England vs Austria Friendly Preview

England commence UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 preparations with a friendly against Austria at Estadio Nuevo Mirador. 

This friendly is the first of two friendlies as England prepare for the newly-revamped UEFA Euro 2025 qualifiers which commence this spring.

 

Team News

Leah Williamson isn’t part of the England squad after she withdrew last weekend with a hamstring injury, which led Manchester United’s Millie Turner to be called up in her place.

Austria have a strong squad with only Chiara D’Angelo replacing Michela Croatto in the team for this international window.

 

When is Kick-Off?

England face Austria at Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, Spain, in a friendly on neutral territory on Friday 23 February at 8:45pm CET (7:45pm UK Time), live on ITV1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• England have won each of their last seven meetings against Austria in all competitions without conceding (W7), during which they scored 18 goals.
• This is Austria’s first match against England to be played on neutral territory in all competitions.
• England have conceded just one goal in their eight previous meetings against Austria in all competitions.
• In three previous matches against Austria under Sarina Wiegman, all four of England’s goals have been scored by a different player (Ellen White, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Nikita Parris.
• Lucy Bronze has scored in each of England’s last two matches not played on home soil.
• Eileen Campbell has scored in two of Austria’s last three matches in all competitions, with the Austrians winning on both occasions.

 

Prediction

Despite suffering the cruel heartbreak of failing to secure Olympics qualification amidst a ruthless 6-0 demolition over Scotland in their final Nations League match, England must now use that pain to kick on in these friendlies ahead of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers this year.

Austria meanwhile also suffered the same fate in their Nations League A of missing out on an Olympics spot but they did struggle to handle France, which will be a concern for them because they comfortably beat Norway and Portugal but lacked firepower to beat top opposition.

Throw in their poor record against England and you have to feel that this will be a friendly of experimentation and learning for Austria, although they have ran the Lionesses close in recent matches so should at least pose a tough test to break down defensively.

Prediction: England 2-0 Austria

Result: England 7-2 Austria