The reigning European champions England haven’t been their usual commanding selves in Group A3 qualification as they fight for the right to defend their trophy in Switzerland next summer. They’re currently third in the group …
France P4 W3 D0 L1 F5 A3 Pts 9
Sweden P4 W2 D1 L1 F5 A2 Pts 7
England P4 W2 D1 L1 F4 A2 Pts 7
Republic of Ireland P4 W0 D0 L4 F0 A7 Pts 0
… behind Sweden on goal difference, after a stuttering start which saw them draw with the Swedes at Wembley and lose to France in Newcastle. But Sarina Wiegman’s side wrested back the momentum with a bounce-back victory in Saint-Étienne last month, and their fate is now in their own hands.
If they win tonight – which they should, against an Irish team yet to find the net, never mind earn a point, in four matches – victory in Sweden next Tuesday will guarantee them a spot in the finals. Should the French beat the Swedes in Dijon this evening, a point will do for the Lionesses in Gothenburg next week. But fail to do that, and it’s the play-offs for England. First things first, though, and that’s this evening’s showdown with the Republic of Ireland in Norwich. “We want to control the game a little more than we did the last time we played against them,” says Wiegman, ominous news for the visitors, who were dispatched efficiently enough in Dublin back in April, though Ireland’s Aoife Mannion, fresh from winning the FA Cup with Manchester United, counters: “We don’t want to concede and we want to pick up a result.” Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!