England vs Austria LIVE: Euro 2022 result, final score and reaction as Beth Mead wins it for Lionesses

Follow all the reaction as the Lionesses begin tournament with win at Old Trafford

England aim to launch women's Euro 2022 in style

Hosts England made a winning start to their Euro 2022 campaign by beating Austria 1-0 in front of a tournament record crowd of 68,871 at Old Trafford.

Beth Mead grabbed the decisive goal in the 16th minute for the Lionesses and although Sarina Wiegman’s team struggled to create clear-cut chances, they will be delighted with the three points.

Austria were on the back foot for much of the game but came close to a leveller in the 78th as England goalkeeper Mary Earps did well to keep out a curling effort from Barbara Dunst.

England’s other Group A rivals, Northern Ireland and Norway will face each other on Thursday in Southampton.

Follow all the reaction from the opening match of Euro 2022 with our live blog below:

Euro 2022 build-up

• FULL-TIME! England 1-0 Austria - Lionesses get Euro 2022 off to winning start
• 16’ - GOAL! Mead dinks the ball home to put Lionesses in front (1-0)
• England XI: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Daly, Stanway, Walsh, Mead, Kirby, Hemp, White
• England ready to harness ‘exciting moment’ as Lionesses go in search of Euro 2022 glory

[6 July 2022 20:41 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

37 mins: Sarina Wiegman is all about ruthlessness in front of goal. England have created more than a few chances to score now and the boss will be a little irked that they’ve only taken one.

Under her charge the Lionesses have tended to come alive in the second half of matches after they’ve made some substitutions.

[6 July 2022 20:38 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

34 mins: Bronze crosses the ball from the right and finds Kirby hovering on the edge of the box. Kirby brings it under control and slides it through the Austrian defence back to Bronze arriving from the wing.

She needs to shoot here but instead tries to find White and her pass gets intercepted.

[6 July 2022 20:36 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

31 mins: Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp have switched side for England. Georgia Stanway drops back and rolls away from a tackle as she collects the ball. She feeds it quickly to Keira Walsh in midfield who passes it up to Fran Kirby.

Kirby slides Mead in on the left side but her cross is blocked and the attack dies down.

[6 July 2022 20:31 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

28 mins: That was unlucky for England. You’d have backed Ellen White to score from that position.

Austria win another corner but can’t get it past Lucy Bronze who heads the set piece clear.

[6 July 2022 20:29 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

26 mins: Chance! Fran Kirby brings the ball down the left side before slipping it inside to Lauren Hemp. Hemp whips a first time cross into the area and perfectly finds Ellen White.

White turns her head onto the ball and fires it over to the back corner but the accuracy is slightly off and it sails wide.

[6 July 2022 20:27 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

24 mins: As expected the momentum is all with England now. Bronze and Mead combine on the right side to carry the ball into the box but she overruns it and takes the ball out of play.

Here’s a look at Beth Mead’s opener:

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

[6 July 2022 20:25 · Michael Jones]

England 1-0 Austria

20 mins: There was a bit of confusion over whether the goal should stand but after a bit of communications between the officials it is confirmed.

Sarina Wiegman faced a difficult choice over her starting XI between Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly on the right side of the front three. She’s gone with Mead tonight and been rewarded almost immediately.

[6 July 2022 20:19 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! England 1-0 Austria (Mead, 16’)⚽️

16 mins: England lead! What a goal this is from the Lionesses. Fran Kirby receives the ball on the inside left and dinks it over the top to pick out Beth Mead in the box. Mead chests the ball under control before lifting it over goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger.

Carina Wenninger attempts to clear the ball and boots it into the crossbar but it’s already crossed the line. The technology confirms it and England’s celebrations begin.

[6 July 2022 20:18 · Michael Jones]

England 0-0 Austria

15 mins: Beth Mead carries the ball down the right before sliding a pass inside to Georgia Stanway. Stanway collects and drives into the box, she shirks away from one defender before drilling it low across the area. None of her teammates can get there and Austria clear the danger.

[6 July 2022 20:15 · Michael Jones]

England 0-0 Austria

12 mins: Close! England are starting to find their attacking rhythm now. Lucy Bronze bombs it down the right side and swings a cross into the middle.

Ellen White takes a nudge in the back as the ball travels over her head. It bounces up for the arriving Lauren Hemp but she can’t find the target with a tricky headed effort.