Key events
Thank you for joining me this evening for what was a great match. England hit Scotland for six but the hosts had glimpses of what they could produce – particularly with the introduction of Martha Thomas. Kirby, James, Greenwood, Mead and Bronze all scored to try and keep Team GB’s Olympic hopes alive but in the end it was the Netherlands’ 4-0 result over Belgium that ended the bid. For all the action have a read of the report below:
Lucy Bronze’s celebration when she scored showed she thought it had put England through top of the group. Unfortunately for England, and the rest of Team GB, the Netherlands scored late on to go through. Bronze deserved the goal though, her performance was stellar once again for her country.
It is worth remembering too that Mead was not selected for the delayed 2020 Olympics and so to miss out on qualification where she potentially would have been selected.
England’s Beth Mead has spoken to the BBC and said: “Devastated. We did everything we possibly could on the pitch tonight. Unfortunately it wasn’t in our hands, Netherlands got four goals so fair play to them. We made sure we kept in communication, se we knew what we had to do. We thought we maybe got over the line, that is football. Extra time, late goals. It’s a tough one, I thought we were incredible this camp.”
The other two nations that make up Team GB, Wales and Northern Ireland, were both in action today. Wales drew 0-0 with Germany and Northern Ireland lost 6-1 to the Republic of Ireland.
To take a look back at the game itself, Martha Thomas is surely starting to nail herself into a starting shirt. She was at the heart of the great plays Scotland put together in that second half and she forced Earps into a great save. Napier was also impressive when she came on at half-time.
So the Nations League finals will be played between the Netherlands, France, Germany and Spain. It will only be the two teams who make the final who will qualify for the Olympics.
Bear in mind it won’t only be the England players hurting from the result between the Netherlands and Belgium, Team GB’s qualification is dependant on England’s results and so this means Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland players also will not compete at the Olympics. Tonight England couldn’t have done more, it was a fantastic performance.
Team GB Olympic dream is over
The Netherlands game is over, they have won 4-0. England needed to finish three goals ahead of them to top the group to go through to keep the Olympic bid going but it’s not enough.
Lineth Beerensteyn scored two and Damaris Egurrola slotted two injury time goals to seal top of the group for the Netherlands. What an effort for the Dutch, beating Belgium 4-0 is a top job. It is mindblowing that 6-0 away from home for England isn’t enough. Heartbreak for England.
The Netherlands have scored! They are 4-0 up against Belgium, that means England will not progress. Team GB will not be at the Olympics.
This is such a tense wait for England, Wiegman has come on and told them the Netherlands are 3-0 up. You could see Bronze tell her teammates of the changed scoreboard after she scored. Wow. Without the Bronze goal England would not be topping the group right now. We have two more minutes in the Netherlands game.
Full-time! Scotland 0-6 England
That Bronze goal could have done it, Netherlands are 3-0 up now and so it was needed – they are still playing there. All the analysis to come.
90 + 4 min: The ball comes across and Bronze heads it down, she celebrates. That is what is means!
GOAL! Scotland 0-6 England (Bronze, 90+3)
Oh that is deserved after a cracking performance.
90 + 3 min: Toone is down and England have another free kick, the clock is ticking here. Have England done enough? The set piece comes in but Scotland do well to defend.
90 + 2 min: OH MY WORD. Cuthbert takes a huge shot and Greenwood blocks, Thomas rallies another at goal but Earps makes a great save. Some amazing play from both sides there.
90 min: Gibson has really grown into this game, some of the goals in the first half she couldn’t do anything about but she’s made some great saves in this second half. There will be three minutes added.
89 min: England are threading a lot of possession together and Stanway is fouled, the visitors have a free kick. Greenwood takes it is good again, it hits a defender but Gibson collects once again.
87 min: Stanway makes a great run but captain Corsie blocks and clears, she tracked back so well. England keep coming and Walsh takes a weak shot which Gibson collects.
85 min: Some England defenders are looking slightly tired out there, a note to say England have only made two changes. Wiegman has been criticised for her lack of subs before.
84 min: Thomas is fouled by Greenwood, she hobbles away – something Tottenham fans will not want to be seeing. She is staying on the pitch which is good news, but she looked in pain there. Scotland thread a play together and Harrison almost scores but it sneaks wide.
82 min: England are still plucking away for another goal but Scotland are a much more settled side in this half, they have only conceded one goal in this 45. The visitors are on the prowl though.
80 min: Greenwood takes the set piece but Napier gets a good clearance header and then the referee blows the whistle. Scotland make another change with Hanson off for Harrison.
79 min: Hemp draws a foul in a great position from Brown and England have a free kick in a good position on the right hand side.
78 min: England work it well into the box and they take two quick shots but Toone can’t get a good connection. Thomas tries to create a counter but England quickly win it back and Russo gets a header on a Greenwood cross but Gibson collects.
76 min: Bronze has been going about her business well this evening, she comes up again with a good tackle. Scotland have some belief here, they have had some great play in the last 10 or so minutes, if they score England will not go through as things stand.
74 min: Docherty gets a yellow card for a challenge on Hemp, England take a long range free kick through Greenwood. Howard heads away and England have a corner. Greenwood delivers and it comes to James but her effort is over.
72 min: The game has hit a slight lull now, maybe we have just been treated to some lively football that a slight reprieve seems so quiet. That was almost a huge error from England at the back, what have I been saying about their risky play from the back. A back pass doesn’t reach Earps and Hanson almost pounces, Earps scrambles for it. Wow.
70 min: While Scotland’s attack has improved measurably, England are able to still find pockets of space in their defence. Toone finds her former Manchester United teammate Russo but her effort is over the bar.
68 min: Cuthbert takes it and it’s a great delivery, it meets Thomas and Earps makes a great save and then it is cleared. Scotland look so much brighter with Thomas on the pitch.
67 min: Thomas is immediately in action, she is tackled well in the box but she is able to pop in a cross but it’s well defended. Scotland keep coming, James has a high boot on Napier and the hosts have a free kick.
65 min: Scotland make another change with Thomas on for Emslie and England are making their first changes with Toone and Russo on for Kirby and Mead. Not a bad set of changes from either side there, Thomas having a sensational start to the WSL with Tottenham this season.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
