England’s U19s produced an energetic performance to seal a narrow win over France and reach the semi-finals of the 2024 European Championships. Poppy Pritchard’s second half goal sent England to the top of the group to set up a meeting with Spain on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lionesses are on the road for the first time since March 2020. Tonight, they travel to Caen to take on a notoriously tough, if depleted, French side. It will be a first chance for interim head coach, Hege Riise, to see her new charges take on a tier one opposition. Her squad announcement included a couple of surprises, with Karen Bardsley and Carly Telford returning to the fold. Niamh Charles was also called up, while Esme Morgan and Nikita Parris joined late. Captain Steph Houghton misses out through injury.
Riise spoke to the press before the game on a number of key areas:
The second set of Group matches are over. We’ve had a couple of shocks, plenty of top goals and a few controversial decisions.
The second set of Group matches are over. We’ve had a couple of shocks, plenty of top goals and a few controversial decisions.
One of our favourite weeks in the international calendar got underway last night in a stormy Columbus, Ohio.