England 1-1 Norway: Lionesses complete 2022 unbeaten despite Eli Roebuck’s error

Rachel Daly played as a left back during Euro 2022

England manager Sarina Wiegmann hailed her side’s “amazing” 2022 after their 1-1 draw with Norway.

Rachel Daly put England ahead but Norway – reduced to 10 men – equalized through Frida Maanum after a mistake by goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

This result means England, crowned European champions on home soil this summer, will finish the year unbeaten.

“If you had said this was going to happen between last September and now, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Wiegman said.

After that friendly in Murcia, Spain, the Lionesses are unbeaten in 26 games since Wiegmann took over as head coach in September 2021.

The Dutch manager told ITV4: “This week three players made their debut, a lot of players have logged minutes now. We take a lot from this and all year.

“You hope for things, but this is really amazing.”

Daley took his chance forward

Dali’s opener came after 33 minutes in Spain

Daley played at left-back in England’s Euro 2022 victory, but here he was given a long-awaited start up front in the position he plays at club level for Aston Villa.

This decision was partly out of necessity, with Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Meade absent due to family circumstances, while Lauren Hamp and Fran Kirby withdrew from the squad last week.

However, Daley created a selection headache for manager Wiegmann with her energetic performance, illustrated on 16 minutes when she pounced on a Norway cross. Goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen’s clearance bounced off the striker and rolled narrowly wide.

Daley got her deserved goal in the 33rd minute, thanks in no small part to Chloe Kelly, whose deep cross was perfect for her to slot past a flat-footed Mikalsen.

She told ITV4 after the game: “I love the number nine position but I love football, I tell everyone, I’m happy to play anywhere.

“It’s special to wear the number nine shirt, it was the number my dad wore when he played, so more special.

“But I’m always prepared for both positions, I can’t focus on just one. It’s good to have this role.”

Wigman, meanwhile, played down England’s many options up front, saying: “We’ve got a lot of players for the number nine role.

“We saw Alessia [Russo] coming off an injury, but she also did a great job. When Ebony [Salmon] played, she did great there and when Lauren James played, she did great. So we have a lot of options.”

While Daley impressed when moved out of defence, Maia le Tissier stood out at right-back on her senior international debut in a defense that has now conceded just twice in its last six games.

The Manchester United full-back produced a crucial challenge inside the opening two minutes after Emily Haavi had saved a shot at the near post from Roebuck and looked at home with the Lionesses to continue a superb few months following her summer move from Brighton.

A story made despite Roebuck’s mistake

Ellie Roebuck replaced incumbent Mary Earps in Murcia

The 3,000-seat Pinatar Arena in Murcia was not the most conducive environment to end the year in England, but nothing should be taken away from a truly historic 12 months for the Lionesses.

What looked like a controlled performance and victory was lost with 11 minutes remaining, however, as reserve guard Roebuck, deployed with regular starter Mary Earps on the bench, wiped out her notebook with a horrendous error.

She raced out of her goal to clear a long pass but missed the rebound to allow Arsenal midfielder Maanum to race through and into an empty net.

Wiegmann said of Roebuck’s error after the game: “It’s disappointing. It also happens sometimes when it’s the goalkeeper, so it’s a goal. It’s a shame. As a team you have to recognize that and you have to try to score another goal. “

It was a disappointing end to the evening for England’s young side. With Le Tissier and Roebuck given chances, seven of the starting XI were aged 25 or under. Only Daley was over 30.

Ultimately, this performance fell well short of arguably England’s most impressive display of 2022, their 8-0 demolition of Norway at the Euros. The Norwegians are now under the management of former Lionesses and Team GB coach Hege Riese and have improved since that embarrassing defeat.

They troubled England all night, even without the injured Ada Hegerberg and Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, who announced in August that she would be taking a break from international duty due to heart problems.

They were left behind on 72 minutes when Anja Sonstevold was shown a rare friendly red card after two fouls on Nikita Paris, but then equalized through a mistake by Roebuck.

Nevertheless, while this England performance never reached the levels seen at the Euros, it provided a satisfying end to a year Lionesses fans could only dream of before.

Compositions

England

4-3-3 formation

13 Roe deer

2Le Tissier5Bright6Greenwood3Charles

8Tune4Walsh10James

7Paris9Daly11Kelly

• 13 Roe deer
• 2Le Tissier
• 5Bright Subbed in for Morgana at 45 minutes
• 6 Greenwood Replaced by Rusoat 63 mins
• 3 Charles
• 8Toone
• 4Walsh Substituted for Zelema 45 minutes
• 10James replaced by Stanway on 45 minutes
• 7 Paris Substituted for Robinson in the 83rd minute
• 9 Daily
• 11 Kelly

Substitutes

• 1Earps
• 12 Stanway
• 14 Land
• 15 Morgan
• 17 Salmon
• 18 Park
• 19 Rousseau
• 20 Robinson
• 21MacIver
• 22 George

Norway

3-4-3 formation

23 Mikalsen

10Bjelde5Bergsvand16Harviken

7Engen 9Naalsund 11Reyten 2Sønstevold

14Eikeland22Haug25Haavi

• 23 Mikalsen
• 10Bjelde Substituted for Thorisdóttirat 73 minutes
• 5Bergswand
• 16 Harviken
• 7Engen
• 9Naalsund Substituted for Maanumat 61 minutes
• 11 Raiten
• 2SønstevoldBooked at 72min
• 14Eikeland Replaced Bøe Risaat 73 minutes
• 22 Haug
• 25 Haavi Substituted for Blaxstadat 45 minutes

Substitutes

• 1Pettersen
• 3 Thorisdottir
• 4 Sørbo
• 6 Bragstad
• 8Bøe Risa
• 12 Skoglund
• 13Ildhusøy
• 15 Hørte
• 17 Blakstad
• 18 Maanum
• 19Terland
• 20 Bratberg Lund
• 21 Jossendal
• 24 Sævik

Judge: Zuzana Valentova

Audience: 3,000

Live text

1. End of match, England 1, Norway 1.

2. End of second half, England 1, Norway 1.

3. Missed attempt. Alessia Russo (England) header from the center of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ella Tune with a cross.

4. The attempt has been blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. With help from Alessia Russo.

5. Katie Zelem (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

6. Foul by Guro Raiten (Norway).

7. The attempt has been blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. With help from Georgia Stanway.

8. Foul by Chloe Kelly (England).

9. Maria Thorisdottir (Norway) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. Ambush, England. Chloe Kelly tries a cross but Rachel Daly is caught in an ambush.

11. Shift, England. Katie Robinson replaces Nikita Paris.

12. Niamh Charles (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.

13. Foul by Maria Thorisdottir (Norway).

14. The attempt has been blocked. Katie Zelem (England) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

15. Target! England 1, Norway 1. Frida Maanum (Norway) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the center of the goal.

16. Missed attempt. Georgia Stanway (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.

17. Angle, England. Conceded by Maria Thorisdottir.

18. The attempt has been blocked. Chloe Kelly (England) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. With help from Alessia Russo.

19. The attempt has been blocked. Frida Maanum (Norway) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

20. Maya Le Tissier (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.