England 6-0 Northern Ireland: Ellen White hat-trick in Hege Riise’s opener

Ellen White scored a hat-trick when England thrashed Northern Ireland in Hege Riise’s first game as temporary boss for the Lionesses.

White’s superb hat trick, a touch from Lucy Bronze, a close-range shot from Rachel Daly and a penalty from Ella Toone resulted in a resounding victory in England’s first game in nearly 12 months and the first since the coach left. Phil Neville.

And midfielder Jill Scott put in an impressive performance to mark her 150th appearance in England, becoming the second female player to reach that milestone after Fara Williams.

Kenny Shiels’ impoverished Northern Ireland failed to register a shot of any description, but will now focus on the most urgent task of qualifying for next year’s Euro Cup, when they play in the April play-offs.

They had Becky Flaherty to thank for keeping the score low, with the Sheffield United goalkeeper making a series of excellent saves, but the result reflected the 43 places between the sides in the world rankings.

Hege gets his attack wish

Bringing to the plug the gap between Neville and his successor Wiegman, who will take the reins after leading his native Holland in the Olympics, Riise had spoken of trying to bring attack intent to this England team, who had stuttered to just three Neville wins. final nine matches in charge before a long period without matches as a result of the coronavirus pandemic

And the Norwegian legend got precisely what he asked for, with the Lionesses moving the ball quickly from behind to create a flurry of opportunities.

White was the main beneficiary, going to 39 international goals, first capitalizing after the Northern Ireland defense gifted him the ball, nodding in a Bronze cross and then finishing off a pass from Scott, who was given the ball. captain’s armband in his historic 150th match..

Bronze, the 2020 FIFA Best Player, tapped on a low cross from Lauren Hemp before halftime and then rolled the ball for Daly to join in, before rookie Ella Toone scored from the point after Rachel Holloway will take down Chloe Kelly.

England, who were also able to bring in Sandy MacIver, Ebony Salmon and Carlotte Wubben-Moy to debut, have one more friendly, against Canada in April, before a team from Great Britain heads to Japan for the Olympics, though the FA It is yet to name who will lead the team in Tokyo.

Biggest games to come for Northern Ireland

Hege could well be on the coaching staff when it comes to selecting the Team GB squad, although few members of the Northern Ireland team would have made a compelling argument for inclusion based on this game alone.

This result should not detract from the impressive progress Shiel’s team has made, winning the last four group heats at the end of last year to increase the prospect of reaching the European Championship.

The women of Northern Ireland will go to their first major tournament if they can win the April two-legged play-off, against a still unknown opponent, but they will need a stronger performance and a more experienced team to have the best possible chance.

Northern Ireland arrived at St George’s Park with much of their squad unavailable due to injuries and work commitments, with sisters Kirsty and Caitlin McGuinness, starting goalkeeper Jackie Burns and midfielder Demi Vance missing.

That meant there was a place for 16-year-old Ella Haughey on the bench alongside Holloway’s first start at left back and, while Burns’ replacement Flaherty impressed between the sticks, the visitors barely put a glove on England, barely managing to enter. half of the local team.

There were fragments of Shiel’s continued desire to see his team play from behind, but it frequently led to him gifting the ball to England and ultimately a landslide defeat.

Man of the match

WhiteEllen white

North Ireland

1. Squad numbertwoPlayer’s nameBurrows

2. Squad number22Player’s nameWatling

3. Squad number3Player’s nameMcKenna

4. Squad number18Player’s nameMcdaniel

5. Squad numberfifteenPlayer’s nameKelly

6. Squad number14Player’s nameFinnegan

7. Squad number12Player’s nameFlaherty

8. Squad numberelevenPlayer’s nameWade

9. Squad number17Player’s nameHolloway

10. Squad number5Player’s nameNelson

11. Squad number7Player’s nameMcCarron

12. Squad number13Player’s nameMagee

13. Squad number4Player’s nameRobson

14. Squad numbersixteenPlayer’s nameCaldwell

15. Squad number9Player’s nameMagill

16. Squad number8Player’s nameCallaghan

17. Squad number10Player’s nameFurness