Daily Star

Lionesses have the hunger to beat France

- Mark Pearson on the weekend football

IT’S been a successful summer for English football at youth level, while the England Women’s cricket team have brought pride to the country in lifting the World Cup.

Now the England Women’s footballer­s are bidding to further enhance the feelgood factor by lifting Euro 2017 in the Netherland­s.

Jodie Taylor (right) became just the third woman in the history of the competitio­n to score a hattrick, during the 6-0 win over Scotland.

And although they didn’t see much of the ball against Spain, Mark Sampson’s side came away with a 2-0 triumph.

A 2-1 win against Portugal ensured the 100 per cent record remained intact going into the knockout stages.

The Lionesses will now line up against France in the quarterfin­al in Deventer tomorrow. England are slight 6-4 favourites with France at 8-5.

In the Betfred Cup this weekend the TV cameras are at Tynecastle for Hearts v Dunfermlin­e and also at Dens Park for the Dundee derby.

Hearts need a victory to stay in the competitio­n following their defeat to Peterhead in midweek, and also need to win by four goals in order to topple their opponents at the top of Group B. Hearts are 1-3 to win and a 4-0 victory is 12-1 while the Pars are 7-1. Both Dundee sides are three from three in the Betfred Cup this season and the winner will progress to the second round with the losers facing an anxious wait to be one of four best runners-up.

However a draw does ensure both will progress, with a penalty shoot-out required to determine who goes through as group winners.

Dundee are 5-4, United 2-1 and the draw is available at 12-5, while both sides are 9-2 for a penalties victory.

 ??  ?? GOALS: Jodie Taylor
GOALS: Jodie Taylor

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