England host relegated Republic of Ireland at Carrow Road in a crunch UEFA Women’s Euro 2024 Qualifier.
Victory would put England into the two automatic qualification spots ahead of their final qualifier against Sweden, although Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses could go top with a win if France and Sweden draw elsewhere.
Ireland meanwhile have already been relegated to League B regardless of the result.
Team News
Mary Earps is available for England after she missed their win away to France in early June with a hip injury.
Orlando Pride’s goalkeeper, Anna Moorhouse has received her first call-up after Kayla Rendell withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Niamh Charles is also in contention following her recovery from a calf injury which kept her out of both fixtures against France.
Ireland could hand midfielder, Julie-Ann Russell her first appearance since March 2020.
Chloe Mustaki, Tara O’Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Heather Payne and Kyra Carusa are ruled out through injury but Niamh Fahey, Denise O’Sullivan and Marissa Sheva are back in contention.
When is Kick-Off?
England host Republic of Ireland at Carrow Road, Norwich, at 8pm BST on Friday 12 July, live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- England have won all seven previous meetings against Republic of Ireland in all competitions (W7).
- Ireland have lost all three previous away visits to England (L3), during which they conceded 12 goals without reply.
- This is Republic of Ireland’s first competitive trip to England this century.
- 12 of England’s 18 goals in official capped fixtures in 2024 were scored in the first half.
- Ireland have failed to score in six matches across all competitions in 2024 (D1, L5).
Prediction
Right in the mix for automatic qualification, England know that this is a huge opportunity to put their fate in their own hands heading to Sweden, especially if they can play with the same clinical quality and game management as saw away to France.
Ireland meanwhile are already relegated and have a play-off spot as consolation but they have been difficult to break down on the road this year, as France and Sweden discovered with narrow home wins over the Irish.
England therefore know that they are in for a scrap but given that they had a warm-up friendly and training camps over the past month, I fancy them to get a comfortable win and if France draw against the Swedish then the fight for automatic qualification will be epic on the final day.
Prediction: England 2-0 ROI
Result: England 2-1 ROI
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