Category: England Women

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England Women

USA thrash England U23’s 2-4 in final game of 2025

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England rounded off their 2025 internationals with a 2-4 defeat against USA at Wham Stadium in Accrington. Goals from Emeri Adames, Maddy Dahlien, Sarah Weber and Ally Sentnor secured the win for the visitors after their European trip, with Jess Simpson and Keira Barry finding goals for the hosts. 

Within the first two minutes, USA opened up the scoring from Emeri Adames inside the box. There was a loose ball from Olivia McLoughlin on the far side which found USA and Ally Sentnor crossed into the box to Sarah Weber. She then found Adames around the penalty box and her strike saw the bottom right corner. 

After the initial goal, both sides were neck and neck until the 43rd minute where from the far side of the pitch, Maddy Dahlien gave the USA a two goal cushion. Her shot was just inside the box and looped over Faye Kirby after an initial deflection from Evie Rabjohn, into the back of the net.

First Half: England 0-2 USA 

The second half was similar to the first but England halved the deficit after a free kick from Jess Simpson in the 53rd minute. Her free kick over 25 yards out on the near side missed everyone in the box and went straight into the far side of the goal. 

Just one minute after the goal, Faye Kirby was tested again after a long range shot from the USA. In the 57th minute, they found their two goal cushion again after Sarah Weber found the back of the net. Her goal was a cross from Maddy Dahlien which found the 12 yard area inside the box and her shot fizzled past Kirby into the back of the net. 

England found the back of the net and brought them back in it on the 61st minute mark after a strike from Keira Barry. Her shot from the right side outside the box found the back of the net past Purcell in the USA net which gave England another chance. 

USA comfortably scored their fourth goal of the match in the 72nd minute from Ally Sentnor. Her goal came from her own doing, running down the left wing and cutting inside and her shot just inside the box went past Kirby on the left side and went into the back of the net. 

England continued to look for another goal, with Keira Barry looking to find her second with a similar attempt like her goal but it was fired wide. England ended the last international break of the year with a defeat. 

Second Half: England 2-4 USA

Teams: 

England: 

Starting 11: Faye Kirby, Evie Rabjohn (Ward 78’), Jess Simpson, Ruby Mace ©, Gracie Prior, Teyah Goldie, Keira Barry, Lexi Potter, Izzy Goodwin (Lloyd-Smith 85’), Olivia McLoughlin (Parkinson 56’), Mia Enderby (Sarwie 78’). 

Unused Subs: Katie Cox, Natalia Negri, Sarah Brasero, Lenna Gunning-Williams, Hannah Silcock, Cerys Brown. 

Goals: Simpson (53’) and Barry (61’) 

USA: 

Starting 11: Neeku Purcell, Evelyn Shores (Jackson 83’), Jayden Perry, Eva Gaetino, Riley Jackson ©, Ally Sentnor (Tordin 83’), Maddie Dahlien (Schupansky 64’), Sarah Weber (Tiernan 63’), Abi Brighton (Lemos 64’), Ayo Oke (Thompson 46’), Emeri Adames (Lema 89’). 

Unused Subs: Elizabeth Beardsley.

Goals: Emeri Adames (2’), Maddie Dahlien (43’), Sarah Weber (57’) and Ally Sentnor (72’) 

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England Women Uncategorized

England vs Brazil- The lowdown

Photo: CNN

England vs Brazil – the lowdown. 

The back-to-back European Champions vs the five consecutive Copa America Winners. A clash for the ages awaits in Manchester this October. The Etihad Stadium is the stage this time, as the Lionesses take on Brazil in their homecoming match since emerging victorious in Switzerland just under three months ago.  

Head to Head: 

This friendly fixture between the two marks only the fifth meeting between the pair. The first came in 2018, in which an in-form Fran Kirby netted the winner as England ran out 1-0 winners on the day. 

The countries would lock horns again just over a year later, this time in the SheBelieves Cup, which the Lionesses again took the plaudits for, winning 2-1 before going on to win the competition itself. Following the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup in France, Brazil would have their revenge. The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough played host in October 2019 as Debinha scored twice, before Bethany England’s 80th-minute goal tried to start a late comeback, but to no avail, as Brazil secured their only win over the Lionesses to date. 

The most recent meeting between the two sides was the inaugural UEFA Women’s Finalissima on the 6th of April 2023 at Wembley Stadium. England, who led for the majority of the game, were pinned back at Wembley by a late equaliser from Andressa Alves, which sent the game to penalties. 

The Lionesses came out on top. Winning 4-2 on penalties, they secured the first-ever Women’s Finalissima trophy, this time recording the only draw between the two countries in regular time as the game finished 1-1.

Squads: 

Both Sarina Wiegman and Arthur Elias have had several injuries to contend with when picking their squads for this clash. England are without captain Leah Williamson, who is still recovering from a knee procedure after sustaining an injury in the Euro final in July. Brazil, on the other hand, are without star winger Kerolin, who is currently out with a lower body injury. 

However, even with announced squads, there have been injury concerns, meaning that both sides have had to adapt. Katie Reid of Arsenal received her first senior call-up at just 19 but unfortunately withdrew due to injury, and Grace Fisk of Liverpool has been called up to replace her. Manchester City midfielder Grace Clinton also had to withdraw this week, allowing her to recover from a small knock, and the final withdrawal for the Lionesses is Jess Park, who suffered from delayed concussion symptoms, meaning Jess Naz has received the call-up to camp this autumn. 

Brazil, already without Kerolin, have lost another one of their attacking threats in Gio Garbelini. Garbelini was meant to link up with the Brazil squad, but during Atletico Madrid’s UWCL fixture with Manchester United, she suffered a nasty fracture following a sliding tackle, requiring surgery. Ruling her out for the next few months. 

The Venue and How to Watch

The game is being hosted at The City of Manchester Stadium (known as The Etihad Stadium for sponsorship reasons) this Saturday, October 25th. This is only the second EVER women’s international involving England to be hosted at the stadium. The last fixture was England vs Finland during Euro 2005, where a young teenage Karen Carney scored the winner in a 3-2 victory. The game kicks off at 5:30 PM and is being broadcast on ITV. 

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England Women

Lucia Kendall: “I would love to get an opportunity and take everything in my stride.” 

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Lucia for the u23s | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram

Lucia Kendall joined Aston Villa this summer from her childhood club, Southampton, and after her impressive start with her new side, Sarina Wiegman called up the youngster to the senior squad for the first time. 

When getting the all important call, she said “I was watching tv [when she got Sarina’s call] so I missed it! I got a message from Sarina so I called her back!” 

“I was surprised [about the call up] but I am excited!”

Hannah asked what it meant to her and her family about being called up to the squad: “I think it’s surreal and it doesn’t [really] feel true.” “The support that my family has shown me through so many years, to be able to call them and tell them that I’ve got a senior call up was pretty amazing.” 

“Just to see how proud they are of me as well. I want to pay them back and show them that all their dedication and stuff has got me here.” 

She watched her side win the European Championship in the summer and is enjoying being around the people who inspired her most. When walking into St George’s Park, you can see the European Championship Trophy and when speaking to the media about the Euros win, she said: “I think it’s surreal. I don’t think it’s really sunk in.” 

“I want to learn as much as possible. This team’s just gone and won back to back Euros so to be able to be in and around them and be in their environment is something I really didn’t think I’d get to do straight away and so soon.”

She wants to be pivotal in these homecoming series games and “wants to show what she’s about.” ”I would love to get an opportunity and take everything in my stride.” 

Lucia playing for Aston Villa | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram

Her best piece of advice given in her career to date was: “It’s all about enjoying it! I play better when I enjoy playing and I’m not overthinking things.” 

“Being called up and moments like this remind you that these are the things you dreamt of when you’re a kid growing up.” 

The 21 year old midfielder made the switch to the midlands after making over 100 appearances for her old club Southampton, as well as sealing a non-league double in 2022. She scored 22 goals in 27 appearances for the south coast side and helped them reach WSL2 in the same year.

The move from Southampton to Villa has prepped her for another new environment and she likes to sit back and observe to find where she fits. She said to the media that she is “grateful for the trust Natalia [Arroyo] has had in me as a young player.” “ She is very passionate about the game.” 

Lucia said she “felt ready for the next step [on moving to Aston Villa in the summer]” She said the speed of the game is quicker and she sees herself naturally as a more defensive player but “wouldn’t pigeon hole herself to a set position.”

Kendall was previously in the under 23 set up and said “u23s have definitely prepared me well for this environment, I think they try and mirror as much as they can.” Coming into the senior set up: “the detail that the coaching staff and the players take in every aspect of the game has definitely struck me.” 

“There’s a clear pathway [to the senior set up]” “Players who have gone before me [Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones and Laura Blindkilde Brown], to know that the pathway is genuine is motivating and knowing if you take the right steps you’ll be given a chance.” 

“Both Laura [Blindkilde Brown] and Missy [Bo Kearns] have been really welcoming and good to me in this set up.” 

Outside of football, the youngster said “I take a while to come out of my shell, but when I do I’m probably a bit of an idiot.” She likes to keep her football stuff to football so when being away from it, she likes to play piano, cook, spend time with her family and friends and even has a degree in psychology. 

Lucia training | photo taken from @luciakendall on instagram

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England Women

Esme Morgan: “Being on England camp feels like home”

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photo taken from @esme.morgan on Instagram

Following on from the success in the summer, she returned to America and helped her side, Washington Spirit, secure a play-off place but returned to England this break to help her international side in a number of friendlies. 

First up, she returns to her old stomping ground as England face Brazil at the Etihad Stadium. Esme is a lifelong Manchester City fan, and during her time with the blues she played a number of games at the Etihad which meant a lot to her younger self. When speaking to the media today at St George’s Park, she stated: “It’s very exciting for me being a lifelong City fan. It should be a great occasion!”

“It’s a special time for us to be able to come back and be in front of our fans again and celebrate what we did over the summer with those who possibly couldn’t have got out to Switzerland themselves.”

Esme as a young child and her at the Etihad | photo taken from @esme.morgan on Instagram

Millie Bright announced her retirement from International football prior to Sarina Wiegman’s squad announcement with this being the first squad after the news. Esme played with Bright for a number of years in the England senior set up and even faced up against her whilst she was playing in the Women’s Super League.

When at her first England camp, Millie made the effort to get to know her and made her feel settled and part of the team. Esme also stated that Millie was “rock” as a player and “reliable, dependable presence at the back.” 

“I feel very, very grateful to have been able to create memories together and learn from her both on and off the pitch.”

“She has a lot of passion for everyone in the squad achieving their best…we’ll miss her a lot and I just want to congratulate her on such an incredible career.”

Millie and Esme at Women’s World Cup 2023 | photo taken from @esme.morgan

In the 2024 Summer transfer window, she left her childhood club and headed out on new adventures to Washington Spirit in the NWSL. When playing in the NWSL, Esme said she can “challenge herself on a week to week basis through playing consistently against lots of different types of forwards.” 

After the win in Switzerland, she headed to the trophy parade at Buckingham Palace but shortly after the celebrations, she had to head back to the states to continue her NWSL campaign. She said to the media today that the Spirit girls celebrated the triumph with her and made her feel special. “It’s nice to be back in an England camp because it feels like home and she can reminisce over [the win] again properly.” 

This is the first time the players have returned since the European Championship win in July and when reflecting on the win, Esme said “It is nice to see euro [pean championship] branding everywhere, it feels pretty special!” 

On the following Tuesday, she and the rest of the England squad head to Derby as they face Australia, another few familiar faces for both herself and the England squad. After the games in England, she returns to the USA for the final stretch of NWSL games including their play off games. 

Esme with the winning medal | photo taken from @esme.morgan on Instagram