Women's internationals round-up
Manchester United Women had 12 players away with their respective national sides over the international break.
ENGLAND
Our English contingent didn't have too far to travel, facing Germany and South Africa at Wembley Stadium and Coventry's CBS Arena respectively.
Grace Clinton stole the headlines in the latter game, scoring her second-ever goal for the Lionesses when she headed home fellow Red Maya Le Tissier's cross in the 2-1 friendly win.
Clinton, having added to her strong start to the season for club and country, was replaced by Ella Toone just past the hour mark and the born-and-bred Red helped the Lionesses see out the win.
That trio were all at Wembley for the difficult 4-3 loss against Germany for Sarina Weigman's side. Toone was in from the start on that occasion, while Le Tissier was introduced for Lucy Bronze in the final 10 minutes and Clinton remained an unused sub.
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NORWAY
Our representation was just as strong over in Norway, with three Reds travelling for a two-legged semi-final to help decide qualification for Euro 2025.
Celin Bizet was the only player to get on the pitch in the 5-0 win over Albania in the first encounter, replacing Karina Saevik in the 61st minute. That confident display allowed English head coach Gemma Grainger to rotate her squad for the second meeting. Summer signing Elisabeth Terland joined Lisa Naalsund in the starting line-up, with the latter scoring the second in a resounding 9-0 victory. Bizet was introduced just after the interval, replacing former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg.
Norway face Northern Ireland next.
NETHERLANDS
A nine-goal thriller would usually take the crown as the biggest win in any other round-up, but Dominique Janssen and her Netherlands side had other ideas, comprehensively beating Indonesia 15-0 in a friendly, before facing a tougher test in their 2-1 win over Denmark a few days later. Janssen played the full 90 in both of the Leeuwinnen's games, shoring things up in the centre of defence.
WALES
Similarly busy was Hayley Ladd, away with Wales for her nation's two-legged Euro 2025 qualifying play-off semi-final. Ladd started at the back in both games but the Dragons were left with work to do following the away clash against Slovakia, suffering a 2-1 loss. They took until the final 10 minutes of extra-time back at the Cardiff City Stadium to clinch a winner and progress to the final round. Ladd was joined on duty by goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, who was on the bench for both matches.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Aoife Mannion was also in Euro 2025 qualification action, representing the Republic of Ireland at right-back in their two meetings with Georgia. She contributed to two clean sheets in those games — a 6-0 and a 3-0 win respectively — and provided an inch-perfect headed goal in the final minutes of the first meeting, to add to her assist earlier in the game.
Republic of Ireland and Wales will go head to head in November and December, for a place in the finals.
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CANADA
Simi Awujo was substituted on for Canada against Spain just after half-time, replacing Julia Grosso. She helped her side to an impressive 1-1 draw against the current world champions, for whom former United defender Ona Batlle played.
SCOTLAND
Back on British soil, Emma Watson made a long-awaited return to international duty with Scotland following a lengthy absence with an ACL injury. She was brought off the bench in both meetings with Hungary, as Pedro Martinez Losa's side took one step closer to Euro 2025 qualification, winning by an aggregate score of 5-0, and they will now face Finland in the final, winner-takes-all round.
Speaking to BBC Scotland after the first leg in Budapest, Watson said: "I'm buzzing with getting back out there, playing with the girls back on the international stage. It's an emotional night and I'm just happy to be back.
"These are the moments that you look back and think all the long hard days and hard work has paid off. I'm really proud of myself and just so happy to be here."