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England vs Belgium LIVE: Euro 2022 warm-up result, final score and reaction as Lionesses cruise to win

England 3-0 Belgium: Chloe Kelly scored the Lionesses’ first before Rachel Daly and an own goal secured victory

Michael Jones
Thursday 16 June 2022 22:26 BST
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"Houghton just ran out of time" - England boss Wiegman on ex-skipper Euro omission

Chloe Kelly marked her England comeback with her first international goal as the Lionesses beat Belgium 3-0 at Molineux in their first warm-up match ahead of next month’s home Euros.

Having come on at the break for her first international appearance since returning to action from an ACL injury in April, winger Kelly put Sarina Wiegman’s side ahead with a deflected shot in the 62nd minute.

Fellow substitute Rachel Daly added a strike four minutes later to double the lead, and the third then came with seven minutes of normal time remaining when skipper Leah Williamson hit the bar and the ball went in off goalkeeper Nicky Evrard.

It proved a comfortable victory in the end after a first half that had seen the hosts fail to make a breakthrough despite creating a flurry of chances, which included Williamson being denied by a goal-line clearance.

England, playing the day after Wiegman named her final 23-player squad for this summer’s tournament, will now face the Netherlands at Elland Road in eight days and then Switzerland in Zurich before opening their Euros campaign by taking on Austria at Old Trafford on July 6.

Follow reaction after England beat Belgium at Molineux:

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England vs Belgium

England are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Belgium in all competitions, with seven wins and three draws, although two of the last three ended level.

England’s last defeat to Belgium came back in May 1980, losing 2-1 in a friendly.

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:40
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Duke of Cambridge hails trailblazing England Women ahead of Euros

The Duke of Cambridge hailed England Women as “trailblazers” as he wished them luck for this summer’s home Euros during a visit to St George’s Park.

Having dropped in on a Lionesses training session at the Burton-upon-Trent base on Wednesday afternoon, Prince William observed some drills – and briefly took part in shooting practice – before speaking to the players as a group.

And he said: “It’s a big tournament coming up for you, it’s exciting and everyone’s looking forward to it. You are all trailblazers for women’s sport and women’s football.”

Duke of Cambridge hails trailblazing England Women ahead of Euros

Prince William dropped in on a Lionesses training session at Burton-upon-Trent

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:35
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Royal well wishes

Earlier this week the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, visited the Lionesses training camp at St. George’s Park to wish Sarina Wiegman’s squad well ahead of their Euro 2022 campaign.

The Duke then took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the visit writing: “Wishing the very best of luck to the Lionesses ahead of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.

“A major tournament on home soil is an exciting prospect and it’s clear the players are looking forward to the opportunity to show what they can do.

“This squad is already inspiring the next generation of women and girls to play football, reaping the mental and physical benefits of activity. With an exciting summer of football ahead, the whole nation will be cheering you on!”

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:30
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Wiegman close to knowing best XI

England women’s boss Sarina Wiegman says she is close knowing who makes her strongest starting XI but that these three warm-up games are an opportunity for individuals to stake their case to play.

“This team is really competitive so we have some hard choices to make. That is another reason as to why we play these three games,” she added.

“Players need to keep performing. When you play a really good game now you have opportunities. It’s about knowing where the players are and looking at how we can make other scenarios work.

"We still want to do some things in our style of play. We have different opponents in front of us. Chloe Kelly, for example, has been in the squad for the first time so it is really nice to see what she can bring to the team.

"I don’t want to share all of it but we will take it step by step."

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:25
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Euro 2022 warm-up

England have been training at St. George’s Park this month in preparation for their upcoming Euro 2022 campaign and with the tournament being played on home soil the Lionesses will be one of the pre-competition favourites.

Manager Sarina Wiegman hopes to use their upcoming friendlies to perfect their style of play and find a preferred starting XI for the Euros.

The Lionesses kick-off the tournament at Old Trafford against Austria on 6th July.

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:20
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Where the Lionesses come from

Sarina Wiegman’s Euro 2022 squad come from all over England from Lucy Bronze in Northumberland to Alessia Russo in Maidstone.

Is this the group that will lift the Euros trophy for England?

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:15
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England’s Women’s Euros 2022 squad - full list

Steph Houghton has been left out of England’s final 23-player squad for this summer’s home Euros.

Lucy Staniforth, Katie Zelem, Niamh Charles and Sandy MacIver are the others from the provisional 28-strong group omitted by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman.

Houghton, England’s captain at their last three major tournaments, has not played since January due to an Achilles issue, for which she underwent surgery in February.

Jill Scott and Fran Kirby are two out of action towards the end of the season to get the nod from Wiegman, who named Leah Williamson as her skipper for the tournament in April.

The news comes on the eve of England’s first of three warm-up matches, against Belgium at Molineux - the team then play Holland at Elland Road and Switzerland in Zurich before opening the tournament by taking on Austria at Old Trafford on 6 July.

England’s Women’s Euros squad - full list

Sarina Wiegman has selected her 23-player squad for this summer’s tournament

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:10
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England vs Belgium

England host Belgium at Molineux tonight and will look to get back up to match fitness in time for Euro 2022 which starts in July. What will Sarina Wiegman’s starting XI look like this evening?

Will she take the opportunity to look at some players on the fringes or will she pick her strongest line-up and look to fine tune England’s performance?

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:05
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England kick off final preparations for Euro 2022

England’s Lionesses get the final preparations for Euro 2022 underway with an international friendly against Belgium tonight before two further warm-up games against the Netherlands and Switzerland later this month.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman will be hoping to use these three matches to fine tune her formations and personnel after selecting the 23-player squad for the tournament yesterday. The big headline news is that former Lionesses’ captain Steph Houghton hasn’t made the squad after she failed to fully recover from an Achilles injury.

Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver, defender Niamh Charles and midfielders Lucy Staniforth and Katie Zelem were also cut from the provisional squad.

The Lionesses are 11 games unbeaten under Wiegman and head into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the trophy on especially with the competition being played on home soil.

Leah Williamson will captain the side but first up are three warm-up matches. Can the Lionesses build some pre-tournament momentum and beat Belgium tonight?

Michael Jones16 June 2022 18:00

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