The final international break of 2023 featured six senior Addicks, who represented their respective nations during the continuation of the Nations League campaign, the Gold Cup qualifiers, the Algarve Cup, and international friendlies. Here’s how our players got on during their time away.
England U23's
Emma Coates selected co-captains Kiera Skeels and Mia Ross for friendlies with France and Spain as England’s U23 squad looked to end their year in style, with Skeels featuring in both starting line-ups.
Centre-back Skeels produced a remarkable clearance of a goal-bound effort from France to hold on to a 0-1 win in the final moments of play, while Mia Ross was an unused substitute in both games.
Wales
Kayleigh Green featured in Gemma Grainger’s starting XI as Wales were on the wrong end of to a 2-1 scoreline against Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium.
Green created several chances to offer the hosts a glimmer of hope against Iceland, but Wales were unable to clinch a final equaliser and were relegated from the top tier of the Nations League.
In their second fixture against Germany, Green was replaced by Elise Hughes with 12 minutes to spare as The Dragons ended their difficult campaign on a considerable high, forcing a 0-0 draw with their opponents.
Northern Ireland
Rebecca McKenna returned to the Northern Ireland national team as they lined up against Albania in the first of two Nations League fixtures.
Featuring among Tanya Oxtoby’s back four, McKenna saw out 66 minutes of play as Northern Ireland ended the night with a comfortable 4-0 victory over their Group B1 opponents.
Oxtoby’s side were less fortunate in their run out at Windsor Park, as the Republic of Ireland subjected them to a 6-1 defeat, sending the side to a relegation play-off in February.
Jamaica
Elsewhere, 2022/23 Golden Boot winner and Jamaican international Melissa Johnson played 89 minutes in both Gold Cup qualifiers against Panama and Guatemala, but her side was unable to secure a spot in the play-in qualifiers.
With six shots across two games, Johnson battled to push her team through to the next round of the CONCACAF tournament, but a 1-1 draw with both Guatemala and Panama left the side facing an early exit in the capital.
England U19's
Charlton winger Freya Godfrey assisted the young Lionesses to an unbeaten run across the Algarve Cup, after scoring goals in all three fixtures to end a hugely successful year.
The winger’s textbook penalty kick offered England a lead against hosts Portugal before a late equaliser left the score 2-2 at full time.
Against Sweden, Godfrey contributed to the young Lionesses’ thumping 5-1 win with a strike on the half-hour mark, before her rebound against the Netherlands helped the team to a 3-3 draw, rounding off a superb campaign.
The Addicks will return to action this Sunday as they face Bournemouth in round three of this season's Adobe Women's FA Cup.
Article by, Lucy Blitz
