Germany crash back to earth
Germany beat England 4-3 at Wembley but then went on to lose 2-1 to Australia at home. A stunning first international goal from Kyra Cooney-Cross, who collected the ball just inside the German half before spotting goalkeeper Stina Johannes off her line and sweeping the ball over her, drew Australia level after Selina Cerci had given the hosts the lead. Alex Popp had been withdrawn in the 15th minute with Germany leading, making an emotional exit after her decision to retire from international football. It would not be as romantic an end for her as they would have hoped though, with Clare Hunt scoring her first international goal to give the visiting team the win.
England’s Bronze pleads for patience
Lucy Bronze suggested fans need to be patient with England as they make changes and look to evolve, following the team’s battling 2-1 win over South Africa and 4-3 loss to Germany in back-to-back friendlies. “We’re trying to evolve as an England team,” she said. “We can’t just keep doing the same things we did two years ago, five years ago, 10 years ago. The game is different now. If you make a small mistake or someone steps out, it just leads to a domino effect. These are the games to make those mistakes, get it right and build on them.”
Scotland aim for ‘another level’
Scotland set up a Euro playoff final showdown with Finland after a 5-0 aggregate win over Hungary. The Scots took a 1-0 first-leg lead into the game at Easter Road, and sealed the tie with an own goal from Lauren Brzykcy, which was added to by Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir and Martha Thomas against the team ranked 23 places below them. The manager, Pedro Martínez Losa, said we had seen the “best version of a lot of players” afterwards, while Cuthbert told BBC Scotland that she believes they “still have another level” to reach as a team.
Italy grab chance as Spain rest players
Italy secured an impressive draw with Spain, Chiara Beccari’s 88th-minute goal cancelling out Alba Redondo’s effort two minutes earlier. There were a number of notable absences for the world champions, with manager Montse Tomé needing to introduce Redondo, Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle and Athenea del Castillo from the bench to earn the draw. Aitana Bonmatí, who collected her second consecutive Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday night, was omitted from the Spain squad for this international window to give her a rest.
Euro 2025 hosts record big win over France
A Ramona Bachmann penalty and Naomi Luyet goal either side of Odette Kelly Gago’s effort gave Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland a big win over France. There were lots of changes for the French, who earned a 3-0 win over Jamaica on Friday with Kadidiatou Diani, Grace Geyoro, Sandy Baltimore, Clara Matéo on the bench, Eugénie Le Sommer absent from the match-day squad and Selma Bacha, Ève Périsset, Griedge Mbock Bathy and Marie-Antoinette Katoto among those missing in this international window for various reasons.
Northern Ireland keep on dreaming
An equaliser in the 92nd minute in the first leg against Croatia to level things at 1-1 had given Tanya Oxtoby’s Northern Ireland hope of a place in the playoff finals. It wasn’t pretty, and they had to wait until deep into extra time to make the breakthrough at home, but the goal that would set up a tricky playoff final tie against Norway (who earned a 14-0 aggregate win over Albania) arrived in the 114th minute courtesy of Lauren Wade. “In the years to come, we’ll just know the result. No one is going to care about the performance,” said the captain, Simone Magill.
Headaches and joy as Wales march on
“I have a pounding headache but I’m thrilled. I have nothing to complain about after that,” said the Wales manager, Rhian Wilkinson, to Match of the Day Wales after a winner in the 112th minute of extra time ensured Wales progress to a playoff final against the Republic of Ireland with a 3-2 aggregate win over Slovakia. Talismanic forward Jess Fishlock had pulled Wales level in the tie and Ceri Holland’s goal, which was awarded after a lengthy VAR review, the home team having twice seen goals disallowed already, was enough.
Republic of Ireland set up Wales tie
For the Republic of Ireland, a 3-0 defeat of Georgia at the Tallaght Stadium was added to a 6-0 away win to give Ireland a resounding 9-0 win on aggregate. It took just three minutes for Julie-Ann Russell to open the scoring. The 33-year-old, who watched the World Cup from the sofa after the birth of her daughter, Rosie, scored her third in four games for Eileen Gleeson’s side, before Kyra Carusa and Katie McCabe added to the total.
USWNT repeat their trick
Three goals in the second half helped Emma Hayes’s USA side come from a goal down against Iceland to secure a second 3-1 win over the team in three days. There were three different names on the scoresheet for the Americans, who play Argentina on Wednesday night in their final friendly of the window. Hayes has promised to rest those players competing in final games of the NWSL regular season, apart from Rose Lavelle, who will play 45 minutes and collect her 100th cap, having achieved the milestone in the summer.
