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Euro 2025: Reds feature in Friday’s play-off action
Saturday 30 November 2024 11:30
Four nations represented by Manchester United players were in play-off action on Friday night, with the goal of securing a place at next summer’s UEFA Women’s European Championship.
Celin Bizet was a late introduction as Norway thrashed Northern Ireland 4-0 in the first leg of their second-round tie, as they took a healthy step towards the 2025 tournament in Switzerland.
Victory on aggregate will be enough to secure a spot at the finals, which also remains a possibility for Emma Watson and Scotland, after a 0-0 draw with Finland in Edinburgh, in which our midfielder played the final half hour.
The contest between Wales and Republic of Ireland is also evenly poised at the midway mark, following a 1-1 draw in Friday’s fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium, with Hayley Ladd completing 90 minutes for the hosts.
SECOND-LEG FIXTURES
Tuesday 3 December – all times listed in GMT.
Norway (4) v Northern Ireland (0) – 17:00
Finland (0) v Scotland (0) – 17:15
Republic of Ireland (1) v Wales (1) – 19:30
The focus now turns to Tuesday’s all-important second legs, with Bizet’s Norway first up, and looking to get over the line as they take a four-nil lead into the rematch with Northern Ireland in Oslo.
At 17:15 GMT, Watson will be hoping to help Scotland get the better of Finland in Helsinki after a goalless opening 90 minutes.
That’s before Republic of Ireland duel with Wales again in a clash that could involve up to four United players. Only Ladd featured for the latter in the first leg, with compatriots Mared Griffiths and Safia Middleton-Patel unused substitutes, while Aoife Mannion did not make Ireland’s matchday squad in Cardiff.
INTERNATIONALS: WHAT’S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE?
United’s Simi Awujo and Jayde Riviere have already been action for Canada, both starting their nation’s 0-0 draw with Iceland on Friday, before they face South Korea on Tuesday in the second of two friendlies this break.
The duo’s club team-mate Dominique Janssen has friendly minutes under her belt in this international window too, having played the entirety of the Netherlands’ 4-1 victory over China last night.
Janssen’s nation have a home bout with Olympic champions USA to look forward to on Tuesday, after the latter’s much-anticipated clash with England at Wembley Stadium this evening.
Reds goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce could make her senior debut for the States at the national stadium in that one, and come up against Grace Clinton, Gabby George and Millie Turner on the Lionesses’ side.
Our captain Maya Le Tissier won’t be involved for the hosts at Wembley as she follows the ‘return to play’ concussion protocol but has joined up with the England squad and hasn’t been ruled out of the second friendly of the break for Sarina Wiegman’s side, at home to Switzerland on Tuesday.
England and the Netherlands are two of nine teams to have already qualified for next summer’s Euros and that club also includes France, who continue their preparations for the tournament by hosting Nigeria tonight and Spain on Tuesday. United forward Melvine Malard is in Les Bleus’ squad.
While there could be plenty of United involvement in the senior internationals over the next week or so, there are also some familiar faces representing their nations’ youth sides.
Full-back Anna Sandberg played 56 minutes of Sweden Under-23s’ 4-0 victory over Portugal earlier this week, ahead of a meeting with England in the WU23 Euro Competition on Monday.
Meanwhile, young Red Lucy Newell has been selected by England’s Under-19s for two UEFA Women’s U19 Championship qualifiers against Italy (today) and Poland (Tuesday).
Summer signing Sandberg made her United debut earlier this month.
FRIENDLIES AND YOUTH-LEVEL FIXTURES
SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER
England v Italy – 12:00 (U19s)
England v USA – 17:20
France v Nigeria – 20:10
MONDAY 2 DECEMBER
England v Sweden – 19:00 (U23s)
TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER
Poland v England – 12:00 (U19s)
Canada v South Korea – 17:00
England v Switzerland – 19:45
Netherlands v USA – 19:45
France v Spain – 20:00
All times are listed in GMT.
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Saturday 30 November 2024 11:30
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