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Grace Clinton’s early finish proved the winner as England concluded 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a friendly at Bramall Lane.
Continuing preparations for next summer’s title defence at the Euros by taking on the team who will be hosting the tournament, a much-changed, youthful Lionesses side went in front in the eighth minute when Clinton buried the loose ball after Manchester United teammate Millie Turner had headed against the post.
England were unable to add to that despite creating a number of chances, including debutant Laura Blindkilde Brown being denied by Swiss goalkeeper Elvira Herzog.
Opposite number Hannah Hampton then did well to tip a Meriame Terchoun shot over the crossbar, before Georgia Stanway cracked a shot against Herzog’s post in stoppage time.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman had spoken about wanting to experiment in the two friendlies with which England were finishing the calendar year, and named a starting XI showing 10 changes from Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the United States at Wembley and lining up with three central defenders.
It also featured a considerable amount of youth, including two 21-year-olds handed bows in Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace, and another, Aggie Beever-Jones, making her first start.
The sole survivor from the weekend’s match was Jess Park, whose free-kick led to the early goal as it was flicked against the post by Turner – another first-time England starter – and Clinton – another 21-year-old – fired in from close range on the follow-up.
As the hosts dominated the ball, Maya Le Tissier miscued from a good position to shoot wide, and Gabby George, on her first international appearance since 2018, lofted an effort off-target and saw a cross pushed away by Herzog.
Park and Le Tissier produced further unsuccessful attempts, before Hampton was called into action to make a comfortable save towards the end of the first half, gathering Sydney Schertenleib’s shot from outside the box.
The interval saw Alessia Russo, scorer of the memorable backheeled finish at the stadium when England beat Sweden 4-0 in the semi-final of their triumphant 2022 Euros campaign, come on for Park, and she headed wide from George’s cross four minutes into the second half.
Switzerland then threatened when Iman Beney got past Turner and hit a shot that Hampton parried, before England returned to the front foot with Blindkilde Brown’s strike being turned behind by Herzog and Clinton slicing wide.
There was further work for Hampton as she got down to save substitute Nadine Riesen’s strike and produced a fine stop to divert Terchoun’s shot over.
It was the closest Pia Sundhage’s visitors went, and in added time Stanway, who had come on for Blindkilde Brown, went even closer, hitting the post moments after putting another effort into the side-netting.
Source: independent.co.uk
