Sarina Wiegman promised an experimental side and backed up those words with ten changes from Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the USA. Ruby Mace and Laura Blinkilde-Brown were handed senior debuts, with Millie Bright the only player to keep her place from the outing at Wembley.
Switzerland made two changes from their 6-0 defeat against Germany, with Lara Marti and Meriame Terchoun replacing Nadine Riesen and Alisha Lehmann. Pia Sundhage’s side were without the experience of Lia Walti and Ramona Bachmann, as well as the talented Naomi Luyet.
Grace Clinton’s early tap-in was enough for the Lionesses to end the calendar year with a 1-0 win over Switzerland at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane.
The Lineups
ENG: Hampton; George, Turner, Bright, Morgan, Le Tissier; Clinton, Mace; Blinkilde-Brown, Beever-Jones, Park
SWI: Herzog; Stierli, Calligaris, Maritz; Marti, Schertenleib, Vallotto, Beney; Terchoun, Crnogorcevic
The Action
A youthful and experimental England side controlled possession but were shy in front of goal on a positive night for Sarina Wiegman’s side against the Euro 2025 hosts.
Clinton netted for the third time in Lionesses colours on just her fifth senior cap, as the creative midfielder reminded Wiegman of her flair on the ball and eye for goal on an impressive night in the Steel City.
England’s changes in personnel also saw the Lionesses revert to a back five, matching Switzerland’s shape and using the occasion to test some new ideas. Clinton partnered Ruby Mace in midfield, and the Manchester United midfielder put England in front after just eight minutes. Millie Turner headed Jess Park’s deep free-kick onto the post, and Clinton was alive for the close-range finish; her third goal in just five England appearances.
Park was involved again moments after the restart, slipping a pass into the box for Aggie Beever-Jones only for Elvira Herzog to race off her line and smother the ball.
Wing-backs Maya Le Tissier and Gabby George both missed the target with efforts inside the penalty area, as Wiegman’s changed side strutted their stuff against the Swiss, who on Friday had been thrashed 6-0 by Germany in Zurich.
Park’s movement in attacking midfield afforded her ample time and space in which to dictate play, and the 23-year-old dragged a shot wide from range as England continued to restrict Pia Sundhage’s side to any kind of foothold in the game.
Herzog saved routinely from Le Tissier after Clinton’s shot was blocked, before a rare counter-attack for the away side saw Sydney Schertenleib force Hannah Hampton into a simple stop from distance.
Switzerland dropped into a very compact 5-4-1 as England were made to work to create chances at the end of a one-sided first half that had heralded just the one goal.
The Lionesses looked to up the ante with the half-time introduction of Alessia Russo and the striker was involved immediately, heading wide from George’s inviting cross.
Switzerland’s best chance fell ten minutes into the second half, Hampton saving well from Iman Beney after some sloppy defending allowed the Young Boys striker to get in behind.
It was then the turn of Herzog to pull off an impressive stop down to her right to deny Laura Blinkilde-Brown a debut goal. Clinton was in space on the edge of the box from the resulting corner, and volleyed wide.
Substitute Nadine Reisen could only muster a tame effort for Hampton to save, as further changes for England saw Beth Mead introduced at left wing-back and Keira Walsh anchor the midfield.
Switzerland were able to find more joy in attack against a defence that was somewhat learning on the job as a unit, and Hampton pulled off an acrobatic stop to tip Meriame Touchon’s effort over the crossbar.
Georgia Stanway found the side-netting in injury time after being played in behind by Mead, before rattling the far post just seconds later with a vicious effort.
England were able to put the defensive blunders that had crept in during October’s fixtures behind them, and held onto their 1-0 lead to complete an international break without a goal against their name.
The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Grace Clinton
Perhaps the headline gave it away, but the Manchester United midfielder looks set to continue knocking on Sarina Wiegman’s door for a place in England’s starting lineup. She exudes confidence, and already has found the net with ease in the infancy of her international career. The question is, can Marc Skinner get the best out of her at United now?
