Time to sign off; I’ll leave you with Sophie Downey’s match report from the Pinatar Arena. ¡Adios!
Sarina Wiegman speaks! “Did we do enough to win? No, because we didn’t! We tried enough – we did a lot to score that second goal, but it didn’t go in.”
On the equaliser: “It’s disappointing, but these things happen sometimes, and when it happens to the goalkeeper, then it’s a goal. As a team, we had to score another goal, and that’s what we tried to do.
Asked about Rachel Daly and the No 9 role: “We have a number of players for that role, we have a lot of options.” She namechecks Russo, Ebony Salmon and Lauren James as those options.
On her unbeaten year: “Very nice, although I’m a little disappointed with this game. It’s really incredible what has happened since last September, and we have a lot of players making debuts now. We got a lot of information from these games, to get ready for the World Cup.”
A big result for Northern Ireland in their friendly tonight – they’ve beaten Italy 1-0 in Belfast, Sarah McFadden scoring the second-half winner.
You’ve got to feel for Ellie Roebuck, haven’t you? Before the mistake, she produced two very good saves to keep England in front, but in the end, Mary Earps looks more comfortable in the No 1 shirt than ever. Besides that, anyone who’s ever played in goal has been there. Lord knows I have.
Here’s Rachel Daly: “I’m delighted to be on the score sheet, ultimately we didn’t win the game which is disappointing. I love [playing] the No 9, but I love football, I’ll play anywhere. Nine was the shirt my Dad wore when he played, so it’s extra special.”
Full time! England 1-1 Norway
England end 2022 unbeaten, while Norway restore some pride after that 8-0 defeat at the Euros. A draw is a fair result, although England looked in control at a goal and player up. It’s also tough on keeper Ellie Roebuck, whose mistake cost her team victory after what had been a very solid performance.
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93 mins: England keep pushing, Russo steering a header wide before Kelly fails to connect with a last-ditch cross. That’s it …
92 mins: Charles keeps possession and the ball is worked back to Russo, who gets to the byline and cuts back across goal – but Julie Blakstad is there to hack it clear!
91 mins: Zelem wins a free kick 25 yards out after Reiten clips her heels. Stanway’s cross is headed away …
90 mins: Robinson cuts inside and crosses from deep, but Mikalsen is there to claim well ahead of Russo.
89 mins: Katie Robinson looks to make an impact, with some nice footwork making space for a cross – but Chloe Kelly is penalised for a push. Time running out for a winning goal – there will be four added minutes.
88 mins: Kelly tries again, with the ball flashing beyond Robinson at the far post.
87 mins: Kelly tests the Norway keeper’s fitness with another searching cross, but the flag goes up …
85 mins: Aurora Mikalsen is OK to continue despite what looks like a side strain.
83 mins: Parris goes off after another very solid display in an England shirt; she’s replaced by Brighton’s Katie Robinson, who makes her Lionesses debut.
82 mins: Charles is bundled over by Thorisdottir, and England have another dangerous free kick. Zelem’s cross is punched away under pressure from Mikalsen. England keep the ball and work it back to Zelem, whose second delivery drifts behind. Mikalsen is down and needs treatment after that flying clearance.
81 mins: So, Norway are down a player but level on the scoresheet – probably deserved, on the balance of chances created, even if the equaliser was a gift. England have 10 minutes or so to end 2022 with another win.
Frida Maanum just can't stop scoring, for club and country 🔥
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 15, 2022
It's not one that Ellie Roebuck is going to want to watch back...
📺 @ITV 4
📱https://t.co/lM59aP1BY0 pic.twitter.com/9xV2wrjnFT
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GOAL! England 1-1 Norway (Maanum 79')
Norway are level through Frida Maanum, and unfortunately, it’s a nightmare moment for Ellie Roebuck. The keeper came out to clear under pressure but miskicked, allowing Maanum to roll the ball into an empty net.
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78 mins: Alessia Russo brings a long ball down with a delicate touch and plays it wide to Kelly, whose deflected shot spins beyond the far post!
77 mins: The 10 women of Norway get forward, and Reiten’s volley is well blocked by Morgan. England break away …
74 mins: Manchester United’s Vilde Bøe Risa is also on for Norway, replacing Eikeland.
72 mins: From the free kick, Kelly goes close with a half-volley as England look to get the job done. Maria Thorisdottir comes on for Norway, replacing Thea Bjelde in defence.
Red card! Sønstevold sent off for Norway
Parris spins away from Anja Sønstevold again, and for the second time in five minutes, the defender brings her down. It’s a second yellow card, and it’s hard to argue – even if this is a friendly.
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70 mins: Niamh Charles has been able to get forward much more in the second half, and delivers a dangerous cross. Parris connects with a header, which is well saved by Mikalsen to stop England doubling their lead.
68 mins: Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan, 20 and 22 years old respectively, are England’s new centre-back pairing. It’ll be a big boost to their confidence if they can keep Norway out.
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66 mins: Parris gets to the ball ahead of Sonstevold, who brings her down with a late lunge. That’ll be the first booking of the game and a chance to get the ball into the area. Katie Zelem’s free kick is undercooked and after a bit of head tennis, Norway clear.
65 mins: Rachel Daly, who probably quite fancied getting on the end of that Toone cross, is at right-back now, and fouls Blakstad in midfield.
63 mins: Charles’ cross is cleared to Toone, who finds a pocket of space and lifts a cross-shot towards the far post – but nobody is there to connect.
62 mins: More England changes, with Alessia Russo coming on for Alex Greenwood. That could mean Daly, who has impressed up front, moves to right-back with Le Tissier joining Morgan in central defence.
There are plenty of other friendlies going on tonight, with Northern Ireland currently holding Italy in Belfast. Brazil have beaten Canada 2-1, Spain lead Japan 1-0 and the Netherlands are two up against Denmark.
59 mins: England have had close to 70% possession, but only two shots on target. They enjoy a long spell on the ball here, without creating an opening. For Norway, Arsenal’s Frida Maanum comes on to replace Naalsund.
56 mins: Charles gets forward down the left and wriggles into space, with her low cross cleared at the near post.
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55 mins: And now a dangerous free kick for Norway after Blakstad is brought down by the retreating Kelly. Reiten curls towards the far corner, but Roebuck gets across brilliantly to turn it behind!
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54 mins: A nervous moment at the back for England, as Zelem’s backwards pass lets Roman Haug through on goal. Roebuck is off her line smartly to block, with Greenwood clearing the rebound before the striker can pounce.
53 mins: Le Tissier’s cross towards Daly is cleared – Norway still playing with five at the back out of possession – but they give it away and Kelly turns her defender, before going close with a shot from a tight angle.
51 mins: Norway are able to advance deep into England territory again, but Eikeland miscues her cross, much to her own frustration.
49 mins: Morgan, stationed in central defence, tries to find Zelem in midfield but her pass is cut out. England win it back and Kelly, back on the left flank, launches a deep cross towards Daly, who is outnumbered in the middle.
47 mins: The first chance of the second half falls to Norway, with Amalie Eikeland skewing a tricky shot wide of Roebuck’s near post.
Second half
Here we go again. Manchester City’s Julie Blakstad is on for Norway, replacing the impressive Emilie Haavi.
Three half-time changes for England: Bright, Walsh and James are off, replaced by Georgia Stanway (who takes the armband from Bright), Esme Morgan and Katie Zelem.
Half-time reading
Half time: England 1-0 Norway
The Lionesses have not been at their best, with Norway posing plenty of problems on the break – but they lead through Rachel Daly’s header at the break. Back soon.
44 mins: Chloe Kelly’s cross is thumped away for a corner by Engen. The delivery drifts over everyone, Bright tries to turn it back into the danger area, and a foul from Parris ends the first half.
42 mins: We’re drifting towards half-time here, with Norway’s defensive game plan somewhat compromised by conceding a goal.
40 mins: Ella Toone, playing in a deeper role than usual, tries to pick out Parris and hops on the spot in frustration as her pass is cut out.
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“Is anyone else surprised to see a Salmon on the England bench but not on Norway’s?” asks Peter Oh.
37 mins: Switching Kelly and Parris has worked wonders, with the latter player twisting beyond her marker and crossing for Daly, who nods wide under pressure.
36 mins: Wiegman will feel better after a tricky first half-hour, and Daly nearly makes it two, her deflected shot bobbling wide with Mikalsen looking uncertain.
Norway had looked the more likely, but they are undone here by a terrific ball into the box from Chloe Kelly. Daly anticipates it, gets across her marker and flicks a fine header beyond Mikalsen!
💥 Rachel Daly scores again 💥
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 15, 2022
Chloe Kelly with the perfect ball to put it on a plate for her 🍽️
📺 @ITV 4
📱https://t.co/lM59aP29Ny pic.twitter.com/8qPjFAZ0qm
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GOAL! England 1-0 Norway (Daly 32')
England take the lead, and it’s Rachel Daly on target again!
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31 mins: Haavi, who plays her football with Roma in Serie A, is causing Le Tisser problems on her debut. She again gets free of the right-back and squares dangerously, only for the ball to squirm away from Eikeland in the middle. Naalsund has time to shoot from the edge of the area, but her effort drifts wide.
30 mins: Kelly switches to the right flank, with her searching cross dropping beyond Parris and Daly in the centre. It’s worked back to James, whose shot from 20 yards stings Mikalsen’s palms.
28 mins: England are now trying to press Norway’s defenders in possession, and it almost works here as Keira Walsh nicks the ball away, but cannot find the right pass forward.
26 mins: Norway are happy to sit back and let England try and find gaps, and after Kelly and Daly link up on the edge of the area, Parris finds herself short of options and surrounded by white shirts.
24 mins: Most of the game has been played in the Norway half, but Hege Riise’s side have had the two clearest chances. They almost create another here with Engen finding Lisa Naalsund, but the striker rushes her shot from distance.
22 mins: Norway do break away here, and they really should be ahead! Haavi gets the better of Le Tissier on the left and cuts back to Guro Reiten, arriving in the area – but her sidefooted shot flashes wide of the far post.
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21 mins: England continue to turn the screw, Parris again getting forward before Le Tissier dives in to stop a Norway break …
20 mins: Nikita Parris tussles with Harviken on the edge of the area, but the defender emerges with the ball.
18 mins: Maya Le Tissier and Parris connect well down the right flank, and another nervy Norway clearance cannons off Lauren James. Nikita Parris sends her snap-shot well wide from a tight angle, with replays suggesting James should have been penalised for handball.
16 mins: Bright kickstarts an attacking move by carrying the ball forward, before Kelly’s cross towards Daly runs through to the keeper.
14 mins: Kelly’s pass is intercepted and passed back to Mikalsen, who is put under pressure by Daly and sees her clearance rebound off the forward but rebound wide of goal.
12 mins: England are controlling possession better now, keeping the ball largely in their opponents’ half.
11 mins: A first corner for England, but it doesn’t come to anything.
9 mins: England, meanwhile, are lining up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Ella Toone in central midfield and Nikita Parris on the right and pushing up to join Daly at times.
8 mins: Ingrid Engen is dropping back to make a back five off the ball for Norway, and it’s helping to contain England’s attacking setup so far.
6 mins: Another Norwegian attacking move ends when Haavi miscues an ambitious shot from the edge of the area. They’ve made the brighter start, though.
5 mins: Norway are set up to test England’s high line, and Bright has to be alert to stop Reiten getting through on goal.
4 mins: England get forward for the first time, but Nikita Parris is flagged offside.
3 mins: The corner ricochets around the box momentarily, before Millie Bright gets a trusty boot to the ball and hoofs it away.
2 mins: An early chance for Norway as Reiten’s through ball catches the England defence out. Emilie Haavi is through on goal but sees her near-post shot well saved by Roebuck, with Maya Le Tissier getting back well to put pressure on the forward.
Kick off!
Here we go. England are in their opinion-dividing pink-orange kit, with Norway in white shirts and navy shorts.
Before we begin, both captains pose for a photo with the assistant referee, Maria Sukenikova. The Slovakian official is retiring after 20 years in the game, and is presented with flowers and a personalised England shirt before kick-off.
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Both teams are out for the anthems, in front of a boisterous crowd – plenty of England flags and Viking helmets on show. Kick-off is imminent.
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The Norway coach, Hege Riise, gives her pre-game thoughts: “It’s fun for us, we need to play the best teams – it’s a good challenge for us. I’m happy, it’s been nice to see people [from her England days]. They have quality players, a good culture, supporting each other on the field.”
Frida Maanum and Julie Blakstad are on the bench tonight, while Ada Hegerberg, Maren Mjelde and Caroline Graham Hansen are absent. “The team performed well [in Friday’s 2-1 loss] against France, so it’s more to see the players I need to see. My focus is on the players that I have.”
If you’d like to get our excellent women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts, delivered to your inbox every week, just sign up below. The next edition drops tomorrow …
Rachel Daly gets a chance up front for England tonight, reward for a fine recent scoring run – eight goals in 10 games for club and country. The Aston Villa player featured at left-back during the Euros, and right-back against Japan.
“I’m happy to play wherever, as long as I can pull on the shirt and play,” she tells ITV. As Ian Wright points out, the No 9 position vacated by Ellen White is still up for grabs, with Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo playing in that spot recently.
Some recommended pre-game viewing:
The teams
England (4-3-3): Roebuck; Le Tissier, Bright (c), Greenwood, Charles; Walsh, Toone, James; Parris, Daly, Kelly.
Subs: Earps, Stanway, Zelem, Morgan, Salmon, Park, Russo, Robinson, MacIver, George.
Norway (4-3-3): Mikalsen; Bjelde, Bergsvand, Harviken, Sønstevold; Naalsund, Engen, Reiten (c); Eikeland, Haug, Haavi.
Subs from: Pettersen, Lund, Maanum, Blakstad, Thorisdóttir, Bøe Risa, Skoglund, Ildhusøy, Lindbak Hørte, Terland, Jøsendal, Sævik.
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The England starting line-up is below, with Lauren James starting, Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier making her debut in defence and Ellie Roebuck in goal. Beth Mead is not in the squad tonight, having flown home early for family reasons.
Your #Lionesses starting XI for tonight...🤩
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 15, 2022
💪 @MayaLeTissier makes her debut
⚽️ @RachelDaly3 starts up top
🧤 @ellieroebuck in goal pic.twitter.com/6IgruGvqxT
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Preamble
England play their final fixture of 2022 tonight at the Pinatar Arena in southern Spain, wrapping up a calendar year that has surpassed all expectations. The Lionesses are still unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman, having won 16 and drawn three of their 19 games this year – a run that includes the historic home triumph at the summer’s Euros.
While the dramatic extra-time wins over Spain and then Germany in the final will linger for longer in the memory, it was the group-stage gubbing of Norway that first showed what this England team were capable of. The 8[EIGHT]-0 win sent shockwaves through the women’s game – not least in Norway, where coach Martin Sjödgren was swiftly shown the door.
His replacement is a familiar name to England fans – Hege Riise, the interim coach who began picking up the pieces after Phil Neville’s departure and also led Team GB at last year’s Olympics. Wiegman expects to face a much sturdier Norwegian defence tonight and may see this game as an opportunity for England’s emerging attacking talents to show what they can do. Kick-off is at 7pm (GMT), team news to follow.
