Foxes Progress To Final UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying Round

LCFC Women
30 Oct 2024
3 Minutes
Every European LCFC Women player to feature in the recent international break has progressed through to the final round of qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 competition.

- Belgium, Scotland and Wales have progressed to the play-off second round of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2025
- Sari Kees, Janice Cayman, Sophie Howard and Hannah Cain all featured 
- Lize Kop, Courtney Nevin, Chantelle Swaby and Emilia Pelgander played in friendly action for their nations
- Ruby Mace saw victory with England Under-23s
- FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup Semi-Final awaits for Nelly Las, Rebekah Dowsett and Simone Sherwood

With domestic action back on the horizon for Leicester City, here's a look back at how players fared on the international stage, starting with those that are competing for a spot at next year's Euros.

Belgium are one side that have made their way to the Play-Offs Second Round after beating Greece 5-0 over two legs, with all the goals coming in the second fixture at King Power at Den Dreef Stadion.

Sari Kees played 90 minutes in the first leg in Greece, with Janice Cayman coming on to make her 152nd appearance for the Red Flames at half-time, before both getting the nod to start in the rematch on Tuesday evening. 

Ella Van Kerkhoven and Tessa Wullaert each scored a brace in the emphatic win which confirms their space in the final round of qualifying, where they'll take on Ukraine during November's fixtures.

Four consecutive clean sheets for Sophie Howard.

Closer to home, Scotland have also made it through to the second round after back-to-back wins against Hungary. Sophie Howard played every minute of football, keeping two clean sheets in the process - that's now four on the bounce for club and country.

Martha Thomas netted the only goal in a 1-0 win before scoring again in the return fixture, which ended 4-0 win at Easter Road Stadium in Edinburgh, meaning Scotland will face Finland in the final qualifying stage.

The last Fox to qualify was Hannah Cain's Wales. After not featuring in the first game against Slovakia, which saw them lose 2-1, the City forward was an extra-time substitute, replacing Southampton's Alice Griffiths as a Ceri Holland goal confirmed their spot in the second round, taking on the Republic of Ireland.

A proud moment for Cain, it was the 25-year-old's first appearance for Wales since a second career ACL injury which she sustained while on international duty a year ago.

Featuring for the Young Lionesses.

Away from EURO qualification action, Ruby Mace got two full games under her belt for the England Under-23s, as a late Netherlands goal saw them draw their first game in Escharen last Friday before seeing victory over Portugal on Tuesday evening as Michelle Agyemang scored late on for Emma Coates' side in Shrewsbury.

Lize Kop, Courtney Nevin, Chantelle Swaby and Emilia Pelgander all featured in a single friendly game for their countries; Kop playing her part in an emphatic 15-0 win for the Netherlands over Indonesia at Stadion De Vijverberg, while City's Australian full-back played 65 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Stadion Letzigrund.

Swaby managed to play a full game for Jamaica last Wednesday evening, but couldn't prevent her side falling to a 3-0 loss to global heavyweights France, who took the win at Stade Auguste-Bonal. Pelgander, meanwhile, started and saw 74 minutes of action for the Sweden Under-23s who were forced to settle for a late draw against the Netherlands after a goal from Ella Peddemors.

City's Academy stars shine at Under-17s World Cup.

The final mention of the break has to go to the England Women's Under-17s, who are currently in the final four of the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup; Academy trio Nelly Las, Rebekah Dowsett and Simone Sherwood all involved in the competition in Dominican Republic.

After winning their first two group stage games, a loss to Korea DPR didn't stop them making it through to the quarter-final stage where they faced Japan. Las played 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw but it was 'keeper Dowsett who would steal the headlines.

Introduced late on in injury time, the shot-stopper saved two of Japan's spot-kicks, paving a way for her side to fire home and etch their name into the semi-finals, where they'll face Spain on Thursday evening (11pm GMT kick-off) for a chance to make history and reach this year's final.

Stay tuned to the LCFC Women's social media channels to see how they get on!