England's defensive woes in loss to Germany raise alarm about Euros readiness
LONDON — England were guilty of a defensive horror show against Germany at Wembley as Christian Wück’s side gave the Lionesses a wake-up call with a 4-3 victory in a thriller on Friday.
The match was a re-run of the Euro 2022 final when England’s women’s side experienced their finest hour, but this performance was a world away from those commanding days. It was alarming to see how easily Germany unpicked England’s defence, in what was Wück’s first match in charge.
England’s familiar pairing of Leah Williamson and Millie Bright, alongside the experienced Lucy Bronze were at fault for Germany’s three first-half goals. Germany captain Giulia Gwinn scored from the spot after just three minutes after Bright brought down Linda Dallmann, Gwinn then punished some sloppy defending in the 11th minute and Klara Bühl easing past Bronze to score their third, all within the first 30 minutes. England responded with a double from Georgia Stanway — the first from the spot after Gwinn was guilty of a handball, and a second in the 36th minute — but the Lionesses were unable to claw things back in the second half.
Germany added a fourth from the spot in the 72nd minute from Sara Däbritz when Russo caught Pia-Sophie Wolter with a stray boot, while Lauren Hemp had a 76th minute strike ruled out for offside. Bronze profited from some poor goalkeeping from Ann-Katrin Berger to grab a third for England, but they couldn’t draw things level.
This loss leaves England plenty to ponder ahead of South Africa in Coventry on Tuesday and the U.S. women’s national team lying in wait at the end of November, before the Euros next summer. –Tom Hamilton
Disastrous defending leaves questions for Wiegman before 2025 Euros
England had a defensive horror show.
All three of Germany’s first-half goals resulted from defensive errors, with Millie Bright conceding the penalty before Jess Carter and Leah Williamson were caught out of position in the build-up to the subsequent goals. This was not the end of their defensive woes, though, as their struggles in defence persisted throughout the evening. Lucy Bronze also failed to keep tabs on who she was marking and chaotic, scrambled defending in the box almost gifted chances to the clinical German forwards.
Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman was forced to defend her choice of centre-backs ahead following Williamson’s poor form heading into the Lionesses camp. Williamson struggled massively in Arsenal‘s consecutive losses to Bayern Munich and Chelsea before becoming an unused substitute against West Ham and then linking up with England.
With no Niamh Charles (shoulder dislocation), Gotham FC’s Carter was called into left back despite spending her time since moving to the NWSL as either a right back or centre back. Alex Greenwood, arguably England’s most in form defender, was left on the bench until the second half in place of Carter.
There are almost too many examples of England’s defensive errors to count, leading to significant concern ahead of the 2025 Euros in the summer. Significantly ahead of facing the USWNT in November, the Lionesses will need to correct their shambolic positioning if they want to retain their crown at next summer’s tournament. –Emily Keogh
Hampton is now surely England’s first-choice goalkeeper
When England conceded their third goal in the 29th minute, the broadcasters cut to Mary Earps sitting on the bench, trying to sense any flicker of reaction. Wiegman said pre-match that we shouldn’t read anything into Hannah Hampton being handed the gloves for this match, but that’s now three matches running where Earps has been fit and Hampton’s been preferred with England.
Earps has long been England’s first-choice keeper and one of the team’s most influential players. But she has had a mixed start to life with PSG, while Hampton has established herself as first-choice at Chelsea in the league, with Zecira Musovic playing in the Champions League.
Hampton wasn’t really at fault for any of Germany’s three first half goals amid the defensive chaos in front of her — though she will be frustrated at being beaten at her near post for Buhl’s goal.
Hampton made a brilliant save off an audacious long-range effort from Linda Dallman on the stroke of half time, and then stood up well to Germany’s attacks in the second half. But she will lament the dropped cross which inadvertently led to Russo fouling Wolter and Dabritz scoring Germany’s fourth from the spot. –Hamilton
Clinical finishing still amiss for England
England’s issues in front of goal continue to plague the side.
In the most recent Euros qualifying campaign, England only managed to score eight goals in their six games, leading to questions over the Lionesses capability in front of goal. This issue has not eluded them yet, as England’s forward line failed to score against Germany, with attacking midfielder Georgia Stanway left to score both goals.
Wiegman opted for possibly her most predictable line-up despite admitting that these friendlies were a chance to try new things. She chose out-of-form Arsenal duo Beth Mead and Alessia Russo — who have only one goal and one assist between them in five league games — over in form options like Jess Park or Grace Clinton, the latter of whom has scored three times in four games for Manchester United.
While Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp did look dangerous in possession and both had the ball in the back of the net — later ruled out for offside — their lack of clinical finishing is still causing issues for England, who never really replaced prolific goal scorer Ellen White. While England have a plethora of young, tenacious talent, it is no use to them on the bench. Jess Park and Jess Naz injected a sense of urgency into the side, but it came far too late. –Keogh
Germany continue impressive form under new manager
Christian Wück’s first game in charge of the German team could not have started any better as the visitors stunned England with three goals in the first 30 minutes.
Having found success with the Germany men’s youth pathway, Wück’s appointment was interesting. He has not coached in the women’s game, meaning questions were raised over how well he would lead the side. Yet, having spent 12 years with the federation, he has a unique insight and understanding of how this team operates.
It was not like he was inheriting a side still reeling from their 2022 Euros final loss to England, either. Germany, under the guidance of former manager Horst Hrubesch, secured a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite the convincing win over England, Wück’s defensive line showed ample gaps, which a more controlled attack would have capitalised on better. He also needs to figure out who will replace prolific goal-scorer Alexandra Popp following her retirement from the national team. With three different scorers on the score sheet, though, his options looking positive. –Keogh
Euros final rematch hardly resembled 2022 as new-look Germany exposed England
The echoes of those historic July 2022 days were unavoidable on Friday. The England team had a familiar feeling with all 11 of the starting line-up in the Lionesses’ squad two year ago. But they came up against an unfamiliar Germany, one with just two players in the starting line-up who begun the Euros final.
So, you had a team of steady evolution, over one of revolution. On this occasion, the tried and tested came up short in front of a crowd of 47,967, just over half the capacity of Wembley. England were defensively disorganised, and all that despite Wiegman opting for a settled line-up, arguably favouring familiarity over form.
It was alarming to see the sloppy errors England were guilty of at the back, and Germany should have punished England further but for some erratic finishing. So this leaves Wiegman with plenty to think about. Though their place is already secure in next year’s Euros, the countdown has now started and this was an England performance lacking precision and intensity.
Russo put in a shift up front, while Stanway did well to grab two first-half goals but they lacked control and poise when on the ball and could have conceded more. It will be fascinating to see what Wiegman’s next moves are. –Hamilton
