International results round-up
After 14 players from Paris Saint-Germain’s women’s team joined up with their respective national teams over the international break, here’s a round-up of how they fared.
CONSTANCE PICAUD / ELISA DE ALMEIDA / SAKINA KARCHAOUI / THINIBA SAMOURA / SANDY BALTIMORE / GRACE GEYORO / MARIE-ANTOINETTE KATOTO - FRANCE
Our French players' international break started with a trip to Newcastle's St James's Park, where they took on England in UEFA Women's EURO 2025 qualifying. After the hosts had opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, Elisa De Almeida got her team back on level terms late in the first half with a splendid volley from a corner, lobbing England keeper Hannah Hampton, before Marie-Antoinette Katoto earned the win for France in the 68th minute with a superb shot on the turn.
The second game between the two sides then took place at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne. Both goalscorers from the reverse fixture as well as Sakina Karchaoui and Grace Geyoro started the match, while Sandy Baltimore came on in added time at the end of the second half, with Les Bleues eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat. Despite that, France remain top of their group with nine points, ahead of Sweden and England, who are both on seven points, as well as the Republic of Ireland, who are yet to pick up a single point.
AMALIE VANGSGAARD - DENMARK
On Friday, Denmark played the first match of a UEFA Women's EURO qualifying double header against Spain, with Amalie Vangsgaard in the starting line-up for what would eventually be a 2-0 defeat. The Paris striker and her teammates weren't able to beat La Roja away from home the following Tuesday either, despite dominating their opponents for much of the match thanks to a brace from Janni Thomsen (4', 72'). Vangsgaard came on as a substitute in the 59th minute and provided an assist for the second goal but couldn't stop her side from letting their lead slip and falling to a 3-2 loss. Denmark now find themselves in second place in their group.
JACKIE GROENEN / LIEKE MARTENS - NETHERLANDS
Immediately after the Netherlands' 1-0 victory over Finland at Rotterdam's Sparta Stadion on Friday, Lieke Martens, who had announced her international retirement a few days earlier, received a heartfelt tribute from her teammates and from the Dutch fans, but it was in Finland on Tuesday that the 32-year-old played the last match of her career for the Leeuwinnen, helping her side to a 1-1 draw. Both she and Jackie Groenen started these two UEFA Women's EURO qualifiers, the results of which have left the Netherlands top of their group with seven points, ahead of Norway, Italy and Finland themselves.
CLARE HUNT - AUSTRALIA
Clare Hunt's Australia had two friendlies against China in their schedule, and the Paris player started both of them. The first match took place last Friday and ended 1-1, but the Matildas would go on to win the second match 2-0 on Monday.
KORBIN ALBERT - UNITED STATES
On Saturday, the USWNT beat South Korea 4-0, a match in which Paris's Korbin Albert came onto the pitch with 20 minutes remaining. Our player then started the second match against the same opponents four days later and helped the Stars and Stripes to a 3-0 victory.
OLIWIA SZPERKOWSKA / PAULINA DUDEK - POLAND
Poland lost twice to Germany in UEFA Women's EURO qualifying. Paulina Dudek, Oliwia Szperkowska and co. were beaten 4-1 away last Friday and 3-1 at home the following Tuesday.