Suzanne Wrack’s match report is in, which means it’s time for me to say my goodbyes. Thanks for tuning in!
Wowzers.
Megan Campbell's throw-in travelled 38m 😳#ITVFootball | @IrelandFootball pic.twitter.com/g9WvXY4kbA
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 9, 2024
Katie McCabe talks to ITV as well: “First-half I felt like we were too passive at times, we gave them a lot of space in the central areas. I’m proud of how we applied ourselves in that second half. I haven’t seen the peno back but it’s obviously frustrating for us. They’re avoidable goals.”
She doesn’t think the second penalty should’ve been awarded. “Louise [Quinn] is trying to balance, it’s come off her body, the football gods redemeed themselves off the post.”
Leah Williamson on her return after a difficult year: “I just really, really love playing for England. When I put this badge on I feel 10 times taller, 10 times stronger. The girls are such a great group and I loved every second of that. I had my eyes set on this. These days, an ACL, you comeback hopefully in a healthy way but I wanted to be good enough to play for England again. The standards are so high … Today is sort of a completion of that journey.
“It says a lot about our standards that we all think that is [the 1-1 draw against Sweden] a setback now. And so we knew we had to come here tonight and win. I know it wasn’t a convincing last 20 minutes but I’m very, very happy with three points.”
Ireland were terrifically old-school in that second half, pumping it long through McCabe’s left foot and Campbell’s magnificent long throws. Ultimately, the damage was done in the first half with Lauren James’ fine finish and Alex Greenwood’s penalty. England have their first victory of these Euro 2025 qualifiers. Ireland have their second loss, but they caused plenty of trouble, too.
FULL-TIME: Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
McCabe sends in a cross from the left but it’s behind all of the green tops in the box. The whistle blows and England can breathe.
Updated
90+3 min: England have done just about enough to calm Ireland down in these last minutes. Kelly crosses in from the right, and it’s deflected before finding the hands of Brosnan.
90+2 min: A yellow for McCabe as she commits a foul out on England’s left-hand side.
90 min: England have a free-kick by the halfway line that Greenwood thumps across the pitch towards the right-hand side. Four minutes are added on.
89 min: Chloe Kelly is on for England and can’t win a corner out on the right, having been swamped by two green shirts who safely dispossess her.
87 min: Williamson pulls off an excellent clearance while facing her own goal; she’s had a fine return to international ranks. Now it’s just about seeing off these final waves of attack from Ireland.
85 min: Madness! Hampton’s dropkick is blocked on the edge of the box by McCabe, who then races onto the ball to have a shot at net … but Hampton is back in position to save. Hampton wanted a free-kick, with McCabe right in front of her when she went to have her kick.
Updated
83 min: Hampton saves from close range as Hayes make a fine run into the box to get a head on the corner from McCabe. Ireland’s pressure is significant.
82 min: Ireland are really giving it their all in these last few minutes, pushing plenty of numbers forward. Campbell tries to go outside Mead and wins a corner out on the left for Ireland.
81 min: Kirby nearly finds Beth Mead with a cracking through ball, but it’s just off, allowing Brosnan to collect.
80 min: McCabe launches another ball into the England box and Hayes gets a head on it, leaping high into the air, but can’t direct it towards goal.
79 min: Campbell’s long, flat, vicious, frankly terrifying throws and McCabe’s punts into box are Ireland’s best bet here.
77 min: McCabe opts for a cross from the left, and finds Louise Quinn at the back post who sends in a delicious low ball across goal … but somehow it’s not bundled in! Ireland’s best attacking play of the game and they really should’ve had someone slotting that into the back of the net.
Updated
76 min: Ireland have a free-kick from shooting range after James brings down Kiernan. McCabe lines it up …
75 min: Hampton misplaces a pass and Kiernan drives forward on the right, but is dealt with; Ireland have a throw. Stanway is on for Toone as England make another sub.
73 min: Carter recovers and England move forward with Lucy Bronze out on the right … but her punt downfield is poor and not to anyone in particular.
72 min: Walsh tries an ambitious ball forward to Russo, but Brosnan collects. Hampton clears the ball away out of play; Carter is down and in a bit of bother.
70 min: What looks promising from Ireland turns quickly into nothing, as Mannion hits a simple pass out on the right for an England throw. They’ve offered little when in possession.
67 min: Greenwood sends in a free-kick from the right which is headed away. Toone responds with an effort from range that goes over the bar.
65 min: A brilliant save from Brosnan! James won the ball out on the right and sent in an early cross for Hemp to head across goal … and the shot followed from the advancing Kirby, surely to make it 3-0, but Brosnan somehow kept it out from very close range.
Updated
64 min: England play some neat touches on the edge of the box but Toone can’t squeeze though the killer ball to Russo inside it.
63 min: England break from the corner, but Mead is sent back by Connolly as both sides regain their shape.
62 min: Campbell has another long throw to send in … and she delivers from the left. Walsh heads it out for a corner. I reckon Ireland would prefer a throw.
61 min: Megan Campbell delivers a staggering long throw to trouble the England defence, but they just about get it away. That’s Ireland’s weapon for the rest of the game.
60 min: Ireland are readying up some subs, and here they come: Payne is replaced by Kiernan; Lucy Quinn is off for Campbell.
58 min: Walsh really is delightful on the ball, navigating her way with ease through the pressure of the incoming Irish shirt.
57 min: Kirby and Mead get their first touches, and the latter is fouled before some neat play on the edge of the box sets Toone up for a shot. It’s blocked.
56 min: Park is replaced by Kirby, Hemp by Mead. England want more goals tonight.
Updated
55 min: James launches into a dribble, plays the ball to Toone who turns well on the edge of the box and slots in a pass for Hemp, whose cross from the left can’t find a teammate.
54 min: All a bit turgid at the moment; Ireland just can’t seem to string a sequence of passes together. England can but Ireland’s off-the-ball work is solid enough to keep the visitors at bay.
53 min: Hemp just about keeps the ball in after a punt into the left channel … or not, with the whistle going.
51 min: England retreat to Hampton who, facing the Irish press, thumps long to James, who heads out for an Ireland throw.
50 min: Lauren James is down and in a bit of bother after a McCabe challenge … and now she’s up. The show goes on.
48 min: Ruesha Littlejohn is the player who’s gone off, by the way. England have much of the ball early on in this second half; Ireland need to up the ante, maybe with a crunching challenge or a defence-splitting pass, anything that gets the crowd going. They’re just a bit flat at the moment.
46 min: We’re back again, with Megan Connolly on for Ireland. England are unchanged.
HALF-TIME: Republic of Ireland 0-2 England
England have had a comfortable first 45 but will feel they should’ve wrapped this up with that second penalty. Greenwood, however, couldn’t find the net for a first-half brace, and so Ireland remain in this game even if they’ve barely threatened Hannah Hampton.
45+1 min: There’s a bit of pinball in the box before England eventually clear. The half-time whistle blows.
45 min: Corner for Ireland after Walsh and Lucy Quinn battle for the ball out on the left.
44 min: A stray pass from McCabe is picked up in midfield by England, setting up a promising attack … but Russo is offside.
41 min: James dinks a ball from the right towards Russo, who sets up Bronze for an ambitious effort … that sails high into the Dublin sky.
38 min: Williamson launches a crunching slide tackle on Carusa, setting up an England break. James tries her luck from outside the box but finds the hands of Brosnan.
37 min: James picks up the ball in midfield from Williamson and embarks on an adventure … but her subsequent pass is intercepted accidentally by the referee.
36 min: Walsh splits the Ireland midfield with a thudding pass but Hemp, the receiver, is cut off from causing any damage.
34 min: Carter, England’s left back today, is pressed back by a couple of Ireland shirts and is forced into committing a foul.
32 min: England press up high, forcing an Ireland mistake to win a throw out on the left. They remain 2-0 up and dominant despite that penalty miss.
Greenwood misses! She strikes the right post and the ball goes out for a goalkick. Ireland survive. For now.
Updated
Hemp sends in a cross, Russo tries to get on the end of it, and Louise Quinn, marking the England forward, has her arms in the air as the ricochet takes place, and it costs her.
Updated
Penalty to England!
Another one!
27 min: Russo plays in James … who is just about offside.
26 min: Toone plays a neat one-two but can’t find anyone afterwards inside the box.
24 min: Williamsom and Greenwood knock it back and forth as Ireland hold back.
22 min: James and Bronze nearly collide with another picking up the ball on the right. James comes away with it and the Chelsea forward is drifting into pockets in the middle, ready to cause some serious trouble.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-2 England (Greenwood 18)
Greenwood steps up and slots comfortably into the left corner; Brosnan went the other way. England have the perfect start.
Updated
Penalty for England!
Park’s volley inside the box is blocked by Littlejohn – the ref says handball and points to the spot.
16 min: Bronze loses the ball on the right for England but Lucy Quinn overhits her attempted pass to McCabe, much to the annoyance of the Ireland captain.
14 min: England have the early control, with Walsh’s quick feet in the middle causing issues for Ireland.
The cross comes in from the left, Walsh finding Lucy Bronze at the back post. Her header is blocked by Patten, with the ball landing perfectly for James to slot in with a low, powerful hit. England are up and running.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-1 England (James 12)
Lauren James delivers.
Updated
10 min: Hemp wins the ball high up the pitch and James has a cross blocked before England work it around patiently before Bronze is challenged … and Ireland launch a counter. But they’re eventually forced to retreat to their own half.
9 min: Littlejohn launches a cross into the England box … but there’s not a teammate in sight to actually get on the end of it.
8 min: James finds a bit of space out on the right and hangs up a cross into the box, which Russo heads … but she can’t generate enough power to threaten the Ireland goal.
7 min: England knock the ball around the back but can’t nail the incisive pass through the lines.
5 min: Hemp picks up the ball on the left wing and drives inside the box, but can’t get much on the shot/pass with her right foot. England collect a corner but don’t do much with it.
4 min: Walsh’s reverse ball is seen out by Anna Patten for an Ireland goalkick.
3 min: McCabe sends in the corner … and Hampton collects well.
2 min: England string together their first few passes before a long punt from an Ireland shirt upsets the order. Carusa wins a corner after her cross is blocked.
Peep!
Away we go after both sides take the knee. Ireland kick-off, going from right to left.
The players are making their way out. Sort your pre-game snacks out.
Sarina Wiegman confirms that Mary Earps dropping to the bench isn’t down to an injury. “We’re in a very luxury position that we have two incredible goalkeepers. Hannah’s doing a great job for Chelsea … this is a moment for her to shine.”
Here’s what Sophie Downey had to say on England’s somewhat disappointing Friday night against Sweden, making note of the difficulties in midfield. Interesting, then, that there’s a change-up there with the inclusions of Ella Toone and Jess Park.
She’s back! Leah Williamson plays her first England game since last April when she turned out in a 2-0 loss to Australia.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 9, 2024
So England make five changes from the side that started against Sweden: Out go Earps, Wubben-Moy, Charles, Stanway and Clinton. In come Hampton, Carter, Williamson, Park and Toone. The front three of James, Russo and Hemp is left intact.
Ireland opt for two changes: Ruesha Littlejohn and Lucy Quinn come in for Emily Murphy and Megan Connolly.
Republic of Ireland: Brosnan, Payne, Hayes, Louise Quinn, Patten, Mannion, Lucy Quinn, Littlejohn, O’Sullivan, McCabe. Carusa
Subs: Stapleton, Campbell, Caldwell, Barrett, Connolly, Moloney, Agg, Toland, Kiernan, Atkinson, Whitehouse, Murphy
England: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter, Toone, Walsh, Park. James, Russo, Hemp
Subs: Earps, Rendell, Charles, Kirby, Wubben-Moy, Kelly, Mead, Clinton, Daly, Stanway, Morgan, Turner
Updated
The teams
Here they come …
STARTING XI | Ireland v England
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) April 9, 2024
Let’s do this.#COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/ANkxqX8PzA
Your #Lionesses line-up tonight... pic.twitter.com/YpX9Ml5pXf
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 9, 2024
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to coverage of England’s visit to Dublin for their second Euro 2025 qualifier. Sarina Wiegman’s side began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at Wembley, an unideal result when they’re calling this the Group of Death (an overused but enjoyably theatrical phrase). Fridolina Rolfö was the party crasher, scoring a 64th-minute equaliser to cancel out Alessia Russo’s opener.
Meanwhile the Republic of Ireland fell to a 1-0 loss against France, and the hosts are up against history, having never beaten England before. But they’ve got the support of the Aviva crowd, with more than 30,000 tickets sold, and, according to their captain, that much-needed ingredient: belief. “We always believe we can go and beat anyone on our day,” said Katie McCabe.
For England, there’s a return for Leah Williamson, their Euro 2022-winning leader set to make her first international appearance since suffering an ACL injury last year. And she reckons it’ll be emotional.
Feel free to email me with your thoughts, queries, worries, secrets, whatever you want. Kick-off’s at 7.30pm BST.
