Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.25 2021-22
P. 20
England to play June double header
England’s final preparations before UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will include two home
internationals against fellow tournament contenders in June.
England, unbeaten in nine matches under Sarina Wiegman, will take on Belgium at
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium - scene of last month’s Arnold Clark Cup
triumph - on Thursday 16th June. The Lionesses will then welcome the Netherlands, the
reigning European champions, to Leeds United’s Elland Road on Friday 24 June. Both
matches are set to kick off at 8pm.
Tickets for both fixtures went on sale exclusively to My England Football members from
1pm on Wednesday 9th March. You can sign-up to become a My England Football member for
free via https://www.englandfootball.com/members.
General sale will begin from 1pm on Thursday 10th March, with tickets available on:
thefa.com/tickets.
An overseas fixture against opposition to be confirmed will then be played before
Wiegman’s squad return to England to begin the last preparations for the opening match of the
UEFA European Championship against Austria at Old Trafford, Manchester on Wednesday
6th July.
Wiegman said: “Although at the moment we are fully focused on the two upcoming April
qualifiers, with the Euros approaching you also feel the excitement growing.
“These matches against Belgium and the Netherlands will be just the challenge we need
in the last weeks of our work to be ready for the EUROs. I hope we can continue the progress
we have shown so far and build on the strong team spirit and togetherness that we will need to
have in the final tournament. And of course playing Netherlands, and seeing so many familiar
faces again who Arjan and I have worked with for many years gives a special touch to a game
against good opposition.
“I am excited to be going back to Wolverhampton. We were given a tremendous welcome
against Germany. I am also very pleased to have the match in Leeds. I know it is an area that
has a big passion for football and I hope we can give the fans plenty of excitement at both
matches.”
England have also confirmed the Lionesses will be based at the national football centre St
George’s Park in Staffordshire in the build up to the two warm up fixtures and the opening
match of the EUROs. The June warm-up fixtures will follow two 2023 FIFA Women’s World
Cup qualifiers away to North Macedonia and Northern Ireland on 8th and 12th April
respectively with the Lionesses top of qualifying Group D on the road to Australia and New
Zealand.
Cornwall win Brunel Cup opener
Cornwall were 5-2 winners over Devon in the first of six representative fixtures for this
season’s Brunel Cup.
On Friday evening, a trip across the Tamar saw the Cornwall Women’s squad take on
Devon Women at Coach Road, Newton Abbot, with a crowd of over 250 in attendance for the
match.
The game started quickly, with Devon FA taking the lead through an early header from Sam
Drewery, with Cornwall replying within five minutes to level the scores with a goal from Chloe
Williams. Devon then regained the lead through Kirsty Brown in the 43rd minute but minutes
later, an unfortunate own goal from Devon goalkeeper Charlotte Nicholson following a Beth
Overton shot levelled the scores again.
During the second half, Cornwall gained more control of the game, with Lucy Solloway
putting Cornwall ahead in the 53rd minute. Minutes later, Beth Prowse furthered the blow
with another quickfire goal for Cornwall, extending their lead to 4-2. With five minutes left to
play, Charlotte Whitmore secured Cornwall’s victory with the fifth and final goal.
Issue no. 25 - 10 March 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk