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Sarina Wiegman hopes England will ‘go wild’ against Scotland
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England’s hopes of reaching the Women’s Nations League knockout rounds and qualifying for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB hang by a thread as they take on Scotland at Hampden Park tonight. The Lionesses are currently second in Group A1, level on points with the Netherlands, but need to finish top of the table in order to progress.
The Netherlands are top due to their superior goal difference and take on Belgium in the group’s other fixture this evening. The Lionesses will go through should England defeat Scotland and the Netherlands drop points, but it is more likely that Group A1 will be decided by goal difference.
That means that the Lionesses must better the Netherlands’ result by three or more goals in order to reach the next stage of the competition and Sarina Wiegman’s side will be out to secure a big win as they face rivals Scotland, whose relegation from the top tier of the Nations League has already been confirmed.
An added complication is that Wiegman’s side are the nominated nation to qualify for the Paris Olympics on behalf of Team GB. England need to reach the Nations League final – or finish third if Olympic hosts France make the final – in order to secure a place.
Follow all the action from Hampden Park below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Scotland 0-5 England
53 mins: Kirby is picking up good positions in this second half and almost finds her second as she hooks Hemp’s cross just wide of the post.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:56
GOAL! Scotland 0-5 England (Kirby, 49 mins)
England pick up where they left off after the break as Stanway does superbly to beat Corsie and get a low ball across the box. Kirby times her run to perfection and slams it home to give England yet another goal.
Back they charge to the halfway line, though. They are hungry for more.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:52
KICK-OFF! Scotland 0-4 England
A triple change from Scotland at the break as Clark, McLaughlan and Mukandi are replaced by Napier, Brown and Howard.
With those sorted, we are back underway in the second half.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:49
HALF-TIME: Scotland 0-4 England
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:43
HALF-TIME: Scotland 0-4 England
As we reach half-time, let’s take a look at some of England’s goals in that first half.
Greenwood got things up and running with a header from a corner…
Before a quickfire James double moved England 3-0 up…
And things would get even better on the stroke of half-time when Mead scored her first England goal since September 2022…
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:39
HALF-TIME: Scotland 0-4 England
What a superb half from England – about as good as Serina Wiegamn could have asked for. Goals from Greenwood, Mead and a brace from James have the Lionesses four goals to the good at half-time and going through the Nations League knockout stages as things stand.
Scotland, to be fair to them, haven’t done a whole lot wrong. The marking for the first goal was poor but otherwise, they were just ripped apart by a clinical end to the first half by England.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:34
GOAL! Scotland 0-4 England (Mead, 45+1 mins)
England have a fourth with the last kick of the first half. James picks out Mead superbly and the Arsenal forward brings down the ball before curling one into the top corner past Gibson.
It’s her first England goal in 15 months and as things stand, England are going through as group winners.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:32
Scotland 0-3 England
45 mins: James springs in behind McLaughlan but a heavy touch from the Chelsea forward just takes the ball out for a goal-kick.
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:31
Scotland 0-3 England
42 mins: Scotland have not played badly here by any stretch but that quickfire James double has left them somewhat shellshocked. Can England grab a fourth now before the break?
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:28
GOAL! Scotland 0-3 England (James, 40 mins)
Two in two minutes for James!
There’s no doubt about this goal as the Chelsea forward whips a delightful curling effort into the far corner. Nothing Gibson could do about that and suddenly England have three.
They need one more goal to go back to the top…
Ben Fleming5 December 2023 20:26
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