Summary

  • FT: England 7-2 Austria - Alessia Russo (2), Beth Mead (2), Grace Clinton, Jess Carter and Rachel Daly on target for Lionesses

  • Clinton was making senior England debut

  • Virginia Kirchberger scores both goals for Austria

  • Lionesses face Italy in second friendly on Tuesday as part of a warm-weather training camp in Marbella

  1. 'Right opportunity for youngsters'published at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on the Women's Football Weekly podcast

    Park dribbles in england training session.Image source, Getty Images

    It's a warm weather training camp, I'm not saying just to give caps to absolutely everyone but I think this is the right opportunity for some of the youngsters to really see and understand and put themselves up against top international teams - and for Sarina to see them as well.

    Something can happen to one of the starting players who normally start and it could be a chance for someone to have a chance of playing for England.

    I think it's important for them to get some minutes, the exposure to international football.

  2. Watch out for Campbellpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    It's been a young player who's provided a lot of Austria's threat in front of goal in recent months.

    Campbell, born in Austria to Northern Irish parents, impressed in the Austrian league and joined German club Freiburg in January.

    She's scored one goal in four Frauen-Bundesliga appearances so far.

    Eileen Campbell stat graphicImage source, Getty Images
  3. A few familiar facespublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    Fans of the Women's Super League might notice a couple of the players in tonight's Austria team.

    In goal is Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger, who has made 93 appearances for her country.

    Liverpool midfielder Marie Hobinger, who joined the Reds in July from FC Zurich, is also in the starting line-up for Austria this evening.

  4. Wiegman speaks to England's youthpublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Estadio Nuevo Mirador

    .Image source, Getty Images

    This week's England camp has been unique because the under-23s have joined the senior squad.

    Sarina Wiegman's side were watching on in the stands as the youngsters lost 3-1 to Spain yesterday at the Marbella Football Center, with a sunny mountain range in the background.

    Manchester City midfielder Ruby Mace, one of the stars of the under-23s' side, told me Wiegman had spoken to them before their game.

    "She came to speak to us and told us the expectations of the first time," said Mace.

    "We’re trying to live up to that and being around the senior team is really good for us. We’re trying to do what they’re doing.

    "Ever since I was young, all I wanted to do was take the steps on the ladder to get there. I just want to keep working hard and hopefully I can reach it one day."

  5. Williamson and Bright miss outpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    England captain Leah Williamson looked set to make her return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and feature in her first camp since April, but another issue has kept her out of the squad.

    The Arsenal defender had to withdraw with a hamstring problem and has been replaced by Manchester United's Millie Turner.

    Millie Bright, who captained England at the World Cup in Williamson's absence, hasn't played a game since November after picking up a knee injury and hasn't returned in time to be a part of this month's camp.

  6. 'Morgan top player' and 'Clinton superb'published at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19: 45 GMT)

    Rehanne Skinner
    West Ham manager on the Women's Football Weekly podcast

    Esme Morgan is someone I have worked with quite a lot through our youth age groups. She's being doing so well at Manchester City. She's such a top player, she's got loads of potential. I'm glad that she's in and around the first team with the Lionesses. They all have to develop and grow.

    Grace Clinton is another one who I think has been superb this season to be honest. She's got loads of talent. I think creativity wise, she's got something a little bit different that continues to grow and progress. She'll be a great asset to England teams moving forward.

  7. 'Have to embrace competitiveness'published at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on the Women's Football Weekly podcast

    I think it's really competitive and I think you have to embrace it and enjoy it. I loved it. We could have conversations and I could learn from them and hopefully they can learn a little from me.

    I think it's really important to have that competitive edge and also to be in the squad and think 'I might have an opportunity here'.

    Sarina's also really good with the conversations on where you are in the squad, what she's looking at, what she wants from you.

    To have that competitiveness is so important for international football to be pushing you every single week and to not be sitting there thinking 'that's my shirt and I'll be in it every week'. You have to retain the shirt and give everything in every game, every minute, every training session, everything.

    That's why I loved international football.

  8. Team news - Clinton debut, Greenwood captainpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    Emma Sanders
    BBC Sport at Estadio Nuevo Mirador

    Sarina Wiegman said she would rotate her England side and she has done that.

    There is a debut for midfielder Grace Clinton, while Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton starts.

    Manchester City centre-back Alex Greenwood captains the side, with Maya Le Tissier alongside her in defence.

    Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones has been called up to the squad from the under-23s with Chloe Kelly absent due to a “minor injury”.

    Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh drop to the bench.

    England XI: Hampton, Le Tissier, Charles, Stanway, Morgan, Greenwood, Mead, Clinton, Russo, Kirby, Hemp.

    Subs: Carter, Keating, Toone, Wubben-Moy, James, Bronze, Walsh, Daly, Park, Earps, Turner, Beeves-Jones.

    England Xi v Austria (friendly)Image source, BBC Sport

    There's some familiar names in the Austria squad with Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger and Liverpool's Marie Hobinger starting.

    Georgia Stanway's Bayern Munich team-mate Sarah Zadrazil starts against her in midfield.

    Austria XI: Zinsberger, Schiechtl, Dunst, Zadrazil, Georgieva, Campbell, Kirchberger, Hobinger, Puntigam, Purtscheller, Naschenweng.

    Subs: Kresche, Pal, D'Angelo, Klein, Pinther, Feiersinger, Billa, Schasching, Hanshaw, Kolb.

    Austria XI v England (friendly)Image source, BBC Sport
  9. Welcomepublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February

    England v Austria (19:45 GMT)

    The Lionesses are back.

    It's time to kick off England's action for 2024 and, beginning with a trip to a warm-weather camp in Spain, they take on Austria this evening.

    It's the first time that Sarina Wiegman's side have played since missing out on qualifying Team GB for the Olympics, and the first of two games this month before Euro 2025 qualification begins in April.

    It's an interesting line-up for England, with Wiegman handing a player a debut and other opportunities being taken to give players chances.

    Let's take a look at how the teams line up in Marbella.

    England Women at Estadio Nuevo MiradorImage source, Getty Images