She Kicks Magazine
·17 July 2024
She Kicks Magazine
·17 July 2024
Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema and Lineth Beerensteyn celebrate after a goal against hosts Norway. (Ane Frosaker / SPP)
The final round of qualifying group games for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 saw England, Italy and Netherlands book their places in Switzerland next summer.
The draw for two rounds of two-legged play-offs is at 12pm BST on Friday (19 July), with 28 teams battling for the last seven places at the finals. The finals draw itself is on 16 December.
Group 1 – Norway 1-1 Netherlands, Italy 4-0 Finland
Caroline Graham Hansen gave Norway the lead after the hour mark but Vivianne Miedema’s header brought the Dutch level, which was enough to earn automatic qualification. Chiara Beccari, Manuela Giugliano, Michela Cambiaghi and an own-goal saw Italy beat Finland 4-0 to progress to the finals tournament, winning the groip while the Finns were relegated.
Arianna Caruso of Italy celebrates after the match with Finland. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Group 2 – Denmark 2-0 Czechia, Spain 2-0 Belgium
Aitana Bonmatí and a goal by Teresa Abelleira from almost halfway saw an already qualified Spain beat Belgium. Runners-up Denmark relegated Czechia with goals by Signe Bruun and Janni Thomsen.
Group 3 – Sweden 0-0 England, Republic of Ireland 3-1 France
Sweden were unable to find the win they needed in Peter Gerhardsson’s 100th game in charge and they must know bank on qualifying via the play-offs.
Relegated Republic of Ireland signed off with a remarkable victory over France, Denise O’Sullivan and Julie-Ann Russell giving them a 2-0 lead, Vicki Becho replying late on and Anna Patten heading in the hosts’ third.
Group 4 – Poland 0-1 Iceland, Germany 4-0 AustriaAlmost 44,000 fans saw Germany net four against Austria, Jule Brand and Lea Schüller with one apiece, Klara Bühl bagged a brace and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger provided two assists.
Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir got the only goal for Iceland in Poland, the home side ending without a single point.
Jule Brand of Germany celebrates scoring her team’s second goal with teammates. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)
Group 1 – Hungary 1-4 Türkiye, Switzerland 3-0 Azerbaijan
Switzerland saw off Azerbaijan to win the group by six points from Türkiye, two goals in the latter stages making sure of a Swiss win. Three second-half goals ensured the Turks took second spot from Hungary.
Group 2 – Scotland 1-0 Serbia, Israel 2-2 Slovakia
Kirsty Hanson got the only goal of the group decider as Scotland beat Serbia, Israel got off the mark at home to Slovakia but were denied all three points by an 89th-minute equaliser.
Group 3 – Northern Ireland 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina, Portugal 3-1 Malta
Northern Ireland beat off the challenge of Bosnia & Herzegovina for second place, Joely Andrews and Lauren Wade getting second-half goals.
Group winners Portugal were pegged back by Malta’s Maria Farrugia and eventually made certain of the win with a late Jessica Silva goal.
Stephanie Ribeiro (7 Portugal) celebrates her goal against Malta with teammate Ana Capeta. (Pedro Porru / SPP)
Group 4 – Wales 2-0 Kosovo, Ukraine 2-0 Croatia
Jess Fishlock became Wales’ all-time record top scorer with her 45th goal for her country. Mary McAteer got her first, as the Welsh made sure of first place.
Ukraine struck twice in four first-half minutes to defeat Croatia and climb above them into second position.
Group 1 – Belarus 5-0 Cyprus, Lithuania 0-1 Georgia
Belarus celebrated six straight wins with five goals against Cyprus, while Georgia beat Lithuania to second spot with an 88th-minute penalty.
Group 2 – Latvia 2-1 Moldova, Slovenia 4-0 North Macedonia
Slovenia also finished with a perfect record by beating North Macedonia 4-0, going two up in just six minutes. The result allowed Latvia to grab the runners-up spot with victory over Moldova, although they had to wait until eight minutes from time for the decider.
Sara Ketis of Slovenia (R) in action against North Macedonia. (Igor Kupljenik / SPP)
Group 3 – Montenegro 2-3 Greece, Andorra 0-4 Faroe Islands
Greece topped the table by six points from Montenegro, following a dramatic finish. Eleni Kakambouki put the Greeks 3-0 up on 90 minutes but was sent off in-between two penalties by Stadjana Bulatovic.
Group 4 – Romania 3-1 Armenia, Bulgaria 0-0 Kazakhstan
Romania ended on maximum points but conceded for the first time, as Armenia netted a late consolation. Bulgaria’s goalless draw with Kazakhstan was sufficient to see them clinch second place.
Group 5 – Estonia 1-1 Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s point away to Estonia was good enough for them to secure second spot behind table-toppers Albania.