The England women’s national team suffered a disappointing 4-3 defeat to Germany in their first international friendly at Wembley Stadium. The Lionesses, led by manager Sarina Wiegman, started the match brightly, but their errors were ultimately their downfall. Germany’s Giulia Gwinn scored an early penalty and added another goal just a few minutes later to put the away side in control.
England struggled to find their rhythm and were punished for their mistakes, with Germany’s Klara Buhl scoring a third goal before halftime. The home side did manage to pull two goals back, thanks to goals from Georgia Stanway and Lucy Bronze, but Germany’s Sara Dabritz restored their lead and sealed the win.
Despite their fighting spirit, England’s display was not convincing, and Wiegman’s side will be looking to improve ahead of their next friendly against South Africa. The team’s backline struggled to contain Germany’s attacks, and the midfield struggled to provide adequate support.
One glimmer of hope was Stanway’s determination, who scored two goals and embodied the must-win attitude that saw England claw back into the game. However, it wasn’t enough to save the day as England fell to a 4-3 defeat.
In the end, it was England’s defensive frailties that were their downfall. The team’s inability to deal with Germany’s pace and movement allowed the away side to carve out several scoring opportunities, and Wiegman’s side ultimately paid the price.
The defeat marks a disappointing start to England’s international friendlies, leaving Wiegman and her team with a lot to think about ahead of their next match. Despite the setback, the Lionesses will be looking to regroup and bounce back with a stronger performance.
