England vs Switzerland LIVE: Grace Clinton gives Lionesses slender win at Bramall Lane

Grace Clinton’s early finish proved the winner as England concluded 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a friendly at Bramall Lane.

Continuing preparations for next summer’s title defence at the Euros by taking on the team who will be hosting the tournament, a much-changed, youthful Lionesses side went in front in the eighth minute when Clinton buried the loose ball after Manchester United team-mate Millie Turner had headed against the post.

England were unable to add to that despite creating a number of chances, including debutant Laura Blindkilde Brown being denied by Swiss goalkeeper Elvira Herzog.

Clinton told ITV4:“Everyone wants to play for their country and to do it at a tournament is what I want to do.

“I think the future is bright and they have done so well tonight. They have been around and done it in the WSL so it is nice to see them put an England shirt on.”

The ITV pundit said: “It is all about arriving in the box at the right time. She deserved it. There is definitely more to come from her. Out of the young group she is the one shining through.”

England matchwinner Grace Clinton told ITV: “In international football it’s like that, very competitive. We kept them out and got the win.

“It’s always nice to get a goal for England. We should have had more, we had the chances but that’s a positive. We have plenty of players who can finish them off.

“It was amazing, the crowd were great and it was nice to play with some faces I played with when I was younger. It’s what dreams are made of.”

90+3 mins: There goes the whistle! A late attack from Georgia Stanway gets the crowd excited as she rattles the post but the result is unaffected.

The Lionesses get their win and end 2024 with a well fought for victory. Next up is the start of the European Championship preparations.

Sarina Wiegman will be pleased but will also have plenty of questions to answer before the summer.

90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play.

88 mins: It’s better from England. The experience fo the first choice Lionesses have brought a calm and composed nature to the team and they’re controlling possession better with an eye for a second goal.

85 mins: Jess Carter has also replaced Millie Turner with England now setting themselves up with a back four to make the defence more solid for the closing minutes.

82 mins: The England fans are singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ the unofficial anthem of the Lionesses as they attempt to encourage England to get this win over the line.

Laure Blindkilde Brown and Aggie Beever-Jones are taken off with the match getting tight. Georgia Stanway and Jess Naz are on.

79 mins: Switzerland continue to hunt for an equaliser and there’s loads of pressure on England now to keep them at bay. Hannah Hampton has been supremely busy but has so far been up to the task.