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Freya Godfrey might be one such player Sarina Wiegman chooses to give a debut to this evening. Have a read of this recent interview with the London City Lionesses star:
Half-time: England 5-0 China
Well I don’t think anyone would have predicted this scoreline before kick-off. An absolutely dominant display from the Lionesses at a sold-out Wembley with China falling apart defensively. Two goals from Beth Mead, two from Georgia Stanway and another from Lauren Hemp sees the Lionesses with a five-goal lead. Can they keep up this performance throughout? Or will Sarina Wiegman send on some less experienced players to get some international minutes in their legs? All to come.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added on. I thought it would be longer given there was a hefty VAR check.
44 min: England so close again to another goal with Toone this time the one with the chance but Pan saves. The Manchester United player was also then judged to be offside.
42 min: Hemp has been excellent so far this evening and she finds Charles with a lovely short pass. China deal with the latest attack but it is clear the visitors just want to hear the half time whistle.
40 min: Toone loses the ball in the midfield and China eventually work it up the pitch but the offside flag is then risen.
This has just been an absolute nightmare for China. A horror show defensively capped off by that penalty being given. The team are in a huddle just trying to get some motivation to keep going.
PENALTY! England 5-0 China (Stanway, 38)
It is the Bayern Munich star who steps up and she has never missed a penalty outside of a shootout. She stands with her hands on her hips and strikes it sweetly.
37 min: A penalty is given, surely Stanway will take it.
36 min: It actually looks like it hits her chest and then her hand but the referee has been told to look at the monitor. Usually it goes to a penalty in this situations. Let’s wait and see.
35 min: VAR are now checking for handball. Russo controls the ball with her chest and then hits a shot. It looks like it hits Mengwen’s hand and the time it is taking it seems it could be given as a penalty.
34 min: England win a free kick with Hemp fouled. Mead is the take of the set piece and her delivery is a good one. China attempt to clear but Russo manages to get a shot away, England claim handball but nothing has been given. VAR is in operation this evening so if there is anything to check they will get to it.
31 min: Matt L has emailed and said:
Was the “Crackling atmosphere” comment next to the Sweet Caroline commentary a reference to Neil Diamonds other big hit Crackling Rosie perchance? If so, Bravo!
I would love to say it was intentional Matt but it’s a happy coincidence. Back on the pitch, it looks as though China are going to be making some very early substitutions, no player wants to be hooked this early but it would make sense with this shambolic start for the visitors.
30 min: China have their best chance since the opening minutes as Yanwen peels forward but Hemp wins it back to snuff out the chance. England immediately counter as Russo is found, her shot is saved from Pan and smacks the bar but then the offside flag is raised so it wouldn’t have stood anyway.
28 min: Russo does really well on the edge of the box to trigger England’s latest attack, it really has been all the hosts so far. Many phases later Bronze pops it into the box and Pan collects. The Chelsea defender wanted a corner but it isn’t given.
26 min: Have you seen a more competent England performance than this? The last time they played this well must have been against the Netherlands at the Euros. Get in touch and let me know your thoughts.
China wildly play is loosely back. Hemp dispossesses Mengwen and the Man City star crosses in. Stanway absolutely whacks it into the back of the net. This is quite a performance from Sarina Wiegman’s side.
GOAL! England 4-0 China (Stanway, 23)
Wow.
22 min: Walsh pops in a lovely ball to Mead, it is just too easy to crack open this China defence. The Arsenal star crosses it to Hemp, who rallies off a shot which is just wide.
20 min: The atmosphere at Wembley is crackling. The Sweet Caroline chorus and chants of England in full flow. China are managing to get more joy on the ball but the Lionesses’ defence is holding strong.
18 min: This is quickly turning into a crisis for the visitors. They need to stop England connecting and they need their own sustained possession.
China are playing with a back five but they are not adapting to this England attack at all. Far too much space given to the Lionesses and Hemp pounces, what a return from injury for the Manchester City star.
GOAL! England 3-0 China (Hemp, 16)
This is ludicrous.
16 min: I was just writing a post about how it would be interesting to see how China would respond to conceding. They allowed England far too much space and did not close down the attack with Mead taking full advantage. The Arsenal star is now on 39 goals for her country.
This time it is Toone who has some fabulous footwork to manoeuvre the ball to Mead who takes a one-touch finish.
GOAL! England 2-0 China (Mead, 14)
What is happening.
Bronze played Mead onside in the box and she took a fantastic touch to control it and take it away from defenders. She then taps it with her right foot. A lovely piece of skill.
GOAL! England 1-0 China (Mead, 12)
What a goal.
12 min: England are clicking on all fronts aside from the final attempt at goal. Bronze finds Mead who pops the ball into Russo and her header is well wide.
11 min: Wow, oh wow Russo is the spark to opening this China defence at the moment. Her forward runs are causing them nightmares as she gets into the box again but her pass is met by Qiaozhu.
9 min: So far England have been the brighter side with just one or two final touches just not coming off for the hosts.
7 min: Mead feeds the corner and Bronze is left with her arms wide as she was fouled. It goes out for another corner though so England have another crack at this. It’s another good delivery and Le Tissier gets her head to it but it’s saved.
5 min: A fabulous ball finds Russo but she snatches at her cross which blows the chance. England keep it alive and Hemp wins a corner.
4 min: The corner delivery is good but it bounces wide, China do feed it back in but Moorhouse collects to clear the danger.
3 min: China have the first real chance of the game with the ball pinballing around the box but England manage to eventually get it clear. The visitors continue to press and Bronze gives away a corner.
2 min: England start by winning a free kick with a challenge on Stanway. The Lionesses don’t rush any attack but they then lose possession. A fairly even opening exchange.
Kick-off: England 0-0 China
Here we go.
The lights show has happened, a concert by Self Esteem has been performed and the anthems are about to happen. This one is almost underway.
Former England star Fran Kirby, who won the Euros in 2022, has been celebrated on pitch before this clash. She walked out at Wembley and posed with a framed 77 shirt. One of the Lionesses greats.
I’d love to hear from you. I am always interested in snack chat so get in touch with that but also please hit me with your best puns. They can be football related or not, I’m just looking for the best one which I will award come the end of the game.
Earlier today the USA beat Italy in a friendly, catch up with the action here:
A great interview here with Karen Carney:
The first leg of the women’s Nations League final took place yesterday, catch up with all of the action:
Tonight’s game will be Anna Moorhouse’s debut for England. She was a part of the Euros team who won this past summer but she did not play any minutes with Hannah Hampton in the number one shirt.
Keira Walsh is captaining the Lionesses with Leah Williamson still injured. Here’s what she had to say before this clash:
The team news is in. Anna Moorhouse starts in goal for England in the absence of Hannah Hampton and Khiara Keating.
England: Moorhouse, Bronze, Charles, Walsh, Le Tissier, Morgan, Mead, Stanway, Russo, Toone, Hemp.
Bench: Hings, Baggaley, Kendall, Wubben-Moy, Beever-Jones, Kelly, Kearns, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Roebuck, Clinton, Denton, Fisk, Godfrey.
I am searching for China’s team news now, as soon as I have it I will share it.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the friendly between England and China at Wembley Stadium. The match is set to be a thriller with the European Championship holders taking on the reigning Asia Cup winners.
The home of English football is sold-out for the occasion which will see Fran Kirby celebrated pre-match after her international retirement before the Euros this past summer.
The team news will be announced shortly but there was a last minute squad update for England. On Friday Khiara Keating withdrew from the squad with a minor injury and so former number one Ellie Roebuck has been called up.
With Hannah Hampton out of action with injury it will be interesting to see who England manager Sarina Wiegman selects in goal. That news and all the other updates incoming before kick-off at 5.30pm GMT.
