Tag: lionesses

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Lionesses

Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium to host Lionesses world cup qualifier

PHOTO: ENGLANDFOOTBALL.COM

The Hill Dickinson Stadium is set to play host to the Lionesses as they bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The ground itself is only a year old, having officially held its first test match in February in 2025. It’s located to the north of Liverpool City Centre and boasts an impressive capacity of exactly 52,769 seats. It will be the ground’s second international fixture this year, with Côte d’Ivoire set to face Scotland there in preparation for the men’s World Cup later this summer

The news was confirmed by the FA earlier this week that the Lionesses will take on Ukraine in a Women’s World Cup qualifier on the 8th of June 2026 with kick-off scheduled for 20:00, as England look to book their spot at the competition.

With this fixture being confirmed, it is the first England international game to be played at the new home of Everton since it opened. It has previously hosted one Barclays Women’s Super League fixture so far, between Everton and Manchester United back in October 2025.

The last time the Lionesses played up in the North-West was on their homecoming tour in October 2025 at the Etihad Stadium in their first match after Euro 2025. In which, they were narrowly defeated 2-1 vs reigning Copa America champions Brazil.

With England facing the world champions, Spain, just four days earlier in the away tie with details of the game still yet to be confirmed, it will be a crunch match to decide qualification, and tickets go on sale to England members from Friday the 27th of February until March 4th before any remaining tickets go on general sale on March 5th onwards.

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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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Uncategorized

Young Lionesses Hold On for Crucial 1-0 Win Over Blunted Norway

England Lineup

Katie Cox (GK), Mari Ward, Jess Simpson, Ruby Mace (C), Gracie Prior, Teyah Goldie, Fiona Barry, Maisie Symonds, Isobel Goodwin, Erica Parkinson, Lexi Lloyd-Smith

Norway Lineup

Thrill Raekstad Erichsen (GK), Mia Authen, Emille Bragstad, Julie Aune Jorde, Kamilla Melgard, Emille Osteras, Iris Omarsdottir, Thea Kyvag, Ylinn Tennebo, Stine Brekken, Emma Braut Brunes

England Substitutions

Olivia McGlochlin, Evie Rabjon, Sarah Barsero, Chloe Sawie, Lenna Gunning Williams

Norway Substitutions

Cille Nilsen, Synne Aunehaugen, Oda Johansen, Monica Isaken

It took a couple of chances for England to get into the groove, with early chances from Erica Parkinson, Maisie Symonds and Isobel Goodwin, but none finding their way to the back of the net.  

The away side tries and gets their foot in, with a ball in from Ylinn Tennebo with nobody on the end of it and a run from Kamilla Melgard, which is closed down by Gracie Prior and shepherded out of danger. 

Lexi Lloyd Smith is able to work the ball down the left, playing it to Isobel Goodwin, heading it at an angle, sending it toward the right. This is collected by Fiona Barry and passed to Mari Ward, sending it toward the 10-yard box to be finished off by an Isobel Goodwin header. 25 minutes in its 1-0 to England. 

Isobel Goodwin steals the ball from Norwegian midfielder Stine Brekken and squares it for Erica Parkinson. She receives it but is blocked by Emma Braut Brunes. It’s the last real chance of the half, with the Lionesses going into the second half one-nil up. 

Early on in the second half, we saw back-to-back shots from Izzy Goodwin, the first one blocked by Goalkeeper Thrill Raekstad Erichsen and her second from a slide tackle by Mia Authen. 

Substitutions for England see Maisie Symonds leaving the pitch for Olivia McGlochlin, while Teyah Goldie is out for Evie Rabjon. 

Later on, we saw Lexi Lloyd Smith out for Sarah Barsero and Jess Simpson out for Chloe Sawie, getting her first cap for the under-23s debut at just 16, making her the youngest debutant for the Under-23s bracket. We also saw a triple substitution for Norway, with Kamilla Melgard out for Cille Nilsen, Stine Brekken out for Synne Aunehaugen and Emma Braut Brunes out for Oda Johansen.

With all the action near the Norwegian goal, but not many chances, another set of substitutes comes soon. With Goalscorer Isobel Goodwin leaving the pitch, being replaced by fan favourite Lenna Gunning Williams. 

Soon after, we saw the last Norwegian substitutions for the match, with Monica Isaken coming on for Julie Aune Jorde.

Soon into the 5 extra minutes, we see a ball from Sarah Barsero nearly finds Erica Parkinson in the box, a near shot for the Lionesses. 

But the final whistle goes, and it was decided in the first half, 1-0 to the Lionesses. 

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International Lionesses

“I make decisions to win”; Sarina Wiegman releases final Lionesses squad of the year

Sarina Wiegman announced a 25 player squad for the final international camp of the year today with a few faces returning to the camp for the first time since the euros. In other news Freya Godfrey earns her maiden lionesses squad, making the step up from the under-23’s for the first time.

Firstly, she spoke on Mary Earps’ autobiography saying: “She’s retired now, and we had incredible times and I always cherished that, and I’ve really enjoyed that… I make decisions to win … we have two incredible people in the goalkeeper group… overtime the competition has been really really hard, we had a very good goal keeper unit and the two goal keepers were competing for the number one spot.”

Following this, she was asked about Ellie Roebuck and how close to returning to the squad the keeper is, to this she said “‘We have a group of goal keepers we keep a close eye on… she is a little bit further way.”

Freya Godfrey earned her first senior lionesses call up this camp, Wiegman spoke highly of her saying “She’s done well, at the beginning of the season she was injured but I think she came back very well… she’s a young player that can bring something different to the squad.”

One key player kept out of the squad was Lauren James, although the forward only came back from her injury last week, she was a name people expected to see within the squad.

To this, Sarina said “She’s moving forward well… I think she just needs a little more time to get to full fitness… I don’t want to take any risks.”

In other news, Lauren Hemp is back in the squad for the first time since the Lionesses Euro winning campaign, Wigwam spoke on her recent form and how much of a key player the forward is within the squad saying “first of all, it’s really nice for her, I think she really enjoyed herself at the weekend, we could all see that she had a good performance and of course she is an important player for us… and we are very happy to have her back.”

Last time out, Michelle Agyemang suffered an ACL injury whilst playing Spain and since then Katie Reid has suffered the same injury, one that’s becoming far too common in Women’s football. Wiegman was asked whether she thinks it’s an issue within the amount of football young players are playing compared to seasons prior, to this she said, “its a very hard question for me to answer because I’m not in that environment, I think everyone who’s in the women’s game and at that level is trying to make it better for the players… I think the gap to international football is a big one, one we need to close… as always, you want to improve academies to get prepared, to get good level games and to get the programming right, but i think everyone in our environment is working on that to improve it

Leah Williamson is missing out on camp through injury, along with Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter meaning England’s defence is likely to have a new, youthful look this window, something that may be a concern to some but Sarina expressed her confidence saying “It always gives an opportunity to other players to step up, players play at a high level at their club so their experience… so i think there’s a lot of experience players have so they’re used to that… it’s absolutely an opportunity to step up and show where the players are more in the squad now.”

She followed this by saying “Lucy is leading, Keira is leading, Alessia has a lot of experience now so she is leading now also up front, Lauren Hemp, she’s not necessarily an old player but she has a lot of experiences”

Finally, England’s world cup qualifying draw was revealed last week, with the lionesses drawing Iceland, Spain and Ukraine, upon being asked what she thought of the draw, Wiegman said “i think it’s an exciting draw again, of course we are always stuck with Spain, but we haven’t played Ukraine and Iceland so im excited about that, the different opponents.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sophie Baggaley, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse

Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles, Anouk Denton, Grace Fisk, Taylor Hinds, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy

Midfielders: Laura Blinkilde-Brown, Grace Clinton, Missy Bo Kearns, Lucia Kendall, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Freya Godfrey, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Jess Park, Alessia Russo

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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