Welcome to another edition of Goalside Gossip! ⚽️🔥 This week, the USWNT capped off 2024 with a dramatic 0-0 draw against England and a comeback win over the Netherlands, celebrating Alyssa Naeher’s iconic career. Big news from Europe includes UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifiers wrapping up with historic debuts, and the FA Women’s Championship announcing every match will stream live on YouTube next season. Stateside, the San Diego Wave are gearing up for a major rebuild after a tough season, while Zambia’s Barbra Banda earned BBC’s Footballer of the Year. There’s plenty to catch up on, so let’s dive in!

What's in store this week:

• 🌎 Int’l: USA vs England (0-0)

• 🌎 Int’l: USA vs Netherlands (2-1)

• 🇪🇺 Int’l: Euro Final 7 Spots

• 📹 News: FA Championship Gets Streaming Deal

• 🏅 News: BBC’s Footballer of the Year, Barbra Banda

• 🚀 News: Wave Looking Ahead to Promising Future

Wembley Stalemate:
USWNT vs England

The much-anticipated clash between the USWNT and England at Wembley ended in a nail-biting 0-0 draw. With 78,346 fans watching (including us!), the teams showcased their defensive prowess. Emma Hayes returned to her hometown, bringing a strong squad to face Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses. Despite outshooting England 10 to 4, the U.S. couldn’t find the back of the net. Key saves by England’s Mary Earps and U.S. veteran Alyssa Naeher kept the scoreline intact.

Notably absent were U.S. stars Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman, while England missed several key players. The match highlighted the depth and resilience of both teams, with young talents like Alyssa Thompson stepping up. This draw sets the stage for an exciting rivalry as the road to the 2025 Euros and the next World Cup looms.

Dutch Delight Awaits:
USWNT vs Netherlands

The USWNT closed out 2024 with a resilient 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Netherlands in The Hague, marking Alyssa Naeher’s final international appearance. Despite being outshot 22-5 and facing relentless pressure from the Dutch, the U.S. capitalized on key moments, including an own goal from Veerle Buurman in the 44th minute and a 71st-minute game-winner by Lynn Williams. Naeher, donning the captain’s armband, delivered a vintage performance with multiple crucial saves to keep the Americans in contention. She retires with 115 caps, 89 wins, and 69 clean sheets, the third-most in USWNT history, cementing her legacy as one of the program’s greatest goalkeepers.

Under head coach Emma Hayes, the U.S. extended their unbeaten streak to 20 matches and completed the year with an 18W-1L-4D record. Lynn Williams’ decisive strike marked her 21st international goal, 10 of which have come as a substitute, and further underscored her impact off the bench. With just five goals conceded in 15 matches under Hayes, the U.S. has reestablished itself as a defensive powerhouse while integrating rising stars like Lily Yohannes and Ally Sentnor. The team enters 2025 atop the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and will return to action at the SheBelieves Cup in February.

YouTubeTV Picks Up
FA Championship Matches

Starting next season, all FA Women’s Championship matches will be streamed live on the league’s YouTube channel, marking a groundbreaking shift in accessibility for fans of second-tier football. This move significantly expands coverage, increasing live-streamed matches from one per gameweek to all 132 games across the season. Each match will feature a minimum two-camera production, providing fans with enhanced viewing experiences compared to the single-camera setups of previous years. Sky Sports retains the option to select fixtures for live TV broadcast, but even those games will simultaneously stream on YouTube, ensuring free-to-air availability for every match.

This transition follows the broader digital strategy seen in the Women’s Super League (WSL), where YouTube streaming has driven a surge in viewership. Notably, WSL matches on YouTube this season have tripled their audience compared to last year, with Manchester United’s recent win at Leicester City attracting a record 271,502 live viewers. Championship games already streamed this season have shown promising engagement, with the Sunderland vs. Newcastle derby reaching over 81,000 live viewers.

Find Your Perfect Match!

Euro 2025 Final Seven

Belgium, Finland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Wales secured the final seven spots for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 in Switzerland. The tournament will run from July 2 to July 27, 2025 and will feature 16 teams, including hosts Switzerland and automatic qualifiers Denmark, England (holders), France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain. Notably, Wales and Poland earned their first-ever major tournament appearances, while former champions Norway and Sweden reinforced their presence as perennial contenders. The finals draw will take place on December 16 in Lausanne.

How did these 7 countries clutch the final spots?

• Portugal triumphed over Czechia with a 3-2 aggregate win, sealed by a late volley from Diana Silva.

• Poland made history with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Austria, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Ewa Pajor.

• Norway dominated Northern Ireland with a 7-0 aggregate score, featuring Caroline Graham Hansen’s 50th international goal.

• Sweden eased past Serbia with an 8-0 aggregate victory, including standout performances from Stina Blackstenius and Hanna Bennison.

• Finland overcame Scotland with a 2-0 aggregate score.

• Belgium advanced with a 4-1 aggregate win over Ukraine, led by Tessa Wullaert.

• Wales secured their maiden qualification with a 3-2 aggregate win over Ireland, highlighted by goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones in a dramatic second leg.

The Wave Look to
the Future

The 2025 season marks the beginning of a new chapter for San Diego Wave FC, following a series of significant changes. After a record-breaking start in the NWSL in 2022, the team faced a challenging 2024 season both on and off the field. This included a leadership shake-up with Jill Ellis stepping down as president to pursue a senior role at FIFA, as well as major roster changes and a coaching transition. The Wave’s new owners, the Leichtman-Levine family, are now focused on rebuilding and expanding the team’s impact both locally in San Diego and globally.

The 2024 season saw the Wave struggle, finishing 10th in the league and missing the playoffs for the first time in their short history. Despite strong attendance figures and record-breaking crowds, the team dealt with internal challenges, including the loss of key players like Abby Dahlkemper and Alex Morgan, the latter retiring due to pregnancy. Looking ahead, the Wave will rely on established leaders like Naomi Girma and Kailen Sheridan, along with rising stars such as Jaedyn Shaw and Trinity Byars, to revitalize the team. With a new head coach set to be appointed and a renewed focus on success, the Wave are ready to chart a promising course for the future.