Above: England’s changed starting XI to face Switzerland. Photo: Natalie Ovenden for Impetus.
By Ava-Marianne Elliott at Bramall Lane for Impetus.
England 1-0 Switzerland
England achieved a 1-0 victory over Switzerland to conclude 2024 with a win in an engaging friendly, holding onto an early lead from Manchester United’s midfield maestro, Grace Clinton.
After a goalless draw with Emma Hayes’ USA side last Friday, Sarina Wiegman opted for a fresh approach heading into the clash with Switzerland. 10 changes were made to the starting lineup, with new call-ups Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace debuting for the senior squad.
With a busy year ahead for the Lionesses, this friendly match was a crucial way to trial many of the inexperienced members of the squad. Wiegman had her sights set on identifying areas of development ahead of the Euro’s selection for next summer and aimed to conclude which elements of play needed tweaking before the major tournament.
The youngsters set the tone for the half in the early minutes of the game. Inevitably, it was Grace Clinton in the eighth minute who opened the scoring, adding another goal to her tally and showcasing her brilliant form. After Millie Turner’s chance went begging, Clinton pounced on the rebound and scored a tap-in from Jessica Park’s free kick.
A second chance followed after a clever pass cutting through the Swiss defence from Park put a sharp Aggie Beever-Jones through on goal. Keeper Elvira Hergoz was just ahead, claiming the ball seconds before the Chelsea forward was able to take a shot.
By the 30-minute mark, England looked comfortable both in and out of possession. For a side consisting of some players relatively inexperienced in the senior setup, the connections on the pitch seemed to be working well.
Switzerland had their first concrete chance of the game in the 39th minute when pressure on the England defence allowed Sydney Schertenlieb to shoot from distance. Hannah Hampton was forced down to make a simple save, successfully keeping England’s advantage ahead of the second half.
Half time saw Wiegman make just one change for the hosts, with Park, who played a superb first half, making way for Alessia Russo. The Arsenal forward had an immediate impact. Just four minutes later, she jumped on Gabby George’s cross, and her header narrowly skipped past the near goalpost.
The level that Wiegman’s squad had displayed in a concrete first-half performance dropped off considerably in the second. Levels of creativity in front of goal and creating chances had decreased, and the team struggled to get as much of a lead over their opponents.
After her senior international debut, Ruby Mace left the field for Keira Walsh, and Gabby George was replaced by Beth Mead.
The second half entailed more defensive work from the England bbacklineas Switzerland amped up the intensity, searching for an equaliser. In the 79th minute, Meriame Terchoun came centimetres away, her shot being tipped over the crossbar by fingertips, testing Hampton to the limit.
The 84th minute saw a triple change to the England lineup. Georgia Stanway replaced Blindkilde-Brown after a well-deserved debut, played with composure, and gave the country a glimpse at the brilliance she has to offer. Beever-Jones also exited the field for Jessica Naz, and Turner made way for Jess Carter.
The half concluded with Stanway coming dangerously close to doubling the scoreline in the last few seconds of the game, but the chance went begging as the whistle signalled for full time.
With the Euro’s in Switzerland next summer fast approaching, the question now turns to who we are going to see making regular appearances within the senior setup. Although Park and Clinton both work almost seamlessly within the setup, there is debate around whether there is space for both of them in a matchday lineup in an international tournament.
With the number of strong centre-backs available for selection, the competition amongst defenders for a spot in the starting lineup is greater than in any other position. In her post-match press conference, Wiegman outlined that Arsenal defender, Lotte Wubben-Moy, is “further away from her plans” despite her incredible skillset.
Teams: ENGLAND (3-1-4-2): Hampton, Morgan, George, Mace, Turner, Bright, Park, Le Tissier, Beever-Jones, Clinton, Blindkilde-Brown. Substitutes: Earps (GK), Moorhouse (GK), Stanway (84’), Mead (63’), Walsh (63’), Naz, Carter (84’), Russo (46’), Williamson, Greenwood, Wubben-Moy.
Scorer: Clinton 8′.
SWITZERLAND (5-4-1): Herzog, Stierli, Marti, Maritz, Schertenleib, Crnogorcevic, Sow, Valletta, Calligaris, Terchoun, Beney. SUBSTITUTES: Böhl (GK), Peng (GK), Baumann, Xhemaili (87’), Riesen (46’), Arfaoui, Waeber, Ivelj (46’), Mauron, Piubel, Andrade (46’), Csillag (87’), Lehmann, Bienz.
Referee: Catarina Campos
Attendance: 23,870.
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