the tournament saw Chelsea ace Bright, finish as the competition’s joint top scorer with Putellas, 28, after netting twice in three games.
On sharing a golden boot win with the Spain midfield ace, Bright joked: “I’m not sure if I’ll be up there again (as but you never know.
It was very surreal, but it just shows when you keep pushing that you can be successful.
“It’s given me a taste of what I want to go on and continue to do.”
This evening’s game could see Ellen White net her 50th goal in an England shirt, leaving her just three short of equalling Wayne Rooney’s Three Lions scoring record.
Bright insists the hotshot striker will be focused on helping her team-mates a seventh victory in their World Cup qualifying group.
Ellen White could net her 50th goal for England should make an appearance against North MacedoniaCredit: Reuters
The centre-back said: “Ellen is a goal machine, and it would be a huge achievement for her, but I’d be lying if I said that’s been the conversation (in the squad). 
“She is someone who very much has two feet on the ground and will do absolutely anything to help the team win.
“It’s not really been a conversation but I’m sure it will be when she eventually achieves that (record of 50 goals).” More

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