Sarina Wiegman’s team now needs just one point from their next qualifier against Austria in September to seal their place in next year’s Australia and New Zealand, but even defeat in that game would only let them beat Luxembourg in their last match. for progress. Having scored 10 goals in each of their three away qualifiers before traveling to a crowded Windsor Park, the Lionesses found their hosts much more persistent and were able to overtake Jacqueline Burns only once before halftime, when Hemp finished close. released over her. They found life easier after halftime as the home side began to tire, with Ella Toone coming out unmarked to catch England’s 10th goal seven minutes into the second half and soon it was three when Hemp added a second after the rounding of the Burns. Picture: Lauren Hemp scored in both halves to raise her international tally to six for the Lionesses Stanway then scored the first of a nine-minute double with a simple finish after a good work from Toone on the left, before completing the score with a half volley around Sarah McFadden nesting in the bottom corner. The defeat of the hosts, combined with the victory of the second Austria with 8-0 over Latvia, means that they can no longer qualify for the finals due to their lower record between them.
England shows clinical contact in the second period
Coach Sarina Wiegman described England’s performance as “mature” in one of the toughest atmospheres they have played in recent years, in front of almost 16,000 fans in Belfast. Just as home-side vocal support may have persisted, so did the hosts in the first 45 minutes where England enjoyed more than 80 per cent possession, but at times found themselves weak by their stoic five. Patience proved to be as important as quality for the Lionesses, who once again maintained their intensity and received their fair rewards as Northern Ireland struggled to keep up. The second of the visitors owed something to luck with Hemp’s air kick that served as the perfect dummy for Toone to enter and finish, and their third likewise when Leah Williamson’s slide-rule pass was cut by McFadden but fell kindly for Hemp to round Burns. and scores. By now, the hosts were showing real signs of fatigue, as Toone had room to turn in from the left and make an informal run into the box for Stanway to score. It was a similar story for the fifth, with Hemp’s knockdown converted at home by the Man City midfielder under a tired challenge from McFadden. “It was a very mature performance in a great atmosphere and a great occasion,” Wiegman told BBC Sport. “In the first half we wanted to be a little more clinical, we created a lot of opportunities, but when you win 5-0 in the second half we kept going, they got tired and the score is very good.”
Shiels describes female footballers as ‘more emotional than men’ in controversial reaction
Northern Ireland coach Kenny Shiels has made a controversial comparison between men’s and women’s football in post-match comments, calling the latter “the most emotional sport” when discussing his side’s performance – although none of England’s goals was no closer than nine minutes. He is quoted as saying: “In the women’s game I have noticed that when a team concedes a goal they concede a second in a very short time, across the spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men. “So, they get a goal that is not going very well.”
Analysis: England’s extra dynamism behind the big win
Former Everton and Liverpool striker Courtney Switman-Kirk told Sky Sports: “It was not great in the first half, they could have been more dynamic, but the praise for Northern Ireland was beneficial and made it difficult, so England could not find the venues at first. “He was much better in the second half, he was clinical in front of goal and the movement was much better. It’s the job done for England, it’s the best way to put it. “I think Lauren Hemp was incredibly impressive, not only with her goals, but also with her assists and the way she drew England in the second half. Ella Toone was also very good, now England play with two 10s, they had a great game, especially the way he scored the fourth goal. “Being tough and determined in your defense and making life difficult for a better team is something you have to do and the question for Northern Ireland is if it can do that in a longer period of time in a game.”
What follows for England and Northern Ireland?
The women of England are next in action in June as they play two friendlies in preparation for the Euro which starts in July. Sarina Wiegman’s team plays Belgium on June 16 and the Netherlands on June 24, before the tournament’s opening match against Austria on July 6. Northern Ireland, which shares the same group with England in the Euro, starts its tournament with Norway on July 7.
