31 January 2024 , 14:23
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The Lionesses have announced their first matches for 2024 with a double-header against Croatia and Italy to prepare for the upcoming 2025 Euro qualifying campaign.
Sarina Wiegman's side will travel to Algeciras in Spain for a warm-weather training camp before playing their two fixtures at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador on 23 and 27 February respectively.
England last played in December with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Scotland in their inaugural Nations League campaign. However, results elsewhere meant that the reigning European champions failed to qualify for the summer's Olympic Games in Paris following their 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in the penultimate game of the campaign.
It was a disappointing follow-up to an historic and exhilarating summer Down Under, in which England reached a first-ever World Cup final, eventually falling to a 1-0 defeat to champions Spain.
The Lionesses Uefa EURO 2025 qualifying campaign is set to begin in April, and a positive start will be crucial to build momentum towards any title defence in Switzerland. The draw for the qualifying campaign will take place in March.
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The England senior squad will also be joined by Emma Coates’ under-23s side. The Young Lionesses will also play two testing fixtures, against Spain and the Netherlands. Coates' side relished an unbeaten 2023 and finished the year with a 1-1 draw against Spain in December.
On the upcoming fixtures, Wiegman said: “This will be our kick-off to get ready for the EURO qualifying campaign beginning in April, so there’s no time to waste in February. Heading to Spain with hopefully warmer weather and great facilities will allow us to maximise every minute together. Playing two games against good opposition in Austria and Italy, should be excellent preparation for another big year ahead.
“They're two good and different opponents who will want to start the year strong too, so it will be important to come together again as a team and use these games to prepare for the qualification matches starting in April.
“We're very proud of our pathway and how our development teams are progressing and I’m really pleased that Emma’s WU23’s squad can travel with us to Spain. It’s not something I have had the opportunity to do during my time here with England and it will bring many opportunities to collaborate together.”
England failed to qualify for the summer's Olympic Games in Paris (PA)Emma Coates added: “The ultimate goal of the England pathway is to develop a crop of players who are ready-made for the senior team. We have a really exciting group of young players coming through our system and this camp will be an incredible experience for our WU23s to get a feel for what the senior environment is like to prepare them for the future.
“Having a camp like this reflects how closely we work with Sarina and her coaching staff. We regularly meet to discuss how our players are developing and who may be ready to make the move across, with the aim of more Young Lionesses becoming senior Lionesses in 2024.”
Tickets for the senior fixtures will go on sale this week.