Goals from Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway on a rainy Norfolk night put England right back in the mix for European Qualification.

Alessia Russo scored after just four minutes, rounding Courtney Brosnan and tapping the ball home, before Georgia Stanway emphatically smashed home a second half penalty to seal a big win for the Lionesses, who sit second in the group, ahead of Sweden, but two points behind France in first.

Julie Russell pulled one back for France in the final second, registering Ireland’s first goal of their Qualification Campaign.

France beat Sweden 2-1, setting up a tense final matchday, as England travel to Sweden, and France take on Ireland on Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland are bottom, without a win and without a goal in a dismal qualifying campaign so far. England sat third before kick off, after an up and down qualifying campaign.

Two goals in six minutes back in April from Lauren James and Alex Greenwood gave England their first win in the group, with a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Sarina Wiegman started Hannah Hampton in goal, and handed North Walsham’s own Lauren Hemp a start at the ground closest to where England’s wing wizard grew up.

FA Cup winner Maya Le Tissier also got her start ahead of Lucy Bronze at right back, alongside fellow Manchester player, Jess Park, with the Cityzens’ attacking starlet in the lineup.

Ireland handed starts to Barclays Women’s Super League WSL regulars Anna Patten, Jess Ziu and Aoife Mannion under the lights at Carrow Road.

ENG: Hampton (GK), Le Tissier, Williamson (C), Greenwood, Carter, Walsh, Stanway, Park, Mead, Russo, Hemp.

IRE: Brosnan (GK), Mannion, Mary-Hayes, Fahey, Patten, Murphy, Littlejohn, Barrett, Agg, O’Sullivan, Ziu.

In the driving rain of Norfolk, England got the game underway in front of an expectant crowd, who inside a minute let out a chorus of “Football’s Coming Home”, with the One England feel to it that Alessia Russo described ahead of the Men’s European Championship Final on Sunday.

England popped the ball about nicely early doors, ensuring all players got a feel of it early on.

The hosts took the lead inside four minutes. Georgia Stanway recieved the ball and burst forward, playing it into Beth Mead, who put an inch perfect first time ball through to Alessia Russo, who rounded the Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, before firing into an empty net to give England the dream start.

Stanway was at the heart of it moments later too, once again driving through the midfield which was as absent as the sun in an English summertime, before getting caught in two minds as her ball trickled through to Brosnan.

The next sequence must’ve left everyone with an England persuasion wondering how they didn’t score, as Maya Le Tissier, well forward from right back drove the ball into Russo, who played it round the corner for Lauren Hemp but Courtney Brosnan kept the hometown hero at bay.

The ball eventually worked it’s way to Jess Carter, who was shut down just enough by Ireland full back, Anna Patten to prevent the Chelsea defender from getting a cleaner connection.

Ireland managed to weather the early England storm and had their first run down the flank with Emily Murphy bursting forward, but her cross was met with a distinct lack of green shirts so was an easy collect for Hannah Hampton in the England goal.

England seemed to leave themselves lopsided when the Irish did come forward and were it not for a brilliant Alex Greenwood interception, Jess Ziu may have picked out Denise O’Sullivan who seemed to have the freedom of Norwich on the Irish left.

Hannah Hampton then took a big risk on the slippery turf, taking a rather heavy touch which fortunately evaded any Irish touch and spared the Chelsea stopper’s blushes, who did almighty well to rescue the situation.

Five minutes before the half, Ireland had their first corner, which was whipped in by Ruesha Littlejohn, but the Portuguese referee, Catarina Campos blew for a foul in the area and a free kick to England.

The referee brought an end to the action at a rain soaked Carrow Road, as England had failed to build on their early goal, going in only 1-0 up.

England readied two changes at half time, with Chelsea duo Millie Bright and Niamh Charles replaced Leah Williamson and Jess Carter. Ireland also shuffled their pack twice, bringing on Leanne Kiernan in place of Amber Barrett and Julie-Ann Russell replacing Emily Murphy.

England were once again so close to a second, with Jess Park curling a beautiful ball in behind the Ireland defence which was a touch ahead of Russo, who strained every sinue to get there, but couldn’t quite connect with the pearler of a pass.

Ireland got themselves in a right tangle on the 55th minute, with Courtney Brosnan underhitting the pass, Niamh Fahey dawdled on it and Hemp nipped in and was hauled to the ground, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Georgia Stanway stepped up and did what Georgia Stanway does from the spot, emphatically sending Brosnan the wrong way and finally giving England that clear daylight.

As we ticked into the final half hour, Chloe Kelly was introduced for Beth Mead, who had suffered a nasty collision with the advertising hoardings moments earlier. Thankfully, the Arsenal winger looked okay to continue.

Lauren Hemp would’ve been desperate for a goal contribution on her return to Norwich, this time standing up a delicious cross but it was headed away by the Ireland defence.

Jess Park was flowing with confidence tonight, picking the ball up just inside the left hand channel and unleashing a dipping effort that in the end was an easy hold for Brosnan in the Ireland goal.

Russo was then withdrawn to a standing ovation from the crowd, with Jessica Naz of Tottenham Hotspur coming on for her senior England debut.

Naz’s introduction saw her take up the centre forward role, but will interchange inplay with Lauren Hemp.

Kiera Walsh and Niamh Charles exchanged some neat interplay, with the former clipping a ball into the area and onto the head of Chloe Kelly, who’s header looped into the arms of Courtney Brosnan.

England then introduced their second debutant of the night, as Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones was brought on to replace Lauren Hemp.

Ireland threw a cat amongst the pigeons late on however, as Julie Russell hooked home with the final kick of the game, to get Ireland’s first goal of the qualification process.

England kicked off after the goal; with the full time whistle instantly blowing, ahead of a tense final matchday.