Key events
The Euros dream is over for Scotland, they couldn’t make a comeback against Finland and lost 2-0 on the night, 2-0 on aggregate.
Jess Park is the sole survivor, with Millie Bright called in to captain the team. senior debuts for Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace, and a return for Gabby George, once of Everton, now of Manchester United after six years of absence.
The teams: Ten changes for England from Wembley
England: Hampton, Morgan, George, Mace, Turner, Bright, Park, Le Tissier, Beever-Jones, Clinton, Blindkilde Brown. Subs: Bronze, Earps, Stanway, Mead, Walsh, Naz, Carter, Russo, Williamson, Moorhouse, Greenwood, Wubben-Moy.
Switzerland starting XI: Herzog, Stierli, Marti, Maritz, Schertenleib, Crnogorcevic, Sow, Vallotto, Calligaris, Terchoun, Beney.
That bad news from Scotland and Northern Ireland’s play-offs.
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Scotland are 2-0 down to Finland, 2-0 on aggregate. That’s got 10 minutes to play.
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Northern Ireland lost 3-0 to Norway, 7-0 on aggregate.
Preamble
After that reunion with Emma Hayes and a 0-0 draw, it’s up the M1 to Sheffield and a friendly with Switzerland. And time for experimentation, according to Sarina Wiegman, with seven months and four friendlies to go: “It gives opportunities for us to try out things, to play many players … we want to get as much information as possible and develop our style of play, and experience where we’re at at the moment.”
This is England’s final friendly before six Nations League fixtures from February until June, so expect a mix of styles and personnel. Plenty is still undecided as the Lionesses seek to defend their crown. The hosts of Euro 2025 are the visitors to Bramall Lane.
Also: there will be updates from the playoffs, with Ireland and Wales playing off, and news of the failure of the Scots and Northern Irish to be in Switzerland next year.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm. Join me.
