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51 min: Iceland are looking much more dangerous this half. They’ve had a number of set piece opportunities, but have failed to really test Hampton thus far.
49 min: Iceland win another set piece. Sædís Heiðarsdóttir whips a free kick in and Hannah Hampton catches the ball.
46 min: Sveindís Jónsdóttir causes problems with her long throw. The ball bounces around in the box before England clear it out for a corner.
Second half
Iceland get us going again. Lotte Wubben-Moy is on for Leah Williamson.
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Half time: Iceland 0-1 England
England are in charge of this game. They’ve had all of the ball and all of the chances, but crucially only have a one goal lead. If Iceland can find an outlet, they can get into this game.
43 min: Great play from England on the left. Keira Walsh of all people finds herself on the touchline and cuts the ball back for Greenwood. Greenwood receives the ball and drives past the fullback before sending in a cross. It’s cleared away for a corner.
38 min: Iceland take their first shot of the game! Dilja Zomers takes the ball down before hitting it wide of the post.
37 min: Russo has another chance. James threads a ball through to her but the England striker hesitates before firing towards Rúnarsdóttir’s near post. It’s easily saved by the Iceland keeper.
36 min: Russo breaks free from the Iceland defenders again and cuts the ball back for a teammate. It’s behind everyone though and the chance is wasted.
30 min: Hannah Hampton has barely had a touch of the ball so far. Iceland are yet to register a shot.
27 min: Alex Greenwood whips in a corner that is half dealt with by the Iceland defenders. The ball falls for her in the box and she fires the ball straight at the keeper.
23 min: Rúnarsdóttir keeps on putting herself under pressure needlessly. The Iceland goalkeeper gives the ball away again and England win a corner.
GOAL! Iceland 0-1 England (Russo, 21)
Lauren Hemp receives the ball brilliantly in her own half and bursts away from the Iceland defenders. Russo makes a run off of Hemp and receives the ball obligingly. The England striker turns and swivels before rifling her shot into the bottom left corner.
18 min: James has been dangerous so far. She beats Gudrún Arnardóttir with a stepover before drilling a cross along the box. It’s cleared away for another corner.
17 min: Emilía Ásgeirsdóttir makes an incredible block. This time it’s Lauren Hemp who is thwarted.
15 min: James plays a great through ball to Russo. The Arsenal striker runs on to it but her shot is blocked and the ball ricochets off her before going out for a goal kick.
12 min: Iceland are defending resolutely. The England forwards are probing but haven’t had a clear-cut opportunity as yet.
7 min: Lauren James glides past a couple of players with ease. She does a quick give-and-go with Russo but the referee blows the whistle for a foul as the England winger uses her strength to nudge one of the Iceland defenders off the ball.
5 min: Almost a huge mistake from Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir! She stumbles over the ball on her goal line and Russo almost punishes her with a tap in. The Iceland goalkeeper eventually manages to poke the ball away from danger.
3 min: England are already dominating possession while Iceland will likely rely on counter attacks and set pieces.
1 min: England have an early half chance. Lucy Bronze delivers a ball into the box and Alessia Russo’s volley is blocked and out for a corner.
Kick off
England get us under way, kicking from right to left.
The two teams are out and singing their respective national anthems.
Here’s some pre-match reading courtesy of Suzanne Wrack.
It’s been a great week for England Women’s football. The U23s won the European Competition title yesterday after they beat Sweden 3-0 in the final.
The Lionesses are warming up in special pre-match shirts to commemorate their 500th game. The shirt is available in black and white and features the Three Lions logo and number 500 inside of a Tudor rose pattern.
Team news
Iceland: Runarsdottir, Arnardottir, Viggosdottir, Sigurdardottir, Heidarsdottir, Hermannsdottir, Johannsdottir, Asgeirsdottir, Jonsdottir, Boama, Zomers
Subs: Ivarsodottir, Birkisdottir, Eiriksdottir, Jessen, Tryggvadottir, Vilhjalmsdottir, Georgsdottir, Eiriksdottir, Olafsdottir Gros, Antonsdottir, Palmadottir, Halldorsdottir
England: Hampton, Bronze, Greenwood, Walsh, Williamson, Morgan, James, Stanway, Russo, Blindkilde Brown, Hemp
Subs: Le Tissier, Moorhouse, Wubben-Moy, Carter, Hinds, Kelly, Kendall, Mead, Park, Roebuck, Charles, Parkinson
Preamble
Hello and welcome to minute-by-minute coverage of Iceland v England in the Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium.
Today’s game is the Lionesses’ 500th of all time. In the build up to this one, the players have paid tribute to and heard from some of the pioneers who came before them. Lucy Bronze, who has 146 caps for England, said: “It’s crazy in two ways. On the one hand it’s only been 500, but at the same time - oh my God - it’s 500 games.” A win today would maintain a 100% record in Group A3 for Sarina Wiegman’s side as they push for automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Iceland need to put in a strong performance to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat against England six weeks ago. Their only win in the group came four days ago in the form of a 1-0 victory over Ukraine. Thorsteinn Halldórsson’s side will take heart from England’s previous struggles against similarly ranked teams such as Belgium and Portugal.
Kick off is at 5:30pm BST. Send me an email with your thoughts and keep refreshing the page for updates.
