Aston Villa Women were well represented on the international scene this week, with three of our own in action.
With the domestic season having came to a close last month, national sides are using the summer to assess their respective pools of players.
The Summer Olympics in Tokyo are edging closer for some, with international friendlies aplenty to be keeping tabs on.
Chloรซ Arthur
Our No. 8 took to the field for her native Scotland on Thursday, as her country emerged 1-0 winners against Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Arthur, 26, was given a starting berth by interim coach Stuart McLaren, and lined up in the centre of the park alongside Christie Murray of Birmingham City.
The game was a cagey one for the most part, and Manchester City's Caroline Weir stepped off the bench to secure the victory from the penalty spot in the 78th minute.
Arthur will be pleased to have got 90 minutes in the tank following a stop-start season in claret & blue.
Scotland will now head to Llanelli to take on Wales in the second of two friendlies this month. Kick-off on Tuesday (15th) is scheduled for 19:15 at Parc y Scarlets.
Three debutants in our XI ๐คฉ letโs go Girlz! ๐ช๐ฟ๐ฅ
โ Official J.F.F (@jff_football) June 10, 2021
๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ณ๐ฌ
๐บ: @ussoccer
โฐ: 5:38pm (ET) 4:38pm (CT/JA)
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.#ReggaeGirlz #Rooted2Rise #HistoryMakers #InternationalFriendlies #ReggaeGirlzFoundation #JFFLive pic.twitter.com/BHai5ezIIm
Shania Hayles
The proudest moment of the day came Stateside, when 21-year-old Shania Hayles made her international bow for Jamaica.
The Reggae Girlz played the first of two games at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on Thursday evening.
Facing Nigeria in what was their first game in over a year, 51st-ranked Jamaica defeated their 38th-ranked counterparts courtesy of Deneisha Blackwood's second-half winner.
Hayles, capped a first season in the top flight of women's football with a start up front. She will be hoping to go one step further by getting herself on the scoresheet when Jamaica take on the USA on Monday (14th) at 03:00.
Congratulations, Shan!
Stine Larsen
Our No. 9 was also in action on Thursday, as her native Denmark faced a daunting task which came in the form of 9th-ranked Australia.
Any fears would soon be wiped away, however, when Denmark took an astonishing 3-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes.
A couple of Australian own goals came either side of a strike from Everton's Rikke Sevecke as Larsen and co. gave their home fans something to cheer about.
The final score made for slightly better reading on the full-time whistle, at least as far as the Matildas were concerned, as they pulled two goals back late on.
But nothing would be taken away from the Danes, who will be in buoyant mood heading into Tuesday's (15th) friendly against Spain in Alcorcรณn.
Larsen, who started on Thursday, will be aiming to start through the middle once more. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:30.
