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
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