The FIFA 2027 World Cup European Qualifiers got under way on Tuesday evening, with plenty of our Gunners representing their nations in the competition.
Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Taylor Hinds and Alessia Russo all started England’s 6-1 win against Ukraine in the first qualifier in Turkey.
Goalless at the break, the Lionesses came flying out the traps in the second half, Russo scoring twice in the first six minutes after the interval, followed by braces from Georgia Stanway (the second of which was assisted by Wubben-Moy) and Jess Park.
Chloe Kelly was an unused substitute.
Speaking after the match, Russo said: “We had to wait for the spaces to open up and when they did we were really clinical. It’s always nice to score quickly after half-time, it sets the tone.”
Katie McCabe was also among the goals for Republic of Ireland, netting the opening goal of Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at home to France.
Afterwards, McCabe told the media: “It stings because we put in such a shift tonight from start to finish. We pushed one of the best teams right up until the end of the game. We have to pick ourselves up, look where we can improve and go again on Saturday.”
Mariona Caldentey, and Laia Codina both played 90 minutes of Spain’s 3-0 win at home to Iceland in Group 3. On her 100th Spain appearance, Mariona provided the assist for Claudia Pina’s second goal of the game, as Codina helped her country to a clean sheet.
Frida Maanum played 71 minutes of Norway’s 1-0 win away to Austria to get off to a winning start in Group 4.
Elsewhere, Smilla Holmberg played 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet in Sweden’s 1-0 win away to Italy in Group 1.
Daphne van Domselaar and Victoria Pelova were both unused substitutes for Netherlands’ 2-2 draw away to Poland in Group 2.
At under-20s level, Niamh Peacock, Cecily Wellesley-Smith, Vivienne Lia, and Laila Harbert were all involved in England’s 1-0 friendly win over Netherlands in Alicante. Peacock and Wellesley-Smith played the full 90 minutes while Harbert replaced Lia at half-time.
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