October international round-up: Palace players shine in key Euro 2025 qualifiers and friendlies

Women

30 Oct 2024

With several Crystal Palace Women players representing their countries, the upcoming international break saw pivotal Euro 2025 qualifiers as well as exciting friendlies. Sweden, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, England, Finland and Wales all included Palace talent that made their mark on the international stage.

The Euro 2025 qualification process involves teams competing in group stages, split into A-tier groups and B-tier groups.

The A-tier groups consist of the higher-ranked national teams based on their UEFA coefficients, and the group winners and the best-performing runners-up automatically qualify for the tournament.

Remaining runners-up from the A-tier groups enter the play-offs, which consist of two-legged ties, where the winners secure the final spots for Euro 2025, which will be played in Switzerland next summer. Meanwhile, the top teams from each of the B-tier groups progress straight to the semi-final stage of the play-offs.

The qualification phase overall is approaching its dramatic conclusion, and numerous Palace players were involved in crucial games for their nations.

Sweden

My Cato (Under 23)

My Cato earned a well-deserved call-up to the Sweden U23's for their WU23 Friendlies tournament, that started on the 28th October against the Netherlands. Cato was made captain for the game as Sweden drew 1-1 in Falkenberg.

Cato was instrumental in setting up Sweden's only goal of the game as 17 year-old Felicia Schröder opened the scoring on the hour mark.

Next up for Sweden's U23's is Portugal on the 28th November, and then England on the 2nd December.

Denmark

Katrine Veje & Mille Gejl

Denmark have already qualified for Euro 2025 after they finished 2nd in their A-tier qualification group, and so they faced South Africa and the Netherlands in friendly matches over the international break.

Both Katrine Veje and Mille Gejl started in the win over South Africa on the 25th October. The game was 0-0 at half time, but five goals in 24 minutes saw the hosts run out 5-0 victor, with Gejl providing an assist for the fifth and final goal.

Denmark faced the Netherlands yesterday in their final friendly of the October international break. Gejl started on the bench, but came on in the 85th minute to replace Amalie Vangsgaard. Veje managed to start, and was replaced on the 63rd minute by Sofie Svava, as Denmark lost 2-1 on the night.

Next up for Denmark is a friendly against Iceland, on the 2nd December.

Republic of Ireland

Abbie Larkin & Izzy Atkinson

Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson both featured for the Republic of Ireland in their Euro 2025 qualifiers, as Ireland breezed past Georgia to progress to the final round of playoffs.

Larkin started in the first fixture in Tbilisi, as Ireland put six past the hosts with no reply. She laid on an assist for Ireland's second goal, and received the Player of the Match award for her performance. Izzy Atkinson featured late on in injury time, coming on for Julie-Ann Russell.

Ireland were comfortable 3-0 winners in the return fixture in Dublin, with Larkin starting at wing-back for The Girls in Green. She was replaced by Atkinson on the 58th minute as Ireland booked their place in the next round.

They will face teammates Josie Green and Lily Woodham on Wednesday 27th November, as Ireland face Wales in one of the seven Euro 2025 playoff finals.

England

Brooke Aspin (Under-23)

Brooke Aspin featured in both of England's U23 friendly games against the Netherlands and Portugal. In the first game against the Netherlands, Aspin started on the bench but came on in the 71st minute to replace Liverpool's Hannah Silcock.

England opened the scoring in the 19th minute, and were seconds away from winning in Escharen but Fenna Kalma managed to curl home a free-kick with the last kick of the game to secure an equaliser for the hosts.

Aspin started and played the entire game against Portugal on Tuesday, which also had late drama. Brighton's Michelle Agyemang scored in the 86th minute to give England a 1-0 victory in Shrewsbury.

Next up for Aspin and England's U23 team is Norway on the 28th November.

Lexi Potter (England Under-19s)

The England U19’s played in the Algarve Cup in Portugal as they prepared for the qualification stage of the 2025 U-19 Championship. The Algarve Cup is an invitational tournament for national teams in women's association football hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation.

Lexi Potter and England were victorious in both of their games in Portugal. Potter started and scored in the first game against the Netherlands, when she slotted home after Princess Ademiluyi’s cut-back found her in the box. The Young Lionesses ran out 3-1 winners against the Netherlands, with Potter being replaced on the 64th minute.

Potter captained the side for the second game against Norway, as England cruised to a 2-0 victory thanks to an Ava Baker brace.

England U19's will kick off their 2025 U-19 qualification campaign on the 27th November against Turkey.

Wales

Josie Green & Lily Woodham

Josie Green and Lily Woodham both featured for Wales as they also progressed in their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign. Both Green and Woodham started and played the entire game for Wales in their 2-1 away defeat to Slovakia in the first leg of the playoff.

Despite the first leg defeat, Wales managed to turn the tie around in Cardiff, where a goal from Ceri Holland in extra time booked their place in the play-off final.

Woodham played for 90 minutes in this dramatic game, until she was replaced by Green who saw out the win for Wales.

Wales will now face the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday 27th November in the Euro 2025 play-off final.

Finland

Milla-Maj Majasaari

Milla-Maj Majasaari was unused for Finland in their Euro 2025 qualification games against Montenegro.

Finland managed to beat Montenegro in both legs of the playoffs, including a 5-0 victory at home. Majasaari and Finland have booked their place in the play-off final, where they will face Scotland on the 27th November.

Sweden – My Cato

Mon, 28th Oct: Sweden 1-1 Netherlands (U23 Friendly) My Cato captained Sweden's Under-23s, setting up Felicia Schröder’s goal to secure a 1-1 draw.

Denmark – Katrine Veje & Mille Gejl

Fri, 25th Oct: Denmark 5-0 South Africa (Friendly) Both Veje and Gejl started, with Gejl assisting the final goal in Denmark's dominant 5-0 win.

Tue, 29th Oct: Netherlands 2-1 Denmark (Friendly) Veje started and was substituted in the 63rd minute, while Gejl came on in the 85th in Denmark’s 2-1 loss.

Republic of Ireland – Abbie Larkin & Izzy Atkinson

Fri, 25th Oct: Georgia 0-6 Republic of Ireland (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Larkin earned Player of the Match with an assist, while Atkinson came on in injury time as Ireland won 6-0.

Tue, 29th Oct: Republic of Ireland 3-0 Georgia (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Larkin started and was replaced by Atkinson in the 58th minute in Ireland’s comfortable 3-0 victory.

England – Brooke Aspin (U23)

Thu, 24th Oct: Netherlands 1-1 England (U23 Friendly) Aspin was introduced in the 71st minute as England were held to a 1-1 draw after a last-minute equaliser.

Tue, 29th Oct: England 1-0 Portugal (U23 Friendly) Aspin started and played the full match as England clinched a 1-0 win with an 86th-minute goal.

England – Lexi Potter (U19)

Sat, 26th Oct: England 3-1 Netherlands (Algarve Cup) Potter started and scored before being subbed off in the 64th minute of a 3-1 victory.

Tue, 29th Oct: England 2-0 Norway (Algarve Cup) Potter captained the team in a 2-0 win over Norway, featuring a brace from Ava Baker.

Wales – Josie Green & Lily Woodham

Fri, 25th Oct: Slovakia 2-1 Wales (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Green and Woodham both played the full 90 minutes in Wales’ close 2-1 first-leg defeat.

Tue, 29th Oct: Wales 1-0 Slovakia (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Woodham played 90 minutes before Green came on to see out the game as Wales advanced on a 1-0 win.

Finland – Milla-Maj Majasaari

Fri, 25th Oct: Montenegro 0-1 Finland (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Majasaari was an unused substitute.

Tue, 29th Oct: Finland 5-0 Montenegro (Euro 2025 Qualifier) Majasaari was an unused substitute.

Photo credit:

Abbie Larkin/Izzy Atkinson: FAI

Josie Green: FAW

Milla-Maj Majasaari: Jyri Sulander / FAF

Next up for Palace in the WSL is Manchester City at home on Sunday 3rd November at 14:00 GMT.

Tickets for that fixture are available here.

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