England bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on Olympic qualification in their last match with a 7-2 thrashing of a sub-par Austria.
In the first match of their February training camp in Marbella, the Lionesses stormed to victory, with Alessia Russo and Beth Mead both finding the net twice in the emphatic victory.
Russo opened hers and England’s account after just three minutes when she capitalised after the goalkeeper did not deal with the niitial shot and she was ideally placed to tap the ball home.
Grace Clinton then capped off her debut with a goal in the 19th minute. Austria briefly threatened to turn the tide of the game when Virginia Kirchberger headed one back for Austria, but Beth Mead’s first goal of the evening soon restored England’s advantage.
In the second half it was all England, first Russo’s second, then Jess Carter’s improvised backheel established a strong lead.
Kirchberger left England puzzling over how they had allowed the forward to score twice from set pieces, but Mead hit back almost straight away before Rachel Daly’s stoppage-time strike in a one-on-one situation wrapped up the win.
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England vs Austria
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
GOAL! Rachel Daly gets in on the action – England 7-2 Austria
GOAL! Mead adds a sixth for the Lionesses – England 6-2 Austria
GOAL! Kirchberger pulls another back – England 5-2 Austria
GOAL! Carter scores her side’s 5th! England 5-1 Austria
GOAL! Russo scores her second – England 4-1 Austria
GOAL! Kirchberger pulls one back! England 2-1 Austria
GOAL! Mead extends the Lionesses’ lead – England 3-1 Austria
GOAL! Clinton scores on debut! England 2-0 Austria
GOAL! Russo puts the LIonesses ahead – England 1-0 Austria
England XI: Hampton, Le Tissier, Charles, Stanway, Morgan, Greenwood, Mead, Clinton, Russo, Kirby, Hemp.
Match report
22:23 , Sonia Twigg
England women debutant Grace Clinton made a magical introduction with a goal in the Lionesses’ 7-2 victory over Austria in their opening game of 2024.
Alessia Russo struck twice and added an assist at Spain’s Estadio Nuevo Mirador, taking advantage of a mistake by her Arsenal team-mate Manuela Zinsberger to open the scoring with an early goal before Clinton opened her England account with a header.
Virginia Kirchberger got Austria back into the game, but Beth Mead restored the Lionesses’ two-goal advantage before the break with Russo completing her brace and substitute Jess Carter flicking in a fifth shortly after her introduction.
Alessia Russo and Beth Mead both strike twice in emphatic Lionesses victory
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
22:10 , Sonia Twigg
Wiegman added that she was happy for Clinton.
When asked about the previous disappointment of missing out on Olympics qualification, she added: “I think also in December we had a very good camp and two good games, two very intense games but the Netherlands scored more goals than we did and we have to move on and we have the opportunity now to play these friendlies and try the different combinations.
“Then the full concentration is on the Euro qualifiers.
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
21:55 , Sonia Twigg
Sarina Wiegman said to ITV: “I’m just really happy with this game, the way we played, the dominance we wanted to get on the pitch.
“In defence we ran a high press and wanted to win the ball back as quickly. We scored seven goals which is really good and created lots of chances.
“I am happy with the seven goals and the performance, but we conceded two goals from corners.”
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
21:49 , Sonia Twigg
Grace Clinton said to ITV: “It’s what dreams are made of so I’m very happy. I didn’t know it would be in my head, I’m absolutely buzzing.
“Yeah definitely (it’s the best moment of my career), going into the game it was probably the biggest game of my career so far so it going like that I was very happy.”
Says her mum and dad flew out this morning to go and watch the game.
Full time: England 7-2 Austria
21:41 , Sonia Twigg
FT: England put seven past Austria in a performance that will please Sarina Wiegman after the long gap since the Lionesses were last in action.
It will be a day to remember for debutant Grace Clinton, who scored on debut, while the experienced Alessia Russo and returning Beth Mead both scored twice.
Austria did not offer much of a threat, nor were they resolute at the back and it was a straightforward affair.
England 7-2 Austria
21:40 , Sonia Twigg
90+5: England might have a healthy lead and be on course for a memorable win, but the Lionesses will not stop coming, and a ball from Mead is just too far ahead of James who was arriving at the far post.
GOAL! Rachel Daly gets in on the action – England 7-2 Austria
21:38 , Sonia Twigg
90+3 mins: GOAL! Rachel Daly runs forward and creates a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, just beat the offside trap and she made no mistakes in front of goal with a great finish into the roof of the net.
England 6-2 Austria
21:36 , Sonia Twigg
90+1 mins: There will be five minutes of added time at the end of this international friendly match near Marbella.
GOAL! Mead adds a sixth for the Lionesses – England 6-2 Austria
21:34 , Sonia Twigg
90 mins: GOAL! Lauren James had run forward and curled the ball goalwards, but it rebounded back off the post and into the path of Mead, who fired home.
Just as Austria pulled one back, England have extended their lead again.
GOAL! Kirchberger pulls another back – England 5-2 Austria
21:33 , Sonia Twigg
88 mins: GOAL! Austria pull one back and it’s similar to the first. Another ball into the box and Kirchberger proves too much for the Lionesses defence from distance, and heads the ball into the back of the net.
This time it was not a corner but a ball from further up the pitch.
England 5-1 Austria
21:30 , Sonia Twigg
85 mins: Hampton has not had a lot to do in this match so far, but she was quick off her line there to gather the ball and prevent any chance of Austria adding another goal to their total.
England 5-1 Austria
21:27 , Sonia Twigg
82 mins: Wubben-Moy had to be alert at the back to force a corner, Austria scored from a corner in the first half, and it was another good delivery that England did not clear convincingly.
But eventually they manage to get the ball back with a goal kick.
England 5-1 Austria
21:25 , Sonia Twigg
80 mins: England try and attack again, but that time it came to a premature end when Carter was flagged up for offside, despite being well behind the line of defenders in the middle of the pitch.
England 5-1 Austria
21:22 , Sonia Twigg
77 mins: Austria make some changes of their own, but can they get another goal in this match.
England take off Stanway and bring on Kiera Walsh.
England 5-1 Austria
21:20 , Sonia Twigg
75 mins: England are pretty much coasting through this one now, the only question is how many more goals can they score in the remaining 15 minutes of normal time.
England 5-1 Austria
21:17 , Sonia Twigg
72 mins: Rachel Daly was just momentarily down and receiving treatment after a heavy challenge, but she is okay to continue.
GOAL! Carter scores her side’s 5th! England 5-1 Austria
21:15 , Sonia Twigg
69 mins: GOAL! England have a fifth! Carter was in the right place at the right time to backheel the ball past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to just help Wubben-Moy’s header home.
England 4-1 Austria
21:12 , Sonia Twigg
66 mins: England might have made the changes, but that hasn’t stopped them coming here, and Zinsberger had to be alert to tip the ball behind for a corner and potentially prevent another probing cross from behind headed into the back of the net.
England 4-1 Austria
21:09 , Sonia Twigg
62 mins: That will be Russo’s last involvement and she comes off, there is also the introduction of Jess Carter
Subs in full:
Off: Alessia Russo, Grace Clinton, Niamh Charles
On: Jess Carter, Jess Park, Rachel Daly
GOAL! Russo scores her second – England 4-1 Austria
21:06 , Sonia Twigg
GOAL! 60 mins: Russo has her second! England’s pressure has just been too much.
The Lionesses win the ball back in midfielder and play Russo in and all she has to do is take a touch and then fire it past the goalkeeper.
England 3-1 Austria
21:04 , Sonia Twigg
59 mins: England have continued to have most of the ball in this half and even when Austria do win it back they are struggling to convert it into chances and opportunities.
Their one goal came from a set piece, and it is when they have looked their most dangerous.
England 3-1 Austria
21:01 , Sonia Twigg
56 mins: Chance! Another chance, this time Stanway tries her luck from distance, and the ball was only just over the bar!
England 3-1 Austria
20:58 , Sonia Twigg
Chance! 53 mins: Le Tissier this time with a header and Zinsberger had to be alert in the Austria net to palm the ball away for another corner.
The second header from the subsequent corner is also goalwards, but a more straightforward hold from the goalkeeper from Wubben-Moy.
England 3-1 Austria
20:56 , Sonia Twigg
50 mins: Chance! Toone almost adds a fourth for England, it was a great run from Stanway and the ball came back to Toone who just tried to poke the ball goalwards, but it was just outside the far post.
England 3-1 Austria
20:53 , Sonia Twigg
48 mins: Can Austria find a way back into this match, and can they stop England just playing how they have been and scoring more goals as the match continues.
There is nothing riding on this match in particular, it is a friendly, but there are European qualifiers coming up soon.
England 3-1 Austria
20:51 , Sonia Twigg
46 mins: The second half is underway and there will be a few changes for England at half time, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Lauren James have come on for Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp.
HT: England 3-1 Austria
20:40 , Sonia Twigg
It has been a good half for the Lionesses:
Half time: England 3-1 Austria
20:36 , Sonia Twigg
Half time: Well it has been an entertaining half of football, most of which has gone England’s way.
Alessia Russo has caused problems all evening, and what a way for Clinton to celebrate her debut with a goal, while it is good to see Beth Mead back on form following her recent injury issues.
England 3-1 Austria
20:34 , Sonia Twigg
45+3 mins: England have to be alert at the back to cut out a good cross from the left hand side, there has not been too much of that so far in this match.
England 3-1 Austria
20:33 , Sonia Twigg
45 mins: There will be four minutes of added time.
England 3-1 Austria
20:30 , Sonia Twigg
44 mins: England have been completely dominant in this half and are closing in on being able to go into the break with a healthy advantage.
England 3-1 Austria
20:26 , Sonia Twigg
40 mins: England almost have another!
Greenwood’s corner finds Stanway, who tries to hit the ball towards the goal but it is blocked and after a ricochet flies behind for a goal kick.
GOAL! Mead extends the Lionesses’ lead – England 3-1 Austria
20:23 , Sonia Twigg
GOAL! 36 mins: Mead scores to extend England’s lead!
Russo had fluffed a shot earlier in the move, but Austria could not clear and the ball fell to Mead who curled the ball into the top corner.
England 2-1 Austria
20:20 , Sonia Twigg
34 mins: Russo is full of confidence and decides to launch a shot from distance, it was slightly awkward for the goalkeeper in the rain, but she managed to hold on to the ball on this occasion, after her error for the first goal of the game.
England 2-1 Austria
20:18 , Sonia Twigg
32 mins: Toone has a chance to re-establish England’s two-goal lead, but this time it was straight at the goalkeeper.
GOAL! Kirchberger pulls one back! England 2-1 Austria
20:17 , Sonia Twigg
30 mins: GOAL! Kirchberger makes the most of some slightly lacklustre England defending to head the ball home and pull one back for the Austrians.
England 2-0 Austria
20:14 , Sonia Twigg
28 mins: Clinton has made herself known on debut! That was a heavy challenge just outside the Austria box and they will rightly have a free kick.
The fans are abandoning their seats in favour of shelter as the rain starts to fall hard.
England 2-0 Austria
20:13 , Sonia Twigg
27 mins: That time Charles when trying to get forward did concede a free kick and it gives Austria a chance to mount an attack of their own.
England 2-0 Austria
20:11 , Sonia Twigg
25 mins: Russo is chasing down absolutely everything and putting a lot of pressure on the Austria defence, who ahve conceded twice already.
England 2-0 Austria
20:09 , Sonia Twigg
23 mins: When Austria have got forward, their decision-making has been questionable at best, as another attempt has just blazed far over the bar.
GOAL! Clinton scores on debut! England 2-0 Austria
20:05 , Sonia Twigg
19 mins: GOAL! Clinton has her goal on debut!
Having just seen one rebound off the woodwork, Clinton was in the right position to capitalise on some poor defending to head a Lauren Hemp cross into the back of the net.
England 1-0 Austria
20:03 , Sonia Twigg
17 mins: As the rain has started to fall in Spain, the match has not got off to the most electric start, but England have been by far the more promising.
England 1-0 Austria
20:01 , Sonia Twigg
15 mins: Chance! Grace Clinton came so close to a goal on debut, she struck the ball from the edge of the box, but the ball rebounded back off the woodwork.
England 1-0 Austria
19:59 , Sonia Twigg
13 mins: Austria are just trying to find their feet in this match after going behind early, but a ball through the middle that briefly threatened to be promising was easily gathered by Hampton.
England 1-0 Austria
19:57 , Sonia Twigg
11 mins: Just a quick reminder that Chelsea’s Fran Kirby was injured in the pre-match warm up, after the teams were announced and has been replaced by Ella Toone.
England 1-0 Austria
19:56 , Sonia Twigg
11 mins: England have a corner, but Austria are able to clear their lines this time.
England 1-0 Austria
19:55 , Sonia Twigg
9 mins: Hampton is equal to her first test of the match, it was a lofted free kick into the area and the England goalkeeper jumped high above her defenders to take the catch.
England 1-0 Austria
19:55 , Sonia Twigg
8 mins: England have kept on the pressure and most of the possession, but it was really a goalkeeping error that allowed them to take the early lead.
GOAL! Russo puts the LIonesses ahead – England 1-0 Austria
19:50 , Sonia Twigg
4 mins: GOAL! Beth Mead makes a run down the right and forces the goalkeeper to palm it away, but none of the defenders can clear it or put it behind and Russo is just in the right place to fire the ball home.
England 0-0 Austria
19:48 , Sonia Twigg
2 mins: England have been content to play the ball around so far, but have already got into good areas, led by Alessia Russo who is leading the line for the Lionesses.
England 0-0 Austria
19:46 , Sonia Twigg
1 min: Austria get the game underway after both sets of players took the knee.
England vs Austria
19:41 , Sonia Twigg
After all that build up, kick off is just moments away, but first it’s time for the national anthems.
England vs Austria
19:35 , Sonia Twigg
Karen Carney was saying on ITV commentary that Hannah Hampton is good enough with her feet to play outfield, and that she has done so before for Chelsea in training, it’s always good to get an insider’s insight into young players.
England vs Austria
19:32 , Sonia Twigg
The match will get under way in less than 15 minutes’ time.
England vs Austria
19:25 , Sonia Twigg
Less than half an hour to go now until kick off, and there is an expected crowd of 700 for the match in Spain.
It is a far cry from what the Lionesses have become accustomed to in recent years, but the nature of the match as a friendly and taking place on neutral ground will have had a big affect on ticket sales.
The players have arrived at the stadium
19:15 , Sonia Twigg
Here are some photos of the players arriving at the stadium:
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
Lionesses training
19:00 , Sonia Twigg
Here are some photos from the Lionesses training sessions in Spain:
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)
England team
18:52 , Sonia Twigg
Sarina Wiegman has handed a debut to midfielder Grace Clinton, while Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton starts in place of the England number one and Sports Personality of the Year winner Mary Earps.
Alex Greenwood will captain the side, while Lucy Bronze and Kiera Walsh were among the substitutes.
England team
18:51 , Sonia Twigg
England XI: Hampton, Le Tissier, Charles, Stanway, Morgan, Greenwood, Mead, Clinton, Russo, Kirby, Hemp.
Subs: Carter, Keating, Toone, Wubben-Moy, James, Bronze, Walsh, Daly, Park, Earps, Turner, Beeves-Jones.
England vs Austria
18:40 , Sonia Twigg
The teams will be announced shortly, will Wiegman take the opportunity to rotate her side, or stand by the players who she has built her side around for the last few years?
Sarina Wiegman continued
18:30 , Sonia Twigg
“The issue of injuries is a bigger picture and it’s about the load on the players. The calendar we talk about a lot, that we really have to address the calendar. I spoke up about that last week – we really ask FIFA and UEFA to change things.
“But we are doing a job as good as possible with all the expertise we have in our team and staff. We have a programme and we monitor the players really well.
“You’re in an environment where an injury can happen because it’s a physical sport, but if you can diminish the risk of injuries as much as possible, that’s also what we try to do.”
Sarina Wiegman on the demands on players
18:15 , Sonia Twigg
Asked if club coaches had requested a limit on player minutes amid a three-way Women’s Super League title race and a spate of high-profile injuries, Wiegman said: “Not this time.
“We are in contact with each other all the time, we update each other and of course we know how important the Women’s Super League is too but also the German League for Georgia [Stanway] and the Spanish league for the players who play in Spain at the moment.
“Of course, we want to take care of the players but we want to do lots of things. We play to win but we also have the opportunity now to try out things and also manage minutes. With a busy calendar I think that’s something to be aware of.”
Squad update
18:10 , Sonia Twigg
A small squad update ahead of the game tonight: Aggie Beever-Jones has joined the seniors from the under-23s for the first time.
Sarina Wiegman spoke ahead of the match
18:00 , Sonia Twigg
“This is really the start of our Euros campaign and after the very disappointing result of not qualifying for the play-offs to qualify for the Olympics we moved on,” said Wiegman ahead of the match.
“This is the start, with two friendlies which is really good for us because we can try out some things.
“We are also very close to the Under-23s [also training in Spain] so we can see them, we can connect with them and we get a lot of players that we can see where they are at this moment.
“This is a great start because in April the Nations League starts which are the qualifiers for the Euros.”
Sarina Wiegman insists Lionesses have left previous heartbreak behind them
17:30 , Sonia Twigg
England head coach Sarina Wiegman believes her side have “moved on” from the heartbreak of missing out on Olympic qualification.
The Lionesses face Austria on Friday and Italy next Tuesday in a pair of friendlies which have replaced what they hoped would be Nations League semi-finals.
A 6-0 thrashing of Scotland looked to have secured top spot in Group A1 in December, only for the Netherlands to score twice in added time against Belgium to pip England on goal difference and end Team GB’s hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024.
Leah Williamson out of England squad after injury setback
17:00 , Sonia Twigg
Leah Williamson has withdrawn from her first England women squad since last April due to injury, with Millie Turner called up in place of the Euro 2022-winning captain.
Arsenal described the 26-year-old’s problem as a “minor hamstring injury” ahead of Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United, less than a month after Williamson returned to action for the Gunners following a nine-month recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Leah Williamson out of England squad after injury setback
When is England vs Austria and how can I watch it?
16:30 , Sonia Twigg
England Women are back in action on Friday for the first time since December when they take on Austria in Spain as attention turns towards building a new team capable of winning Euro 2025.
The likes of Mary Earps and Rachel Daly return to a squad with a familiar feel. Head coach Sarina Wiegman has opted not to bring any newcomers into the group for this training camp in Spain.
Is England v Austria on TV? Channel and how to watch the Lionesses
England vs Austria
14:42 , Sonia Twigg
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of England vs Austria, the first of two international friendly matches the Lionesses will play in Spain.
