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63 min: It’s a double change for Iceland as Emilía Ásgeirsdóttir replaces Hermannsdóttir and Vilhjálmsdóttir makes way for Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir.
61 min: Big chance for Iceland! Jónsdóttir sends a cross into the England box, it takes a deflection and falls to Jessen, who heads the ball towards the top-left corner, forcing a heroic save from Hampton!
The England goalkeeper has not had too much to do in this match, but that was a huge moment.
58 min: James goes for a curled shot from the edge of the box, but her effort is saved.
56 min: England are pressing very high now as they search for that all-important second goal. James, Hemp and Stanway have all come close.
53 min: Brilliant defending from Iceland as James and Stanway have shots blocked in quick succession before Hemp gets her effort saved.
51 min: England break forward again as James sends a cross into the box from the left. Russo flicks it on to Bronze, who arrives at the back post to volley the ball towards goal, but her attempt flies just over the crossbar!
The England full-back could have already scored a hat-trick in this match!
49 min: Hemp receives the ball on the edge of the box, quickly shifts it to the side and sends a deep cross to Stanway at the back post, but the midfielder can’t quite control it.
46 min: England made no changes at the break. But for Iceland, María Grós has replaced Eiríksdóttir.
Kick-off: England 1-0 Iceland
We’re back under way at the City Ground!
A bit of half-time reading before the second half starts…
England could not have asked for much more from that first half – aside from perhaps a few more goals. It’s been a great half, particularly from Lauren James and Lucy Bronze. Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp have also been positive. The Lionesses have not had much to do defensively, but they can’t be complacent. In order to qualify for the World Cup at the first time of asking, they must top the group – and to do that, they have to win these games.
Half-time: England 1-0 Iceland
England lead at the break thanks to Lucy Bronze’s 22nd-minute header.
45 min: Stanway makes a run forward through the middle before setting a pass to Hemp on the left side of the box. The winger cuts inside before curling an effort towards the back post, but it flies just over the crossbar.
44 min: England go on the attack as Williamson sends a brilliant pass through to Russo, but the striker is flagged offside.
43 min: Heiðarsdóttir steps up to take the free kick but sends the ball straight to Hampton.
42 min: Iceland have a free kick on the right following a foul on Vilhjálmsdóttir from James…
39 min: Big chance for James as the forward cuts inside from the left and plays a one-two with Russo on the edge of the box. After receiving the ball back she unleashes a powerful shot and forces a good save from Rúnarsdóttir at the bottom-left corner.
37 min: Russo squares the ball across the six-yard box to an area where Hemp and Bronze are waiting. It takes a deflection and bobbles up before Hemp gets a touch on it and somehow the effort does not hit the target.
33 min: James goes to ground following a challenge from Antonsdóttir in midfield. Replays show it was actually quite a nasty one, with the midfielder’s studs scraping down her achilles. Nothing is given and the England forward appears to be fine.
32 min: Bronze comes close again! A corner is sent to the back post and, once again, the full-back is first to it. This time, her headed effort hits the post.
She then goes close with another header just a few moments later. Could we see a Bronze hat-trick today? I wouldn’t rule it out!
29 min: The central defensive duo of Williamson and Morgan are not giving the Iceland attackers a chance. Although the visitors are not sitting back like Ukraine did the other day, they have not really been allowed to attack.
Tom Garry
Lauren James is enjoying this half. She’s being afforded plenty of space by Iceland, generously, and England are trying to get the ball out to her quickly, at every opportunity.
25 min: This has been a great first half for England. They have caused numerous problems for their opponents so far, especially through James and Hemp.
23 min: James, who has been causing plenty of problems for Iceland on the left side, sends a perfect cross to Bronze in the box, who gets above everyone else to head the ball into the top-right corner!
That’s her 22nd goal for the Lionesses.
GOAL! England 1-0 Iceland (Lucy Bronze, 22)
Bronze marks her 145th appearance with a goal! Brilliant from the England legend!
20 min: A corner is sent into the box. Bronze is left completely free and the ball drops to her. The full-back goes straight for the volley and rifles the shot wide of the post. What a goal that would’ve been if it hit the target.
18 min: Huge chance for England! A cross is sent to Hemp in the box and the winger looks to aim for the corner, but she rattles the post with her effort! By far the best chance of the match so far. The Lionesses are dominating in these early stages.
17 min: A free kick is sent deep into the Iceland box by Stanway. Bronze looks to head the ball towards goal but it’s a bit too high for her and runs behind for a goal kick.
Tom Garry
It did not take long for the England fans to sing a rendition of Tequila, by American rock and roll band The Champs, but with ‘Sarina’ substituted in for the song’s title lyric. It is one they enjoyed throughout last summer’s Euros in Switzerland.
14 min: Looking back at that penalty shout from Hemp, there did look like there was a pull on her arm. Nothing given, though.
13 min: Hemp sends a perfect cross to Russo in the box, who times the run well before going for the volley from close range, but the contact isn’t quite enough and Rúnarsdóttir can save.
12 min: Russo wins the ball from Viggósdóttir before cutting inside and drilling a pass across the face of goal. Hemp goes for it but can’t get the contact, although she feels that she is pulled and appeals for a penalty.
10 min: A cross is sent deep to James at the back post by Williamson, but the forward’s header bounces before hitting the side netting. A positive start for the Lionesses.
9 min: Russo pounces on a loose ball that runs back to Viggósdóttir in the box, but she can’t quite get the shot away.
7 min: James receives the ball on the left, cuts inside and fires a long ball across the pitch to Bronze on the other side. The full-back can’t quite keep it in, however.
4 min: Iceland have approached this match very differently to the way Ukraine approached it on Tuesday. Ukraine were happy to sit back and absorb pressure, while Iceland have so far been eager to press high and challenge the Lionesses.
1 min: It looks like England are starting with Hemp on the right, James on the left and Park in the middle. We could see a few changes though, with Hemp possibly moving over to the other side and James perhaps coming inside.
Kick-off
Russo gets the match under way at the City Ground.
Before kick-off, there is a minute’s applause to celebrate the life and legacy of Lynda Hale, who passed away recently.
Hale played and scored in England’s first-ever fixture.
The teams are out. The national anthems have been sung. Kick-off is just a few moments away!
You may have noticed that Alex Greenwood is not in the England line-up again today. She withdrew from the squad earlier this week with a minor muscle injury. The defender has now returned to Manchester City to continue her recovery.
While we wait for kick-off, be sure to subscribe to the Moving the Goalposts newsletter for exclusives, updates, and all the latest women’s football news to your inbox twice a week.
Sarina Wiegman is expecting a “very tough” game for England against Iceland today. Ahead of the match, she said: “They are a very strong team. They are very disciplined, very physical and very direct with a lot of pace. We have seen some of their earlier performances, specifically against Spain, so we know they are very tough to beat. We think we will have the ball a lot, but it will also be very hard to break down their defence.
“We know it is going to be a very tough game. They have some very dangerous attacks. They are tough to beat and we will have to be at our top level.”
Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park all scored twice as England cruised to a 6-1 win over Ukraine on Tuesday. You can recap the action with Tom Garry’s report:
Lucy Bronze will make her 145th England appearance this afternoon, taking her up to third in the nation’s all-time appearance list. She now only sits behind Jill Scott (161) and Fara Williams (172) for caps achieved.
Lucy Bronze and Lauren James return to the England starting line-up this afternoon, with Esme Morgan also replacing Lotte Wubben-Moy in defence. A very strong XI from Sarina Wiegman.
Team news
England starting line-up: Hannah Hampton; Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Esme Morgan, Taylor Hinds; Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway; Jess Park, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp; Alessia Russo.
Substitutes: Anna Moorhouse, Ellie Roebuck, Maya Le Tissier, Lucia Kendall, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Poppy Pattinson, Chloe Kelly, Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Jess Carter, Freya Godfrey.
Iceland starting line-up: Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir; Guðrún Arnardóttir, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, Sædís Rún Heiðarsdóttir; Ída Marín Hermannsdóttir, Hildur Antonsdóttir, Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir; Hlín Eiríksdóttir, Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, Sandra María Jessen.
Substitutes: Telma Ívarsdóttir, Fanney Inga Birkisdóttir, Berglind Ágústsdóttir, Emilía Kiær Ásgeirsdóttir, Karitas Tómasdóttir, Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir, Diljá Ýr Zomers, Birta Georgsdóttir, María Catharína Ólafsdóttir Grós, Thelma Pálmadóttir, Hafrún Rakel Halldórsdóttir, Elín Helena Karlsdóttir.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to coverage of the Women’s World Cup qualifier between England and Iceland. It’s matchday two on the road to Brazil and the Lionesses go into it as the leaders of Group A3.
England got their qualifying campaign off to a flying start on Tuesday with a 6-1 win over Ukraine thanks to goals from Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park. Meanwhile, Iceland suffered a 3-0 loss to reigning world champions Spain.
Sarina Wiegman expects a “tough game” at the City Ground this afternoon as the Lionesses look to keep their place at the top.
Kick-off for this one is at 12:30pm GMT – join me!
