Brilliant St James’ Park occasion despite defeat for Lionesses | OneFootball

It ended England 1 France 2 at St James’ Park on Friday night.

Defeat for the Lionesses but a triumph for Tyneside, as the first time the England women’s team had played on Tyneside, it proved a great atmosphere and stage for such a match.

Newcastle United of course hosting England v Bosnia & Herzegovina as well on Monday night, the England men’s team playing at St James’ Park for the first time in two decades.

On Friday night the Lionesses unlucky to lose, a draw would probably have been fair but if anybody deserved to win it was England.

As we all know of course, if you don’t take your chances then you leave yourself open to the opposition taking theirs.

Good luck to the Lionesses in the rest of their European Championships qualifying campaign, starting on Tuesday, when England travel to France for the group rematch.

I am sure that after last night’s atmosphere, it won’t be the last we see of the Lionesses playing at St James’ Park.

‘England’s women lost 2-1 to France in front of a crowd of 42,561 at St. James’ Park on Friday evening.

The UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifier was the Lionesses’ first ever visit to the home of Newcastle United, whose own women’s team has made such strides on and of the pitch over the past two seasons.

Back-to-back promotions and impressive crowds at both Kingston Park and St. James’ Park have seen Becky Langley’s Lasses become one of the most talked-about teams in the women’s game, and Friday’s match further cemented the city’s reputation as a hotbed of female football as fans flocked from all over the country to see Sarina Wiegman’s side in action.

Beth Mead opened the scoring at the Gallowgate End on the half-hour mark for the European Women’s Championship holders, who had been dealt a blow when goalkeeper Mary Earps came off with an injury in the opening stages of her 50th international appearance.

But Elisa De Almeida levelled for France 11 minutes later with a spectacular goal, then Marie-Antoinette Katoto stunned the home supporters with another great strike in the 68th minute.

The match was the first of an international double-header at St. James’ Park; on Monday night, Gareth Southgate’s men take on Bosnia & Herzegovina at a sold-out stadium (kick-off 7.45pm BST).

And Magpies pair Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon are both hoping to be involved in the Three Lions’ penultimate warm-up game before EURO 2024.’

A lot of important dates for Newcastle United fans coming up this summer, so we have compiled the following calendar to watch out for, including plenty of England associated ones:

Saturday 1 June 2024 – Champions League final at Wembley.

Monday 3 June

England v Bosnia & Herzegovina  (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Friendly

Friday 7 June

England v Iceland (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Friendly

Friday 7 June 2024 – Launch of first replica kit of new Adidas deal, the 2024/25 Newcastle United home shirt.

Friday 7 2024 – The very final deadline for Gareth Southgate and the other national managers to name their official squads for the European Championships.

Friday 14 June 2024 – European Championship 2024 finals  in Germany kick-off, with numerous NUFC players potentially involved.

Friday 14 June 2024 – Summer transfer window opens.

Sunday 16 June

England v Serbia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match

Tuesday 18 June 2024 – Premier League fixtures released at 9am.

Thursday 20 June

England v Denmark (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match

Tuesday 25 June

England v Slovenia (Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier) Euros Group match

Sunday 14 July 2024 – European Championships final.

Wednesday 31 July – Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United friendly in Japan, playing at the 62,000 capacity Saitama Stadium, the largest football-specific stadium in Japan.

Saturday 3 August – Yokohama F Marinos v Newcastle United friendly at the National Stadium in Toyko.

Saturday 17 August 2024 – Weekend that 2024/25 Premier League season kicks off.

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Wednesday 1 January 2025 – Winter transfer window opens.

Monday 3 February 2025 – Winter transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 25 May 2025 – The final round of 2024/25 Premier League fixtures will be played.