Grace Clinton made her international debut a success as England defeated Austria convincingly after a disappointing performance in the Nations League.

England put on a dominant display as they crushed Austria 7-2 in a thrilling international friendly match in Spain on Friday night. The match served as a perfect opportunity for Sarina Wiegman’s side to showcase their skills during their warm-weather training camp in Marbella.

One of the standout moments of the game came from debutant Grace Clinton, who made an immediate impact by scoring her first goal for England. Clinton, currently on loan from Manchester United to Tottenham in the Women’s Super League, headed home England’s second goal after hitting the woodwork earlier in the game.

Alessia Russo and Beth Mead also had a fantastic outing, each scoring two goals to contribute to England’s impressive victory. Jess Carter and Rachel Daly also found the back of the net, further solidifying England’s dominance.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for England, as both of Austria’s goals came from set pieces. This highlighted an area that England will need to work on in the future.

The match provided England with valuable playing time, as they had no competitive fixtures in the near future after failing to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Their next major tournament will be Euro 2025, assuming they qualify.

Despite the wet conditions, England grew stronger as the game progressed and seemed unstoppable in front of goal. Their attacking prowess was on full display, leaving Austria struggling to keep up.

Looking ahead, England will face Italy in another friendly match on Tuesday. This game will serve as an opportunity for the team to move on from the disappointment of the Women’s Nations League, where their failure cost Team GB a place in the Olympics.