England’s women ended the 2012 season on a positive note with a 2-2 draw against France in Paris on Saturday night.The result will be tinged with slight disappointment however as Hope Powell’s team let a 2-0 lead slip when in line to cause an upset against the fourth best team in the world. There are however plenty of positives for the Lionesses’ to take forward as they begin their preparations for the 2013 European Championships.

England had to weather early French form as the home side came out firing with goalkeeper Karen Bardsley being kept particularly busy The match turned on it’s head however as Arsenal’s Steph Houghton scored a brilliant goal from a free kick. Jill Scott then doubled the lead before half time as she headed in from Rachel Yankey’s cross.

France came out for the second half pushing hard to get back into the game as Marie Delie pounced on a weak Toni Duggan back pass to halve the deficit just before the hour. As the weather worsened a French equaliser looked increasingly likely as England endured a nervous final half-hour with some desperate last-ditch defending.

Bardsley again denied the dangerous Le Sommer before making way for substitute keeper Siobhan Chamberlain. Chamberlain will be disappointed that she was beaten by Delie’s lob from inside the area with just eight minutes remaining to salvage a draw for the hosts and frustrate England who will feel they missed a brilliant chance to cause an upset.

England Coach Hope Powell stressed the positives after the game: ”France are a really good side and are highly ranked. We didn’t play particularly well in the first half but scored two goals. We actually played better in the second half but gave them two goals. It’s good to give players experience and most of them gave a really good account of themselves.”

England and France now await the Euro 2013 draw which takes place in Sweden on Friday 9 November.

Beth Shine, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine