Qualifiers for the Women’s European Championship came to an end on Tuesday, with all teams in action at the same time.
Here’s what happened.
Ireland achieves sensational victory over France
Top scorers: O’Sullivan 66′, Russell 76′, Patten 90′; Becho 79′
Ireland achieved their only win of the qualifying campaign with a sensational 2-1 victory over France
With France already qualified, the Irish team knew they were destined for the play-offs and a place in League B.
Their courageous display against England on Friday must have given Eileen Gleeson’s side a boost as they took an unlikely lead against European giants France thanks to a Denise O’Sullivan goal.
That lead was doubled thanks to Julie-Ann Russell, with her second goal in as many games for Ireland.
France got one back thanks to Vicki Bècho with just over ten minutes remaining, but the Irish managed to score another to seal a famous victory.
Stubborn defense sees England through with draw
England withstood a lackluster 0-0 draw to secure qualification over opponents Sweden.
It was a winner-take-all game, with both teams knowing they would guarantee qualification if they beat the other.
However, one point was enough for England, and most of the game was tense as the score remained on a knife’s edge at 0-0.
Hannah Hampton had to rescue England late in the game when she saved a Filippa Angeldal shot from distance.
This was by no means a classic performance by the Lionesses, but they did enough to get the job done.
Northern Ireland ends with a flourish
Top scorers: Andrews 46′, Wade 67′
Northern Ireland sealed their place in the play-offs with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia Herzegovina.
Both teams had already reached the play-offs before the start of the game and it took until the first minute of the second half for one of them to take the lead.
Northern Ireland’s Casey Howe selflessly set up the ball for Joely Andrews to finish comfortably on his side foot.
It was a welcome step up for Andrews, who hit the post in the first half.
That lead was doubled as Northern Ireland began to pull away from Bosnia, when Lauren Wade scored with a superb finish.
Italy secures qualification with victory over Finland
Top scorers: Beccari 20′, Giugliano 31′
Italy achieved qualification with a straight 2-0 victory over Finland.
Azzurre entered the game knowing that a victory would be enough to qualify and began this task quickly and efficiently.
Chiara Beccari opened the scoring with a header before Roma’s Manuela Giugliano did what she does best to extend Italy’s lead.
Norway x Netherlands
Top scorers: Graham Hansen 61′; Myedema 80′
A late goal from Viv Miedema allowed the Netherlands to progress and qualify for EURO 2025.
The Netherlands only needed to avoid defeat to qualify, but their initial scoring problems stayed with them until the first half.
This was the second game in a row that Andries Jonker’s team failed to register a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes of play, a record that was last repeated in March 2017.
They had to pay for their lack of skill early in the second half when Danish captain Caroline Graham Hansen scored.
A 1-0 lead would not be enough against a team that could name Miedema in the line-up and Manchester City’s new striker equalized to put her team back into the qualifying spot, sending Norway into the playoffs.
Spain restores order after Czech Republic defeat with victory over Belgium
Top scorers: Bonmatí 39′, Teresa 90+1
Spain had already qualified before this match against Belgium, despite their shock defeat to the Czech Republic on Friday.
Meanwhile, Belgium knew they had to improve the Czech Republic’s result to avoid relegation.
Who else would open the scoring just before half-time than Spanish star Aitana Bonmatí?
Finishing strong, Spain scored another in stoppage time from Teresa, from Real Madrid.
Hanson goal enough to give Scotland victory
Top scorers: Hanson 39′
Kirsty Hanson scored the only goal of the game as Scotland beat Serbia.
Both teams had secured a place in the play-offs ahead of tonight’s game, but Scotland knew they could achieve a favorable position in League A if they avoided defeat.
Just before half-time, Kirsty Hanson opened the scoring, appearing at the far post and being the first to receive a loose ball to finish from close range.
Portugal x Malta
Top scorers: Capeta 7′, Ribeiro 28, Silva 86′; Farrugia 16′
Portugal demolished a Maltese team fighting for its life with a 3-1 result.
Francisco Neto’s team had already qualified for the play-offs through League A, but little Malta knew that an unlikely result could see them reach the play-offs as the best fourth-placed team with a win.
Malta reacted to equalize after Ana Capeta’s opening goal, but in truth Portugal had too much quality for that result to stand.
Wales reach the playoffs and Fishlock breaks record
Top scorers: Fishlock 8′, McAteer 27′
Wales reached the EURO 2025 play-offs with a 2-0 victory over Kosovo.
Coach Rhian Wilkinson had one objective before this match: avoid defeat to reach League A in the play-offs.
They started well when Jess Fishlock found the back of the net and in doing so became Wales’ all-time leading goalscorer with 45 goals.
While the first goal was scored by an experienced goalscorer, the second came from Mary McAteer, who finished after Fishlock’s shot bounced off the post.
Germany avenges defeat to Iceland with great victory over Austria
Top scorers: Bühl 11′, Mark 39′, Schüller 53′
Germany responded to a heavy and unusual defeat last Friday with a 3-0 victory over Austria.
Although Germany had already secured their place at EURO 2025, Austria also sealed their fate in terms of a play-off place before kick-off.
However, after their 3-0 defeat to Iceland on Friday night, it was as if Germany had come away with something to prove.
Goals from Klara Bühl and Jule Brand in the first half and a strike from the prolific Lea Schüller early in the second gave Germany a 3-0 lead.
The draw for the play-offs will be held on Friday at 13:00 CET.
