England Women vs Austria Women. Women's European Championship Group A.
Old TraffordAttendance68,871.
Match report as England win their opening game of Euro 2022 with a 1-0 win; 68,871 fans packed out Old Trafford in what was a record attendance for a Women's Euros match; Austria had two chances late on but forced saves from Mary Earps
Thursday 7 July 2022 07:20, UK
England began their much-anticipated Euro 2022 campaign with a 1-0 win against Austria at Old Trafford thanks to Beth Mead's first-half lob.
It was hardly the convincing performance the Lionesses had produced in their warm-up fixtures, but it was a case of job done as they came away with three points from what could have been a banana-skin fixture.
But Mead's goal did not come easy. She collected a fine Georgia Stanway pass and as her Arsenal team-mate Manuela Zinsberger came out to meet her, Mead lifted the ball over the goalkeeper.
Carina Wenninger was there to hack the ball off the line, but one look at her watch and referee Marta Huerta de Aza gave the goal. VAR did also check the decision, but again, the goal stood.
It made a change from the friendlies, with England scoring in the first half and not hugely improved in the second, where they had blown away their opponents over the last few weeks.
But it was hopefully a nerve-settling victory in front of 68,871 fans - a record attendance for a Women's Euros match - as England top Group A ahead of Norway vs Northern Ireland on Thursday evening at St Mary's.
Much like the Lionesses' friendlies, the first half had been littered with chances - although at least on this occasion, they did score a goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Inside 11 minutes, England had two gilt-edged chances. Ellen White - who saw a number of opportunities pass her by in the first half - saw her header loop into the hands of Zinsberger. Seconds later, Lauren Hemp made a late run to the back post, but her header zoomed over the crossbar.
After Mead gave England a dramatic lead, White again nodded wide on a couple of occasions, letting out a frustrated roar as the half continued to the break.
Austria could have levelled just before half-time. Millie Bright half cleared Barbara Dunst's cross to Laura Feiersinger, but Mead got back just in time to see the Austrian's volley fly wide.
The second half took a little while to find a rhythm, even as both sets of fans roared their teams on. Fran Kirby drew a save from Zinsberger in the pick of the half chances, seeing Sarina Wiegman introduce Alessia Russo, Ella Toone and Chole Kelly just after the hour.
Both Toone and Kelly had their chances too. Some kind Austria deflections saw an unmarked Toone open inside the area, but a slip saw the ball wriggle wide. Kelly then also sent a powerful effort fizzing past the post.
In the final 10 minutes, Mary Earps was finally called into action and stood up to the test. Dunst forced her to push a curling effort away, before denying Nicole Billa. Celebrated as a goal by the England fans, Earps drank in the adulation before immediately getting back into position.
Her saves kept England edged ahead and ultimately, off to a winning start at Euro 2022.
England manager Sarina Wiegman:
"It was an incredible occasion. There are no more words. Unbelievable. Playing here at Old Trafford, with 70,000 people making lots of noise, getting behind us, it was really incredible and I hope they keep coming, which they will.
"We were a little rushed in (the) final third. We did create lots of chances, but the final touch or the choice on the ball to shoot or to cross or take on someone, we can do that better. But the most important thing was that we scored one, kept a clean sheet, which was nice, and got the three points.
"In the huddle after the match I said it was a good win and congratulations for the first win in the tournament. This start is so important, it gives such a boost to the team and the crowd so that was very important.
"We had some very good moments in the game, we should have scored more, but we also had some hard moments which we got through, which was good. We had a couple of phases in the game. We started not great, then we got control of the game and pushed them back to their half.
"That made it very compact, very physical and well organised. We did well, we kept the ball moving, we found Keira (Walsh) a lot then we scored the goal, it was a really good goal, it would have helped to sore the second goal straight after.
"I did think the changes had an impact. It says something about Austria, they did well too but I do think when they came on, we had a big chance. After that, there was counter attack with Chloe Kelly where we could have got more out of it. Again, it shows the depth of the team.
"Norway will be a very hard opponent, just as Austria were hard too. We just want to play our best game. We had too many phases, what we really take from today is that at some point we could keep the ball, be calmer and then start to control. You don't want to be in transition all the time, then it's a running game and you want to be a football game."
England and Austria are back in action on Monday. The Lionesses will face Norway at the Amex Stadium (kick-off 8pm) while Austria take on Northern Ireland at St Mary's (kick-off 5pm).
Group A will conclude on Friday July 15. England will face fellow home nation Northern Ireland in Southampton with Austria playing Norway at the Amex Stadium. Both games will kick off at 8pm.
Keep up with all the latest from Euro 2022 across Sky Sports and Sky Sports News this summer.
Coverage will be anchored by Sky Sports WSL presenter Caroline Barker, alongside Jessica Creighton and Kyle Walker. Meanwhile, Karen Carney, Sue Smith, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Laura Bassett will give analysis throughout the tournament.
They will also be joined by experienced England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and Manchester City defender Esme Morgan.
The pundits and presenters will work from the Sky Sports Women's Euro 2022 Mobile Presentation Bus, which will follow the Sky Sports News team around the country to the various stadiums where matches are being played.
In addition, Sky Sports' Essential Football Podcast will be rebranded for the tournament to Sky Sports Women's Euros Podcast from 21 June. Hosted by Charlotte Marsh and Anton Toloui, it will feature exclusive news and player interviews in addition to a strong programme line up around the tournament.
Group A: England, Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland
Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland
Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland
Group stage
Wednesday July 6
Group A: England vs Austria - kick off 8pm, Old Trafford
Thursday July 7
Group A: Norway vs Northern Ireland - kick off 8pm, St Mary's
Friday July 8
Group B: Spain vs Finland - kick off 5pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Germany vs Denmark - kick off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Saturday July 9
Group C: Portugal vs Switzerland - kick off 5pm, Leigh Sports Village
Group C: Netherlands vs Sweden - kick off 8pm, Bramall Lane
Sunday July 10
Group D: Belgium vs Iceland - kick off 5pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Group D: France vs Italy - kick off 8pm, New York Stadium
Monday July 11
Group A: Austria vs Northern Ireland - kick off 5pm, St Mary's
Group A: England v Norway - kick off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Tuesday July 12
Group B: Denmark vs Finland - kick off 5pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Germany vs Spain - kick off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Wednesday July 13
Group C: Sweden vs Switzerland - kick off 5pm, Bramall Lane
Group C: Netherlands v Portugal - kick off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village
Thursday July 14
Group D: Italy vs Iceland - kick off 5pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Group D: France vs Belgium - kick off 8pm, New York Stadium
Friday July 15
Group A: Northern Ireland v England - kick off 8pm, St Mary's
Group A: Austria vs Norway - kick off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Saturday July 16
Group B: Finland vs Germany - kick off 8pm, Stadium MK
Group B: Denmark vs Spain - kick off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Sunday July 17
Group C: Switzerland vs Netherlands - kick off 5pm, Bramall Lane
Group C: Sweden vs Portugal - kick off 5pm, Leigh Sports Village
Monday July 18
Group D: Iceland vs France - kick off 8pm, New York Stadium
Group D: Italy vs Belgium - kick off 8pm, Manchester City Academy Stadium
Knockout phase
Quarter-finals
Wednesday July 20
Quarter-final 1: Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B - kick off 8pm, Brighton and Hove Community Stadium
Thursday July 21
Quarter-final 2: Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A - kick off 8pm, London Community Stadium
Friday July 22
Quarter-final 3: Winners Group C v Runners-up Group D - kick off 8pm, Leigh Sports Village
Quarter-final 4: Winners Group D v Runners-up Group C - kick off 8pm, New York Stadium
Semi-finals
Tuesday July 26
Semi-final 1: Winners quarter-final 1 v Winners quarter-final 3 - kick off 8pm, Bramall Lane
Wednesday July 27
Semi-final 2: Winners quarter-final 2 v Winners quarter-final 4 - kick-off 8pm, Stadium MK
Final
Sunday July 31
Winners semi-final 1 v Winners semi-final 2 - kick off 5pm, Wembley
