Summary

  • England retain Arnold Clark Cup with three wins out of three

  • Result: England 6-1 Belgium - Kelly and Williamson score twice, Biesmans turns into her own net and Bronze on scoresheet; Dhont gets consolation for visitors

  • Lionesses extend unbeaten run under Wiegman to 29 matches

  • Kelly finishes tournament top scorer with three goals

  1. Good night!published at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    england celebrate Arnold Clark Cup winImage source, Getty Images

    Well a very successful week for England as they win the Arnold Clark Cup for a second consecutive year.

    Just how exciting are this Lionesses team?

    Granted, England will face much tougher opposition at the World Cup than what they have faced in this tournament but they have laid down a marker for where they want to be come the summer in Australia.

    Have a read of Emma Sanders' match report from Ashton Gate here.

    Thanks for sticking with us through the evening and throughout the tournament.

    Good night!

  2. 'It has been a great week, one I have dreamt of'published at 22:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    England 6-1 Belgium

    England

    Arnold Clark Cup player of the tournament Lauren James speaking on ITV: “It is an amazing feeling with a great group of people and an amazing feeling and I am just happy to be a part of it and hopefully we can make more memories together.

    "It has been a great week, one I have dreamt of and I cant ask for any more. I have still got work to do but I have confidence at the moment and have to continue with that.

    "I want to be at the World Cup I have to keep working hard at the club level and with England as well.

    "This tournament sets us on a good road, but we have to keep looking at each game as it comes and play well at the World Cup in the summer.

    "The fans have been brilliant travelling to each the game the atmosphere has always been good and we appreciate it all and with a great group it has been a nice week."

  3. 'Wiegman is human enough to admit that it was a great goal'published at 22:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    England 6-1 Belgium

    Karen Carney
    Former England midfielder on ITV

    That is what I quite like Sarina Wiegman is not going to say Mary Earps she can do better but she will be disappointed because they wanted a clean sheet but she is human enough to admit that it was a great goal for Belgium.

  4. Postpublished at 22:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    You OK there, Lucy Bronze?

    Lucy BronzeImage source, Getty Images
  5. 'Chloe Kelly has impressed in the second centre-forward role'published at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Karen Carney
    Former England midfielder on ITV

    What I think has really impressed me about Chloe Kelly is the second centre-forward role she has done so well recently. Yes she can hug the touchline and stay wide but she has got herself in the box well and that is why she has got herself the golden boot.

  6. 'That is a strength of the team'published at 22:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Ashton Gate Stadium

    Belgium manager Ives Serneels on England: "When they are good, it is hard to beat them.

    "When they have difficult moments they have players on the bench at the same level. That is a strength of the team."

  7. 'We know we have to step up more'published at 22:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    England

    England manager Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV: "Yes it's very nice to win, it was a good game with lots of goals but we conceded one and we didn't like that but we played well all over the pitch and it was good preparation for the team.

    "Chloe Kelly is in good form, she is very dangerous when we get in the final third she scored two goals, that is good for the team and good for her.

    "There is a lot more to come from Lauren James she is a big talent, very tight on the ball and speed, she needs to get more consistency and fitness to keep the level for 90 minutes but she is getting there and I hope she carries on.

    "I think we are in a good place I thinkn the competition in the team is really strong the depth of the team is really good we still have five months to go the games was good moving forward we have a lot of chats with the team but we know we have to step up more because the World Cup will be more of a challenge."

  8. Postpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    England will face tougher challenges than they have in the past week when it comes to the World Cup.

    But momentum is key and England have gathered bags of that this tournament.

  9. 'The challenges will come in the World Cup'published at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Ian Wright
    Former England striker on ITV4

    The challenges will come in the World Cup. But there were challenges in the Euros I think Spain was a difficult challenge and despite demolishing Norway it was difficult circumstances. During the Euros there was a lot of different situations that England had to deal with and they did that very well.

    There are some mistakes that may be punished against better opposition but we are doing very well right now and they should be full of belief.

  10. 'England's possession based game is horrible to play against'published at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Karen Carney
    Former England midfielder on ITV

    Sarina Wiegman likes to play a possession based game and when the opposition get the ball they are tired. When you are playing against it, it is horrible because your legs go out from under and that is what England want when they have so much of the ball.

  11. 'James fully deserves award'published at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Eniola Aluko
    Former England forward

    A generational talent. You don’t see players like Lauren James come around very often. Such a joy to watch. Impact player, hasn’t played 90 minutes in every game but has definitely made an impact and fully deserves the player-of-the-tournament award.

  12. 'It is special to be part of such an amazing group'published at 22:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    England

    Arnold Clark golden boot winner, Chloe Kelly speaking to ITV: "It is a great feeling, it was great preparation and we are building momentum

    "It is great to win the golden boot but I didn't even realise. I think it is a good achievement but I think the team has been brilliant and we keep moving forward.

    "Well Lucy [Bronze] said I am the tap-in queen so I will take that.

    "It was a great team performance and that is what tonight means.

    "It is very special to be part of an amazing group of staff and players and the performance on the pitch shows how incredible we are and a massive step going forward."

  13. 'There is no weakness in England side'published at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Ian Wright
    Former England striker on ITV4

    I don't think there is a weakness in this side, with Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo we have two different number nines. Georgia Stanway is getting better and better, going to Germany has been brilliant for her. We've got the rocks of Millie Bright and Leah Williamson.

    We've got so much gong for us in this squad we can go to the World Cup knowing we're favourites. We just need to make sure we go out there and be confident because it is going to be tough to beat us.

  14. Postpublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Chloe Kelly has just told ITV that Lucy Bronze has been calling her the "tap-in queen".

    Kelly bagged three goals in the tournament, all of them poachers goals.

    Full quotes to follow.

  15. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Ah, Sweet Caroline.

    The camera pans to show Chloe Kelly absolutely belting it out, will she ever get tired of that song?

  16. England win Arnold Clark Cuppublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    And finally Leah Williamson steps up to take the trophy to her team mates.

    The streamers go off as she lifts it above her head.

    This time last year England lifted that very same trophy before going on to win the European Championships in the summer.

    Will they make it count again this summer?

    England lift Arnold Clark CupImage source, Reuters
  17. Postpublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Ashton Gate Stadium

    The biggest winner from this tournament is undoubtedly Lauren James. For me she HAS to start at the World Cup on current form. She has been outstanding. Nobody could get near her in any of the three matches.

  18. Postpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Lauren James steps up to take her award for Player of the Tournament.

    How exciting is this England side?

    On they come to collect their medals with England's most capped ever player Fara Williams handing them out.

  19. Postpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Chloe Kelly's three goals in the Arnold Clark Cup are enough to earn her the competition's Golden Boot.

    She was absolutely superb this evening.

    Chloe Kelly with trophyImage source, Reuters
  20. Perfect preparationpublished at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2023

    FT: England 6-1 Belgium

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Ashton Gate Stadium

    Even when England win easily, they like to make it hard work for match report writers with that frantic ending!

    The perfect preparation for the World Cup. Another trophy, another dominant tournament and the 29-match unbeaten run rolls on.