Thank you for joining me for this friendly as we look ahead to the Euros, which starts in 20 days time!
The match was a thriller with goals from Daly, Kelly and an own goal from Evrard.
If you missed out on any of the action, catch up with Suzy Wrack’s report from Molineux here:
Here’s a look at Chloe Kelly’s goal, her first for England and what a moment it must have been after her ACL injury.
A first #Lionesses goal for @Chloe_Kelly98! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fESv5OmRIP
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 16, 2022
England manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV: “I think we dominated the game. We created a lot of chances but didn’t score in the first half. We said at half-time we need more depth.
“I am very happy for Kelly, it doesn’t matter who scores the goal but after what she has been through it’s very nice.
“Many players have played tonight, it shows how the depth in the team is. We still have other players. What we wanted to do, we wanted to win, but we wanted to try some things.”
And on the Netherlands match: “It’s going to be a special game. It’s a preparation game, we won’t approach it differently. It’s special because it’s the country I come from.”
Ellen White didn’t find a goal today, she missed a sitter as her feet got under her.
She is three off of equalling Wayne Rooney’s England goal record and four away from breaking it!
Do you think she will break it this summer? Let me know.
Chloe Kelly, who scored her first England goal tonight, told ITV: “It was brilliant to be back out there. I’m enjoying my football, to get a goal was brilliant.
“From the minute I got injured I said I wanted to be at the Euros... I realised how much work I put into my rehab.”
On Netherlands challenge: “It’s going to be a great challenge. Each challenge will get us ready for the 6 July”
You have to feel for Evrard, who did have a good game and repelled a lot of England chances.
She hit in an own goal from a stellar hit from captain Williamson.
Belgium played well but they just needed more possession to make a mark.
Full-time: England 3-0 Belgium
Sarina Wiegman’s unbeaten record in charge of England continues as her Lionesses won a dominant game against Belgium.
Second half goals from Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly, with an own goal from Nicky Evrard, seeing the friendly end in the hosts’ favour.
Subs the difference in the end after a valiant defensive effort from the visitors in the first half.
90 + 2 min: Williamson may be miffed when she looks at the scoresheet as I believe her goal is being ruled an own goal for keeper Evrard.
Williamson’s shot hit the crossbar and Evrard’s hands, in an attempt to save, hit it in.
England will see out this match with a corner.
90 min: Kelly, Daly and Greenwood have been great additions to this England side. IT will be interesting to see if they get starts against the Netherlands, the Lionesses next opponent.
There are three added minutes here just as Earps need to make a save with Vanmechelen hitting a soft chance.
87 min: Dhont again got the ball forward but England managed to cut the ball out. Daly was down for a few moments but she is back to her feet.
Greenwood’s long range passes got England going once again but Parris lost the ball.
84 min: Belgium aren’t just lying down here as Dhont is fed by Wullaert but the forward is ruled offside.
Dhont has been key since coming on for her side, making a great claim to make the squad for the Euros.
GOAL! England 3-0 Belgium (Evrard [OG], 82')
England won a corner as Kelly attempted to find Kirby in the box.
Greenwood took the kick and Williamson hits it home after the ball, with a rebound from the keeper, comes back out after Parris’ header.
Updated
81 min: Hemp again gets the ball in the box but England’s header is straight to Evrard. The keeper has had a good game despite the two goals.
England have made another change with Parris on for Hemp. This is key for Parris, who in Ian Wright’s opinion is lucky to be in the squad.
78 min: Dhont had a chance but a miscommunication sees it go out for a goal kick.
England countered with Daly sending a cracking cross to Bronze, who is unable to keep it in play.
76 min: The game slowed slightly as England retained the ball but they came to life with Williamson just inches away from scoring.
Up the other end Wullaert is fed the ball but her shot sailed over. She rushed her attempt, not knowing she had a bit of time to take that.
73 min: Tysiak cuts out a ball from Williamson, who looked to pick up a slight injury but she remains on the pitch.
Hemp weaved around three or four defenders after Greenwood feeds her. She found England in the box but her header sails over the bar. A good opportunity for the Chelsea star.
Belgium have made two more changes with Vanmechelen and Vangheluwe on.
70 min: I may start a Lauren Hemp fan club, she has consistently beat the first defender in this match and has been a key part of England’s go forward.
The hosts were again in possession with Belgium defending for their lives.
68 min: Belgium were unlucky to concede that with Kelly’s cross coming in quite low. It looked as though they had quelled the threat but Daly thought otherwise and smashed it home.
Biesmans almost lost the ball in her own box as Belgium’s resolve started to falter. They need to get one back soon.
GOAL! England 2-0 Belgium (Daly, 66')
What a goal!
The ball bundles around from an England corner, it comes out to Daly who hits it into the top left corner.
Updated
64 min: It was a well worked goal by England, running through the phases. Kelly had a chance to shoot and took it, Tysiak tried to cut it out but deflected it in.
I think, for now, it is being awarded to Kelly but I shall update you if anything changes.
GOAL! England 1-0 Belgium (Kelly, 61)
That was deflected in, waiting on confirmation on if that was an own goal!
Updated
61 min: Hemp should have taken the shot herself but she passed to Stanway whose shot was blocked.
Evrard gets it away, under huge pressure, and then Kelly gives away a free kick. It’s run back to the keeper as the visitors look to strike.
Tison crossed but the pass after sailed out of play.
England bring on Kirby and England for White and Stanway with Belgium calling upon Dhont and Missipo for Delacauw and Philtjens.
58 min: Stanway got another chance but it goes slightly wide, the action is all England at the moment but Belgium need a shout out for maintaining their defence thus far.
Hemp was fouled in the box but the ref isn’t having it! Boos ring around the stadium.
Belgium had some attack but whenever they come forward they gift the ball away. Some tired legs out there.
56 min: Hemp gets a good cross in and tried to find White but replacement Tysiak cut out the shot.
Stanway managed to win the ball back in a great position as the hosts looked to build once more. Kelly got the ball in but it evaded teammates. The ball did come back out to Walsh with a long range shot sent straight to Evrard.
It feels a goal is coming, it’s just a matter of time.
54 min: Kelly slipped as she was in a good position on the box but England work it back to halfway.
A loose pass saw Belgium win back the ball to have one of their most promising spells of possession. It ended with a well controlled block through Bronze.
The defender got a ball away to Kelly, whose cross only finds Evrard. The last touch needs work from England.
51 min: Stanway had the opportunity to shoot but she took too long and passed to Kelly, the chance is squandered but the hosts still had possession.
Greenwood is making a good impact with expert crosses coming in already.
49 min: The crowd have started to come to life with ‘Football is coming home’ ringing around Molineux.
Bronze gets a yellow card for a foul on Minnaert, she hit her opposite in the face. There’s a break in play as we wait for her to be okay to continue.
Updated
47 min: The half started very much as the first did with building play. Bronze’s cross was blocked well.
It will be interesting to see what impact these changes make, especially Kelly who has had an amazing return from her ACL injury.
Back underway! England 0-0 Belgium
Well who will break the deadlock?
England and Belgium have both made changes.
Chloe Kelly, Rachel Daly and Alex Greenwood are on for England with Tysiak and Tison for Belgium.
Ahead of the second half getting underway, don’t be shy and get in touch!
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Half-time: England 0-0 Belgium
There hasn’t been a goal but we have had everything else!
Shots from White and Williamson in particular were close but Belgium’s keeper Evrard and Kees have done enough to keep the score level.
There was also a non-penalty call which was controversial with England felt hard done by.
All to play for the second 45.
Updated
45 + 2 min: Walsh’s touch is a beauty as she found Mead, who is in two minds but earned a corner.
Mead took the kick, going to the back post but it goes to nothing.
45 min: Wijnants got a shot away after good build-up play for Belgium, they are definitely growing into this game.
There are two added minutes.
43 min: Belgium remain strong in defence but they need to kick it up in attack when they do get the ball.
They have presented some challenges to England but they just need a neater least touch to break the deadlock.
Will we head into half-time 0-0?
41 min: Hemp again has the speed but her cross cannot find Stanway and then Wullaert gets the break away.
They can’t create too much with England getting the ball back.
Williamson’s shot was off of her foot, not her head. Apologies!
38 min: Biesmans conceded a free kick with a foul on Bronze, lucky the Belgian not to be handed a yellow.
Walsh put in a great long pass to find Hemp, who passed to Williamson. Her header is expertly cleared on the line by Kees with Evrard out of position.
What a clearance!
36 min: Hemp took the kick but after a shoddy clearance a block is made and they get it away.
However, the ball is England’s once again and Hemp wins a corner. Mead the taker again but it ends with Evrard.
34 min: Delacauw almost breaks the deadlock after Belgium counter. Williamson lost the ball and the visitors streamed away with it.
Wulleart got the ball to Delacauw but it went wide. England then had another chance through Mead but it was well blocked.
End to end footie here! There was a call for a penalty as Mead was fouled in the box but England’s fortune changed as White wins a free kick on the edge of the box.
32 min: How haven’t England scored there? Mead got herself in a great position but her last touch sailed over the bar.
It’s the last bit of execution Wiegman’s side need here. Belgium are doing really well to thwart the chances, they just need more possession to create something.
Biesmans had the ball on the edge of the box but her pass is intercepted.
Updated
30 min: England earned a corner from a Williamson shot.
The set-piece came in with Bright getting a deft touch and the balls falls to White’s feet. But when Lioness fans thought they would be 1-0 up she fluffs her last touch to leave the chance begging.
Another Evrard save as well keeps Belgium in this!
27 min: Mead is having a hard time this match with her short quick passes being read well by Belgium so far.
Stanway looked as though she swore under her breath there as she looked to score. She was fed a beautiful ball by Bronze and she dodged one defender but her shot went wide. England edging closer but Belgium are holding strong.
25 min: Good news as Biesmans remains on the pitch after being hit with some studs.
Bright crossed with Hemp who searched for White in the box, Evrard comes through with another crucial intervention. The keeper has had a stellar game thus far.
The Chelsea defender does well as she cuts out a cross up the other end, the action ramping up.
22 min: Wullaert’s cross is blocked by Bronze as Belgium start to slowly build into this game.
There’s a break in play now as Biesmans receives treatment.
20 min: There is a lot of talk about England needing to get an early goal and if they don’t to ignore the atmosphere in the crowd.
It has been mostly England but they haven’t managed to penetrate the Belgian defence yet. It will be interesting to see if this will affect them at all.
Belgium earned a free kick after Stanway pulled a shirt but possession wasn’t theirs for long with England wrestling it back.
17 min: England build and build, retaining that pressure which eventually ends in White getting a head to the ball.
It seemed Evrard collided with White there but the striker seems okay.
14 min: Minnaert fouled and England clawed back possession in the midfield once again.
Bronze worked Mead into a good position as the Arsenal star threaded the ball upfield but no one was there to collect. The hosts retained the ball though and continued their pressure.
Hemp danced and weaved around the box who got a shot away, which is well saved again! How good is Hemp?! Every time she gets the ball she is swarmed.
The first corner of the match for England goes to nothing.
Updated
11 min: It is Belgium’s turn to have a spell with the ball and it sailed into the box, just missing De Caigny’s head.
Stokes remained composed to clear the ball and send England back on the attack. Delacauw loses the ball in the midfield and White’s screaming shot is well saved by Evrard!
9 min: The slow build-up ends with Mead slipping in the box but England wrestled it back.
Hemp gets away from the swarm of players to pass to Stanway, whose shot goes wide.
Lively and exciting start from England with Belgium doing enough to silence the attack so far.
7 min: Wullaert is a dangerous attacker and she was close to being away there but she mistimed her run against Bronze and she is ruled offside.
Bronze is having a cracking game so far, creating yet another chance down the right hand side. She is itching to show Wiegman what she can do!
Mead has won a free kick on halfway after she was fouled by Philtjens, there will be a slow build-up here. Can they find their opener?
4 min: Belgium are nervous in these opening exchanges. Bronze pulled off a lovely one-two which almost saw her in on goal.
Scrambled defence was enough to thwart the effort but England have started brightly.
2 min: England had the early pressure with Bronze having two throw ins by the box but they were run back to halfway.
Bright, who wins her 50th cap, started a promising move which almost found Williamson but Evrard dealt with it well.
Kick-off! England 0-0 Belgium
Here we go!
Can England continue their winning streak or can Belgium cause an upset? All to come over the next 90 minutes.
Updated
England captain Leah Williamson told ITV: “It all feels very real now. I couldn’t be more proud. It is what dreams are made of to be in the squad.
“Sarina wanted it [telling players they made the squad] to be very personal and she wanted it to be a one-on-one with everyone. That’s in contrast to the emails we would receive in the past.”
On Houghton: “Steph is one of the greatest role models and one of the most professional people I’ve ever met”
The players will be out soon ahead of kick-off but in the meantime get in touch and say hello!
I would like your opinion, my friend just messaged to ask if it’s weird she has never seen a fox before. I’ve said yes but I grew up in the south west so I was a bit closer to nature.
Is it weird? Or have a lot of you not seen one either? Let me know!
The stats speak for themselves and England will be the favourites for the win this evening.
But can Belgium pull off a shock? We will find out shortly ...
Did you know? 💪#Lionesses | @GoogleCloud_UKI pic.twitter.com/C9rrPSvktT
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 16, 2022
We could see a record broken or equalled this evening, if not we should this summer, as Ellen White hunts down Wayne Rooney’s England goal tally.
Rooney has 53 to his name with White clocking up 50. If she grabs a hat-trick this evening she’ll go level and if she manages four, which would be an impressive feat, she’ll break it!
Do you think she will become the record scorer?
Chelsea’s Jess Carter has been named on the bench but it is being reported she will not be involved this evening as she is following her programme back to full fitness.
England manager Sarina Wiegman has spoken to ITV: “Three good friendlies. We want to play a lot, we need games ahead of 6 July. Good to play after having three weeks of training and show on the pitch where we are.”
On Houghton omission: “It was a very very hard decision, for the four other players too. Houghton did everything to come back but she isn’t ready.”
And on the starting XI: “Alex [Greenwood] is ready to play, she couldn’t train with the squad last week. She is ready to play but not a game yet.
“The starting line-up up front they started a lot during the season. I have started working with Chloe [Kelly] in the pre-camps. We would like to see her in the game.
“We’re building Fran [Kirby] up slowly.”
So are there any omissions from the Euros squads you want to share? Any views on the upcoming tournament?
If you have any thoughts drop me a tweet or an email. I would love to hear from you.
They don’t have to be football related either! They could be about this crazy weather we’re having or the summer holiday you have planned, get in touch.
For me I’m realising I need a hair cut. It can’t be just me who becomes aware of how long their hair is when it’s this humid outside? It’s sticking to me and it needs to go!
If you haven’t caught up with the news of England’s Euros squad, where have you been?
Here are the 23 players who have made the cut:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Rachel Daly, Alex Greenwood, Demi Stokes, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Midfielders: Fran Kirby, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Kiera Walsh, Leah Williamson
Forwards: Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo, Ellen White
England’s opposition this evening, Belgium, have named a provisional squad and are thought to be unveiling the official list on 20 June. So tonight is their last chance to impress.
Their provisional squad is:
Goalkeepers: Nicky Evrard, Diede Lemey, Lisa Lichtfus, Femke Bastiaen.
Defenders: Davina Philtjens, Amber Tysiak, Laura De Neve, Sari Kees, Laura Deloose, Jody Vangheluwe, Isabelle Iliano.
Midfielders: Chloe Vande Velde, Charlotte Tison, Lenie Onzia, Justine Vanhaevermaet, Marie Minnaert, Julie Biesmans, Feli Delacauw, Kassandra Missipo.
Forwards: Ella Van Kerkhoven, Sarah Wijnants, Tine De Caigny, Tessa Wullaert, Janice Cayman, Hannah Eurlings, Jassina Blom, Jill Janssens , Davinia Vanmechelen, Elena Dhont.
Updated
The Belgian team news is in!
I have tracked down the starting XI but am yet to locate the subs, I’ll do my best to seek them out but for now feast your eyes on an impressive line-up.
Belgium: Evrard, Deloose, Kees, De Neve, Philtjens, Biesmans, Minnaert, Delacauw, Wijnants, De Caigny, Wullaert.
For the game this evening the Lionesses will wear black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of Sarina Wiegman’s sister.
The manager left England’s camp earlier this month for a week due to the loss. The Football Association said: “On behalf of Sarina and her family, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them all.”
England have already announced their starting XI for the match!
It is a strong 11 as Wiegman hunts for her strongest line-up. Leah Williamson starts and will captain the side and Jess Carter is among those on the bench despite fitness doubts.
England: Earps, Bronze, Stokes, Walsh, Bright, Wubben-Moy, Mead, Williamson, White, Stanway, Hemp
Substitutes: Daly, Hampton, Kirby, Toone, Greenwood, Parris, Kelly, England, Scott, Roebuck, Russo, Carter
As soon as I track down Belgium’s line-up I will update you.
Your starting line-up for tonight! ✨ pic.twitter.com/dl2C15g0BJ
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 16, 2022
Preamble
What a summer of football we have on our hands and it begins with warm-up matches for July’s European Championships. Tonight England will play Belgium in a friendly before taking on the Netherlands and Switzerland ahead of the Euros, being hosted by England.
Manager Sarina Wiegman has said she wants to use these three friendlies as a way to nail down her starting XI for the major tournament. “This team is really competitive so we have some hard choices to make. That is another reason as to why we play these three games,” the boss said. “Players need to keep performing. When you play a really good game now you have opportunities. It’s about knowing where the players are and looking at how we can make other scenarios work.”
She spoke after revealing her squad of 23 on Wednesday where former captain Steph Houghton was among those cut. Lucy Staniforth, Sandy MacIver, Niamh Charles and Katie Zelem also missed out on spots. The players selected, including captain Leah Williamson, have celebrated their inclusion on social media but their focus will be on maintaining Wiegman’s unbeaten streak as England manager.
The boss is yet to lose since taking over last September and we will see if she keeps the record going this evening, the game kicks off at 8pm BST.
Updated
