England has thrashed Scotland 6-0 but it was not enough to keep alive Team GB’s dreams of a Paris Olympics berth after late drama saw the Netherlands pip the Lionesses to top spot in their Nations League group.
Key points:
- Both the Netherlands and England finished with 12 points
- The Netherlands beat out England via superior goal difference
- The two finalists of the inaugural Nations League tournament earn berths at the Paris Olympics
Lucy Bronze scored a last-gasp goal for the World Cup runner-up, who briefly celebrated at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, believing it was enough to win Group A1 and move into the Nations League semifinals.
But the Netherlands’ Damaris Egurrola netted twice in added time as the Dutch beat Belgium 4-0 to clinch top spot.
Both countries finished with 12 points but the Netherlands edged England on goal difference 8-7.
“Obviously devastated to lose out on such small margins,” England’s Beth Mead told the BBC.
“We got the goals later on, we thought we’d maybe got over the line, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be,” she added.
“It’s a tough one. I think the girls have worked really hard. I thought we were incredible. Unfortunately it was out of our hands.”
England came from behind to beat the Netherlands 3-2 last week in a must-win match to set up Wednesday’s AEDT thrilling finale.
Lauren James scored two in the first half less than two minutes apart, while Mead netted in her first start with England in more than a year due to a knee injury.
Alex Greenwood and Fran Kirby also scored for the Lionesses who were ruthless in their quest for goals, retrieving the ball from the net with no celebration to run back to the centre circle after each one.
England goal keeper Mary Earps, who was “gutted” after conceding twice against the Netherlands, made a spectacular last-gasp save before Bronze added England’s sixth with her head in the 93rd minute, pumping both fists in celebration.
Yet the celebration soon turned to sadness.
The two finalists of the inaugural Nations League tournament — or top three if Olympic host France are one of the finalists — earn berths in the Paris Games.
Germany’s 0-0 draw with Wales on Wednesday AEDT was enough to clinch top spot in its group and move on to the February 23-28 four-team knockout round.
France and Spain both finished on top of their respective groups.
Reuters
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