England made sure not to waste the hard-earned advantage they claimed over Spain in their World Cup qualifying group earlier this week, backing it up with a crucial 1-0 victory over Iceland in a historic fixture for the Lionesses.
The game, which ensured Sarina Wiegman’s side retained top spot and remained on course to automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup, was also notable for being England’s 500th international fixture.
The journey to that first milestone stretches over five decades. An unofficial England team had drawn a crowd of 90,000 at Mexico’s Azteca Stadium during a global women’s football tournament in 1971, but their first officially recognised international match came a year later – a 3-2 win over Scotland in November 1972.
Just months after the lifting of the FA’s 50-year ban on women playing on affiliated grounds, England’s fledgling side stepped out at Ravenscraig Stadium near Glasgow on a freezing afternoon, in front of a crowd of just 400. Yet even in those conditions, the foundations of a legacy were being laid.
Wiegman’s charges may have more modern shirts on their backs, boots on their feet and energy gels in their locker room, but the fundamentals remain unchanged. Against Iceland in Reykjavik, the Lionesses played with the same intensity and joy – particularly after Alessia Russo gave them an early lead – while the near-freezing temperatures and sub-par pitch echoed the conditions of that first match in Scotland in 1972.
For context to Lucy Bronze’s monumental output in this team, the 34-year-old has played just under a third of the Lionesses’ all-time appearances with her 147 caps (29.4 per cent).
England made sure not to waste the hard-earned advantage they claimed over Spain in their World Cup qualifying group earlier this week, backing it up with a crucial 1-0 win
After Russo’s brilliant goal courtesy of a Lauren Hemp assist found the back of the net in the 21st minute, the time ticked nervously on without anything else to show for it
Against Iceland the Lionesses made sure to answer Wiegman’s call to make Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley ‘even more valuable’ by backing it up with another win.
This was all the more necessary after Spain had ruthlessly put five past Ukraine earlier in the day to level the goal difference – which could easily become the decider as to who is sent down to the play-offs if Alexia Putellas and Co manage to get their revenge in the reverse fixture in Mallorca.
Iceland are not to be taken for granted however, and after Russo’s brilliant goal courtesy of a Lauren Hemp assist found the back of the net in the 21st minute, the time ticked nervously on without anything else to show for it. This was despite England having 70 per cent of possession and their 10 shots with four on target heavily outweighing Iceland’s two and nil before the late flurry of action from the hosts.
At the back, Leah Williamson made a return after missing out against Spain due to injury. The England captain’s minutes are being managed and she played just 45 minutes before Lotte Wubben-Moy – who had been harshly dropped in her place – came on at half-time.
Hannah Hampton meanwhile, fresh from another stellar performance earlier in the week, was monumental once again in front of goal as Iceland threatened with a late goal.
The 25-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper came up trumps with a wonderful save with her legs after a match which she could have been forgiven for switching off at the back previously.
Substitutes Jess Park and Beth Mead struggled to make any impact after they were introduced on the hour mark with Wiegman seeking control amid a situation threatening to unravel before her eyes.
But England hung on, as they so often do, and ensured that there wouldn’t be a slip-on-the-ice in Reykjavik.
