England vs Switzerland LIVE: Grace Clinton gives Lionesses slender win at Bramall Lane
England 1-0 Switzerland: Clinton’s strike ends Lionesses’ year on a high
England ended a ‘tough’ 2024 with a victory as they defeated Switzerland 1-0 at Bramall Lane in an international friendly.
Coming off the back of a 0-0 draw with Emma Hayes’ United States, Sarina Wiegman decided to switch things up and made 10 changes to the starting line-up and handing a debut to Laura Blindkilde Brown. Aggie Beever-Jones also made a first start for the Lionesses and was effective at the top of the pitch.
Elsewhere, Jess Park and Grace Clinton showed off their credential as they look for spots on the plane for next summer’s Euros. Park delivering a fine free kick and Clinton finishing off the move to score the only goal of the game.
In the second half, Switzerland bounced back and created plenty of chances to test Hannah Hampton in between the sticks but the goalkeeper was up to the task and kept a clean sheet. It was far from the dominant display of Wiegman’s early reign but the signs are strong that the new generation can live up to their experienced counterparts.
Relive the action from Wembley with our live blog below as England take on Switzerland:
England 1-0 Switzerland
27 mins: Aggie Beever-Jones has been waiting for her moment to shine for England. She’s leading the line tonight and will want to show what she can do.
The striker leaps for an aerial ball but gives Julia Stierli a shove in the back and the canny defender goes to ground to win her team a free kick.
England 1-0 Switzerland
24 mins: Le Tissier whips a corner ball short to Jess Park who gives it her back with a better angle to drill a cross to the back post. Millie Bright is the target but can’t quite get enough of the ball to turn it towards goal.
England 1-0 Switzerland
21 mins: Beever-Jones is fed the ball after England’s press recovers possession high up the pitch. She can’t find space to shoot but instead manages to pass the ball across to Laura Blindkilde Brown who gives it to Gabby George.
George shoots but curls her left-footed effort wide of the near post.
England 1-0 Switzerland
18 mins: Sarina Wiegman has set England up with two wingbacks and a back three tonight. Gabby George is positioned on the left wing and bombs forward before swinging a cross into the Swiss penalty area.
Maya Le Tissier, the right wingback, receives the ball, brings it down then fires a shot wide of the target.
England 1-0 Switzerland
15 mins: Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic goes on a nice run to get the Swiss up the pitch and gets clattered by Esme Morgon resulting in a free kick for the visitors.
The set piece is sent into the far side of the box and Coumba Sow wins the header. She sends it across goal but can’t find a teammate and England manage to clear.
England 1-0 Switzerland
12 mins: Close! It’s almost two for England after Maya Le Tissier brings the ball down the right side. She slips it into the feet of Jess Park who sends it to Grace Clinton on the edge of the box.
Clinton returns the ball with her first touch and Park threads a pass into the box for Aggie Beever-Jones who is just beaten to the ball by goalkeeper Elivria Herzog who lunges on top of it to stop England doubling their lead.
GOAL! England 1-0 Switzerland (Grace Clinton, 8 mins)
England have the lead! Grace Clinton wins a free kick inside the opponents half and Jess Park steps up to take the set piece. She floats the ball into the penalty area where Millie Turner rises highest and nods the ball at goal.
Her effort strikes the post and rebounds into the middle where Clinton is first to the loose ball. She turns it home with ease and the Lionesses are in front!
England 0-0 Switzerland
7 mins: Millie Bright plays a nice pass into the feet of Laura Blindkilde Brown who spins and laces a pass down the left wing for Gabby George to chase.
It’s a decent effort to get in behind but George can’t keep the ball in play.
England 0-0 Switzerland
6 mins: Sydney Schertenleib receives her first touches of the ball in midfield and is immediately brought down inside her own half. Switzerland play the free kick qucikly and sweep down the right wing before sending in a fine cross.
Grace Clinton tracks back perfectly for England and wins the interception before completing a clearance out of her own box.
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