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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Five talking points from England's win over Portugal
The week leading up to the Nations League win over Portugal was dominated by the news of Mary Earps's retirement from international football 39 days before the European champions begin their title defence. The supremely talented Hannah Hampton had slowly moved into pole position for the starting spot in Switzerland, with Sarina Wiegman having said the Chelsea keeper was a little ahead of Earps, the Euro 2022 and 2023 World Cup No 1. Hampton has performed well when given the chance to start, but how she will cope with the pressure of being first choice long-term? Portugal were perfect opponents to ease her way in, England's utter domination in the 6-0 win leaving her very little to do. Spain will offer a far greater test on Tuesday but Hampton, whose distribution is superior, was preferred to Earps against the world champions in February. The sight of Lauren Hemp in the starting XI against Portugal was welcome. As was that of Alex Greenwood and Georgia Stanway, who were on the bench, coming on. All three have been in a race against time to be fit for the Euros and they showed what England has been missing this year. Hemp was electric on the left and her teammate Grace Clinton said: 'Out of possession, in possession, she's an unbelievable player. She's got one-v-one, she's got dribbling, she's got pace with her runs in behind, she's got everything.' Wiegman said: 'It's really nice to see them back. They have worked so hard to get to where they are … if you haven't put all the work into getting to this point then you cannot put in the performance they showed tonight. Wiegman is a winner and she wanted a big victory against Portugal, a team England have struggled against having drawn 1-1 in the reverse fixture in February and held to a 0-0 draw in a friendly on the eve of the 2023 World Cup. Aggie Beever-Jones said: 'As cliched as it sounds, Sarina said: 'It's a new kit, new England today. Go out there and put a graft in.' I think her words were 'destroy them', in her Dutch accent.' That edge and hunger to win aren't always positive, Wiegman's reaction to Earps's retirement reportedly having been a very angry one, but when it comes to putting together winning formulas on the pitch there are few better managers. England have had limited attacking options since Euro 2022, with Beth Mead injuring an anterior cruciate ligament and Lauren James more recently having hamstring problems, while Chloe Kelly was frozen out at Manchester City in the first half of this season. However, things seem to be coming together at the right time: Mead is looking closer to her best, she and Kelly – after a loan move – are Champions League winners with Arsenal and Hemp is well and truly back. Throw in the youngsters Beever-Jones, who scored a hat-trick against Portugal, and Michelle Agyemang, who scored 41 seconds into her debut against Belgium last month, and the forward choices look strong. 'We have so many options,' said Wiegman. 'What we also hope for is LJ [Lauren James] coming back too. She's still in rehab and doing good.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Wiegman said the five Arsenal Champions League winners had brought energy to the England camp. 'They were so happy. It was absolutely brilliant they won it. I just get goosebumps thinking about it. It's incredible and they came in that way too. They got a little bit longer break to celebrate and it was very enjoyable with them.' Kelly, Mead, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo weren't the only ones with shiny new medals: add in Chelsea's unbeaten treble-winners and Jess Carter, who won the Concacaf Champions Cup with Gotham FC last Sunday, and England are stacked with domestic and continental victors.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
England's rampant attack renders the goalkeeper narrative obsolete
This piece was supposed to be about goalkeepers. Sentences had been drafted, paragraphs were forming, conclusions were ready to be drawn. Hannah Hampton's performance for England against Portugal was about to be analysed within an inch of its life after Mary Earps' abrupt international retirement made the Lionesses' goalkeeping position the headline story of this international window. Advertisement Earps, 32, was imperious during England's 2022 European Championship triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final, but unexpectedly called time on her international career on Tuesday, just five weeks before Euro 2025 kicks off, having lost her starting spot to Hampton, 24. Friday's Nations League fixture against Portugal was England's first match since Earps' shock announcement. This was going to write itself. A re-draft was potentially on the cards inside just five minutes at Wembley as England raced into a 2-0 lead through Aggie Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze, but it was still early days. A re-write was seriously being considered by the half-hour mark as goals from Beth Mead and Beever-Jones further extended England's advantage. Advertisement By the time the half-time whistle had been blown, England were leading 5-0, Beever-Jones had completed her hat-trick, Hampton had yet to lay a glove on the ball and the backspace key was taking an absolute hammering. Chloe Kelly added a sixth in the second half to emphatically ensure that in a week dominated by goalkeeper discourse, England's forward line made themselves the story. In a week in which feelings were mixed within the squad over Earps' decision and the way it unfolded, England turned in a performance of cohesion and togetherness. 'As cliche as it sounds, Sarina (Wiegman) said it's a new kit, new England today — go out there and put a graft in,' Beever-Jones told reporters at full-time. 'I think her words were 'destroy them', in her Dutch accent. 'For us, it was just executing the game plan, and in the first half we were really good at that.' Advertisement The game plan, as Wiegman described in her post-match press conference, was to 'press really early and high, and win the ball back as soon as possible'. This came to fruition within three minutes. Bronze led the counter-press, Jess Park's hustle forced the mistake from Portugal midfielder Andreia Norton, and Beever-Jones capitalised. England's coordinated, aggressive press again paid dividends 90 seconds later as Jess Carter won possession on halfway and fed Lauren Hemp, who scurried past Ana Borges. Her delivery eventually found its way to Bronze to head into an empty net. It was one of a number of encouraging first-half moments from Hemp, who looked particularly sharp on her return to the England side for the first time since October following five months out after knee surgery. Within the opening 30 minutes, she had caused chaos with a surging run, sent in a teasing delivery that narrowly evaded Beever-Jones and expertly spun Borges on the touchline. The Manchester City winger was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark and is yet to complete a full 90 minutes since returning to action at the end of April. Hemp has been ever-present at major tournaments under Wiegman and Friday was a timely reminder of the unique threat she brings. Advertisement 'I'm building up, I'm working hard, training hard,' she said at full time. 'It's been a long time so I'm trying to not put too much pressure on myself but I want to contribute as much as I can.' Hemp was joined by the returning Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood, who were introduced from the bench in the second half following lengthy injury lay-offs of their own, in a further boost to England ahead of Euro 2025. 'They've worked so hard to get where they are right now,' Wiegman said. The England head coach emphasised how positive training had been for her side in the week and while the Lionesses' opening two goals were derived from their press, goals three and four capped slick team moves. 'Connections' has been a buzzword of the Wiegman era and Friday's game was the first time she had fielded a front four of Hemp, Park, Mead and Beever-Jones — the quartet combined impressively throughout. It was Beever-Jones who the night belonged to as she completed her hat-trick on 33 minutes, latching onto a fine Leah Williamson pass and firing low past Ines Pereira. The 21-year-old Chelsea forward was making just her sixth senior international appearance and her first for her country at Wembley. 'She is a goalscorer,' Wiegman said, before praising her quick feet and ability in tight spaces. Advertisement Portugal offered little resistance compared to the side that had held England to a 1-1 draw back in February, and tougher tests will come for the Lionesses — starting with a trip to world champions and group leaders Spain on Tuesday. But Friday was just what England needed as a blend of Wiegman's trusted regulars and fresh faces turned in a performance to ensure the conversation was about those present, not those absent. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. England, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
3 days ago
- General
- New York Times
England's rampant attack renders the goalkeeper narrative obsolete
This piece was supposed to be about goalkeepers. Sentences had been drafted, paragraphs were forming, conclusions were ready to be drawn. Hannah Hampton's performance for England against Portugal was about to be analysed within an inch of its life after Mary Earps' abrupt international retirement made the Lionesses' goalkeeping position the headline story of this international window. Advertisement Earps, 32, was imperious during England's 2022 European Championship triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final, but unexpectedly called time on her international career on Tuesday, just five weeks before Euro 2025 kicks off, having lost her starting spot to Hampton, 24. Friday's Nations League fixture against Portugal was England's first match since Earps' out of the blue announcement. This was going to write itself. A re-draft was potentially on the cards inside just five minutes at Wembley as England raced into a 2-0 lead through Aggie Beever-Jones and Lucy Bronze, but it was still early days. A re-write was seriously being considered by the half-hour mark as goals from Beth Mead and Beever-Jones further extended England's advantage. By the time the half-time whistle had been blown, England were leading 5-0, Beever-Jones had completed her hat-trick, Hampton had yet to lay a glove on the ball and the backspace key was taking an absolute hammering. Chloe Kelly added a sixth in the second half to emphatically ensure that in a week dominated by goalkeeper discourse, England's forward line made themselves the story. In a week where feelings were mixed within the squad over Earps' decision and the way it unfolded, England turned in a performance of cohesion and togetherness. 'As cliche as it sounds, Sarina said it's a new kit, new England today — go out there and put a graft in basically,' Beever-Jones told reporters at full-time. 'I think her words were 'destroy them', in her Dutch accent. 'For us it was just executing the game plan, and in the first half we were really good at that.' The game plan, as Wiegman described in her post-match press conference, was to 'press really early and high, and win the ball back as soon as possible'. This came to fruition within three minutes. Bronze led the counter-press, Jess Park's hustle forced the mistake from Portugal midfielder Andreia Norton, and Beever-Jones capitalised. England's coordinated, aggressive press again paid dividends just 90 seconds later as Jess Carter won possession on halfway and fed Lauren Hemp, who scurried past Ana Borges. Her delivery eventually found its way to Bronze to head into an empty net. It was one of a number of encouraging first-half moments from Hemp, who looked particularly sharp on her return to the England side for the first time since October following five months out after knee surgery. Within the opening 30 minutes, she had caused chaos with a surging run, sent in a teasing delivery that narrowly evaded Beever-Jones, and expertly spun Borges on the touchline. Advertisement The Manchester City winger was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark and is yet to complete a full 90 minutes since returning to action at the end of April. Hemp has been ever-present at major tournaments under Wiegman and Friday was a timely reminder of the unique threat she brings. 'I'm building up, I'm working hard, training hard,' she said at full-time. 'Obviously, it's been a long time so I'm trying to not put too much pressure on myself, but I want to contribute as much as I can.' Hemp was joined by the returning Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood, who were introduced from the bench in the second half following lengthy injury lay-offs of their own, in a further boost to England ahead of Euro 2025. 'They've worked so hard to get where they are right now,' Wiegman said. The England head coach emphasised how positive training had been for her side in the week and while the Lionesses' opening two goals were derived from their press, goals three and four capped slick team moves. 'Connections' has been a buzzword of the Wiegman era and Friday's game was the first time she had fielded a front four of Hemp, Park, Beth Mead and Beever-Jones — the quartet combined impressively throughout. It was Beever-Jones who the night belonged to as she completed her hat-trick on 33 minutes, latching onto a fine Leah Williamson pass and firing low past Ines Pereira. The 21-year-old Chelsea forward was making just her sixth senior international appearance and her first for her country at Wembley. 'She is a goalscorer,' Wiegman said, before praising her quick feet and ability in tight spaces. Portugal offered little resistance compared to the side that had held England to a 1-1 draw back in February, and tougher tests will come for the Lionesses — starting with a trip to world champions and group leaders Spain on Tuesday. But Friday was just what England needed as a blend of Wingman's trusted regulars and fresh faces turned in a performance to ensure the conversation was about those present, not those absent.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Are you not entertained? 'Vintage England' deliver under pressure
All eyes were on goalkeeper Hannah Hampton after a rocky week for the England squad - but just half an hour in, it was someone else taking the spotlight at forward Aggie Beever-Jones was star of the show, scoring her first England hat-trick in the 6-0 thumping of Portugal in the Women's Nations 21-year-old's treble came in just 33 was a scintillating performance from Beever-Jones and the Lionesses just five weeks out from Euro 2025 when they will attempt to defend their European had been building pre-match following goalkeeper Mary Earps' shock international retirement. How would they cope without one of their talismanic leaders? Could Chelsea's Hampton handle the pressure?Clearly, they coped extremely well, and newly confirmed number one Hampton barely had to move a muscle. "Are you not entertained?," said former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley on BBC Radio 5 Live."I'm running out of rubber on my eraser because I keep having to change [goalscoring] tally marks."It's been so fun to watch, with so much fluidity, and the enjoyment this England team has been playing with."Ex-England defender Lindsay Johnson described it as a "Friday night funfest" and even manager Sarina Wiegman celebrated more than usual in the so much attention on matters off the pitch over the past week, this was a performance that emphatically shut out the noise and lifted the was "back to business" as Wiegman claimed afterwards. 'Wonderful to see the girls with smiles on their faces' She had fielded questions regarding Earps' retirement on Thursday, admitting it had been a "hard" start to the was visibly emotional, reflecting on the good times they shared together and unwilling to discuss how frustrating the sudden departure of the 32-year-old may only 13 caps for Hampton prior to kick-off, and none for the other two goalkeepers in the squad, fears were raised about their when the team in front plays so well, it quickly becomes less of a concern. Hampton spent the majority of the second half stood still, watching on as her team-mates tried to add to their five first-half goals, managing one more through Chloe hero Beever-Jones gave some insight into Wiegman's talk before the Group A3 tie, saying. "She said before the game, 'it's a new kit, it's a new England, we have a new squad'."But it wasn't a new England, it was a "vintage" England, according to Bardsley, who was waxing lyrical by the time the fifth goal came in only the 33rd minute, sealing a treble for Bronze nodded in England's second, while Beth Mead joined in on the action and substitute Kelly added the finishing touch with the sixth in the 62nd minute."This is reminding me of vintage England, casting myself back to 2022," said Bardsley, who made 81 appearances for the Lionesses. "Portugal have been poor, but among the noise, it is so wonderful to see the girls with smiles on their faces."They were not the only ones with smiles on their faces as supporters danced and celebrated at full-time, clearly encouraged by what they had form has dipped throughout the last 18 months. Just seven weeks ago they were beaten in Leuven by Belgium - who are bottom of the Women's Nations League group - and two months after picking up a victory over world champions Spain at the Lionesses showed they were up to the task when the pressure was on, buoyed by the return of key players Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood from injury."There has been a lot of noise [this week] and players wanted to put that to bed," added Johnson."Questions in the press conference were relentless and they are going to be. They just want to talk about football and they made it all about the football."Mary [Earps] will be missed, but when you score six goals in the fashion they did, we are just talking about the football and how good England were." 'Beever-Jones is a baller' "Aggie Beever-Jones is a baller," was also Bardsley's statement at full-time as she lauded the Chelsea forward has given her chances of selection for Euro 2025 a significant boost and Wiegman couldn't help but laugh when asked the question."I think she did really well…" said the Dutchwoman with a smile."She is a goalscorer. She scores goals very easily and very well. She has such quick feet. She is also really tight on the ball, she played really relaxed."Team-mate Kelly said it was great to see Beever-Jones "firing" in an England shirt and Bardsley said she was a "pesky" forward to play for a starting role will be hard to come by though. Arsenal's Alessia Russo was watching from the bench, rested for this match after picking up a minor calf injury, while Chelsea's Lauren James has still to return from was impressive too on her first England game since knee surgery in November, while Mead was on the scoresheet and Kelly proved her worth off the bench."She really announced herself and put her case forward to Sarina Wiegman so she knows she is capable of starting at the Euros this summer," added Bardsley of Beever-Jones."Knowing there's that weapon, whether it's on the bench or from the start, is so lovely to know that she's in Sarina Wiegman's tool kit."Beever-Jones looked over to her family to celebrate and revealed the team had signed the match ball to take home whatever her role is at the Euros, she is ready to make an impact."In football it's never just a straight line. I've had to be patient in this set-up and that just shows the quality the team has," Beever-Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live."I got the opportunity and I am grateful to everyone who helped me get into this place. I couldn't have hoped for a better day."I wouldn't want anyone else for competition. Alessia [Russo] is an incredible player, I learn so much off her and the whole frontline. Hopefully I can contribute where I can."Whenever I'm playing for England I just hope I'm giving the right people the right headaches." Head here to get involved
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
England v Portugal: Women's Nations League
Update: Date: 2025-05-30T17:45:21.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Women's Nations League match between England and Portugal at Wembley. It's the reverse fixture of group A3's opening game in February that saw a sublime goal from Kika Nazareth hold England to a draw after Alessia Russo's opener. England's preparation for this game and the Euros in July has largely been overshadowed by Mary Earps' decision to retire from international football on Tuesday. The 2022 and 2023 winner of Fifa's Best goalkeeper award said: 'Ultimately this is the right time for me to step aside and give the younger players an opportunity to thrive.' All eyes will be on the England No.1 Hannah Hampton and the rest of the team as they adapt to Earps' exit. For Portugal tonight's game marks an opportunity to go level on points with England in the group. Even with a win, it's unlikely that they'll leapfrog England after Spain thrashed them 7-1 in their last game. Their clash with England will be good preparation for their opening game of the Euros against their Iberian rivals. Kick off is at 7:45pm. Send me an email with your predictions.
