Grace Clinton on competitive Euro 2025 qualifier games
Wed 03 April 2024, 14:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Grace Clinton is relishing the potential opportunity of stepping out at Wembley in an England shirt as they face Sweden on Friday evening (8pm UK) in the first game of their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.
The creative midfielder, who joined us on loan from Manchester United this season, has been rewarded by Sarina Wiegman as she received another call-up for their April fixtures, previously making her senior debut in the last international camp where, within 19 minutes of the game, she scored her first international senior goal in the 7-2 victory over Austria.
However, the focus now turns to booking a spot in Switzerland for the European Championship next summer as the qualifiers get underway over the next two weeks.
Alongside Sweden, the Lionesses have also been grouped with France and Republic of Ireland, with them facing the latter in Dublin on Tuesday 9 April (7.30pm UK) in the second game of the group phase.
Speaking to reporters in a pre-match press conference ahead of Sweden, Grace said: “It’s a really competitive group but we always knew that could happen when you are in such an amazing competition, however, we are all just excited to get started and hit the ground running."
Asked about the prospect of stepping onto the pitch at Wembley, the 21-year-old added: “No matter who you are, the thought of playing at Wembley is a dream and everyone wants to do that, so it will be an unavailable feeling.”
Our number eight could come up against some familiar faces on Friday evening as team-mates Matilda Vinberg and Amanda Nildén are set to be involved in the Sweden squad, but Grace only has one focus when the game gets underway at the national stadium.
“They are another team who have amazing depth and they are a really strong side, can be quite physical and can be direct, score goals, so we will have to be on top form if we want to get a result against them,” Grace said.
“The two girls in that team [Matilda Vinberg and Amanda Nildén] are lovely and are great players so it will be nice to see them again but, obviously, I want to beat them.”
