England vs Spain LIVE: Euro 2022 result and final score as Georgia Stanway screamer settles thriller
England 2-1 Spain (1-1 after normal time): The Lionesses were minutes away from a heart-breaking defeat but Ella Toone scored a dramatic equaliser before Stanway’s rocket fired the hosts into the last four
England completed a thrilling comeback over Spain to advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2022 as Georgia Stanway’s wonder-strike sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory after extra time. The Lionesses will face either Sweden or Belgium in the last four after they were minutes from crashing out of their home tournament.
After a cagey first half, Spain struck first as substitute Athenea Del Castillo beat Rachel Daly to set up Esther Gonzalez, who took advantage of some sloppy England defending to open the scoring.
England had yet to trail at the Euros and Wiegman threw on Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone in hope of an equaliser. Lauren Hemp was denied what looked to be a penalty after being tripped by Ona Batlle in the box, before Toone made a priceless impact.
The midfielder picked up Russo’s knockdown in the box to fire England level in the 84th minute, just as the Lionesses were facing a heart-breaking elimination, and it forced extra time. Spain stood off Stanway and the midfielder hit an unstoppable shot past Sandro Panos on a memorable night in Brighton.
Relive the action below as the Lionesses advanced to the Euro 2022 semi-finals:
Ellen White can change the way women’s football is thought about, Kelly Smith claims
A record-breaking Euro 2022 from Ellen White would ignite a paradigm shift in the perception of women’s football, says former England star Kelly Smith.
White can match Wayne Rooney’s 53-goal England record as early as Wednesday if she nets in the their quarter-final clash with Spain.
The Manchester City striker surpassed Smith’s 46-goal tally in November to become the Lionesses’ all-time top scorer and edged ever closer to Rooney’s total with a brace in England’s 8-0 group stage rout of Norway.
While White herself prefers to redirect attention to her Group A-topping squad’s collective efforts, Smith, who won 117 caps for England, was more than willing to wax lyrical about the self-effacing Lionesses lynchpin.
Ellen White can change the way women’s football is thought about, Kelly Smith claims
White could tie Wayne Rooney’s record goal tally in England’s quarter-final with Spain on Wednesday
England vs Spain
England have won seven of their last eight matches at the Women’s European Championships (one loss), as many as they’d won in their first 23 games in the competition (three draws, 13 defeats).
The Lionesses have netted more goals at Euro 2022 (14) than they have in any previous edition of the competition (previous highest was 12 goals in 2009). England have alsomwon both of their previous Women’s European Championship matches at the quarter-final stage, winning 3-2 vs Finland in 2009 and 1-0 against France in 2017.
Spain, meanwhile, have lost both of their matches at this stage of the competition – both in the last two tournaments, 1-3 vs Norway in 2013 and a penalty shootout defeat to Austria in 2017.
Martens out of Euros
Looking forward to the Netherlands’ quarter-final against France on Saturday Dutch midfielder Lieke Martens’ tournament has been brought to a premature conclusion by a foot injury.
The 29-year-old Paris St Germain summer signing sustained the problem during Sunday’s 4-1 Group C win over Switzerland.
Head coach Mark Parsons told the Oranje’s official website: “This is terrible news for Lieke and for us. She has fully committed herself to the team during this tournament.
“It is very unfortunate that her European Championship has to end like this.”
Sarina Wiegman to return for England vs Spain after negative Covid Test
Sarina Wiegman is fit to return to the sidelines for England’s Euro 2022 quarter-final with Spain on Wednesday night.
The Lionesses head coach missed Friday’s 5-0 group-stage victory over Northern Ireland at St Mary’s following a positive test, with assistant Arjan Veurink taking the lead from the dugout, has been watching training from a distance with a mask on.
But following a negative test she will be back as England look to book a place in the last four at the Amex Stadium
Sarina Wiegman to return for England vs Spain after negative Covid Test
The Lionesses head coach will be back on the sidelines in Brighton
Wiegman back on touch line
England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, missed the lionesses final group game against Northern Ireland due to testing positive for Covid-19.
She has since observed training sessions from afar and worn a mask to keep potential transmissions to a minimum.
It is now confirmed that Wiegman has returned had a negative Covid test and will be able to manage from the dugout during tonight’s quarter-final.
How can Hemp improve her decision-making?
“Well, I think it’s quite hard,” replied the 21-year-old when the question was put to her. “Just getting that experience in games. You’re obviously never going to be in the same situation twice so it is obviously hard to make a split-second decision but I think the more games I play, the more it’s going to come and obviously the older I get, hopefully I’ll become more consistent.
“And then practising it in training at the end of sessions. Grabbing Ellen [White] and people like that, who I link with on the pitch and have good connections with. Whether it’s running down the line, crossing the ball and getting it in the right areas, things like that.
“It is hard to work on your decision-making when you only get seconds to think about it in the game so I think with experience it’ll come.”
Hemp outlines areas of improvement
Lauren Hemp may be one of the best wingers on display at Euro 2022 but she knows that she can still improve on her recent performances.
She said: “I think one of the main things to improve is my decision-making, whether that is cutting on the inside, going on the outside, shooting, crossing, driving at a player, things like that.
“Obviously when you get the ball and everyone comes towards you, it’s that split-second decision and what you’re going to do on the ball, so that is one of the massive things I’ve been working on this year.
“I think with the decision-making then comes becoming more consistent with goals, the assists, and things like that. Hopefully that’ll show in my stats.
“But also my right foot. That’s another one of the many things I’d like to improve. There’s a lot of little things and now it is a case of putting that together.”
England vs Spain
England have never lost against Spain when facing them in their home country. In seven games they’v won four and drawn three while they have also won four of the five such meetings that have taken place this century.
Spain are the opponent that England last failed to win against, with their 0-0 draw in February being the final result before Sarina Wiegman’s side embarked on nine-game winning streak.
Indeed, Spain are the only side that England have failed to score against in their 16 games under Wiegman.
England forced to change training session times in wake of heatwave
England had to adjust the timing of their training sessions ahead of their Euro 2022 quarter-final due to the heatwave sweeping the country.
The Met Office has forecast that temperatures early in the week could reach as high as 40C.
And the start times for the Lionesses’ sessions on Monday and Tuesday at their tournament base in Teddington, south-west London, were brought forward to 10.30am, around an hour earlier than originally scheduled.
The team are preparing to play against Spain in the quarter-finals at Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Group stage matches involving Sweden and the Netherlands on Sunday included cooling breaks midway through each half due to the temperatures in England.
England forced to change training session times in wake of heatwave
The Met Office has forecast that temperatures early in the week could reach as high as 40C
Spain to play their own game against England
Spain captain Irene Paredes has insisted her side must play their own game as they attempt to find a way past free-scoring England.
La Roja have dominated possession during the group stage, but struggled to convert it into goals, managing just five in their three Group B fixtures.
However, Paredes said: “I don’t think we need to adapt our game to England and we won’t. The best thing we can do is play our game, try and keep our possession – attack is the best form of defence for us.
“Any player would love to be involved here tomorrow, we will give it everything. We haven’t stopped talking about it over the last couple of days.”
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