By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-11-06 01:39:43
1 week ago
Sarina Wiegman promised her foolproof Lionesses side had “been prepared for everything” ahead of their highly anticipated rematch with Germany. Yet the England manager could hardly have envisioned her side being three goals down inside half an hour at the very place where two years ago, they created golden memories and were crowned European champions.
Against a longstanding powerhouse of the women’s game, this was England’s chance to lay down a marker ahead of next year’s European Championship in Switzerland. They fell well shy of the mark on a night where they were not only repeatedly outplayed and outshone, but conceded four goals for the first time in the Wiegman era.
The chaos began after just two and a half minutes. Leah Williamson’s sloppy, mistimed pass was gobbled up by Giovanna Hoffman, who put Linda Dallmann through on goal. A backtracking Millie Bright helplessly shoved the striker in the back and Giulia Gwinn, the Germany captain, coolly converted from the spot.
It was a snapshot of the Lionesses’ defensive shambles in a frantic first half which yielded five goals. Before long, Gwinn had her second. With Jess Carter strayed out of position, England were sliced open by a single pass and Gwinn found herself in acres of space and finished into the corner.
By the half hour mark, England were in dire straits. With their high press, Germany overwhelmed the hosts and subdued Keira Walsh, so often the Lionesses chief orchestrator in midfield. Here she looked like a spare part in a movie. Hoffmann found Klara Buhl, whose neat finish through Lucy Bronze’s legs beat Hannah Hampton at her near post.
England needed a response and fast. It turned out to be an eventful night for Gwinn, whose arm stopped Lauren Hemp’s cross into the box as the Lionesses finally jolted into life. Georgia Stanway pulled one back from the spot. There was no celebration, simply a race back to the centre circle.
Suddenly, the Lionesses had their heads up and were charging forward with purpose. Three minutes later, Stanway had converted from close range, finishing off a well-worked move after Alessia Russo pinged an inch-perfect ball out wide to Beth Mead. Game on.
Prior to these two teams renewing their rivalry at the home of English football, Wiegman had warned Germany were a different beast to the one that was left crestfallen after Chloe Kelly’s sensational extra-time winner in that Euros final.
The Dutchwoman has never been one to roll the selection dice and she fielded a conservative starting XI, leaving the in-form Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton and Manchester City captain Alex Greenwood on the bench. Hindsight is of course a wonderful thing, but with her side 3-0 down inside half an hour, having played the worst they have done during her tenure, she stood by her orthodox selection.
“I’m happy with the starting line up,” said Wiegman. “I’m happy with the team. What we wanted was to see other players, which we did. There’s huge competition going on. That’s good for the team.”
When it was put to her that Greenwood had been firing for Manchester City this season, she grew visibly frustrated. “I’m not going to make changes just for the sake of it,” she retorted.
This might have been the first of four friendlies the Lionesses have in this autumn block, but in footballing terms playing Germany is never really that friendly. Playing the side who claimed a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics - a competition England failed to qualify for on behalf of Team GB after a stop-start season - would be a good litmus test ahead of an important season.
The visitors returned as an unknown quantity and armed with a new head coach, Christian Wuck, who was overseeing his first game in charge since being appointed earlier this year. He would have been ecstatic with the way his side burst out of the blocks and the manner in which they effortlessly pierced the Lionesses’ aura.
In Switzerland next year, England will aim to defend the title they won at this very place exactly 817 days ago, when they catapulted women’s football into a new era. The cumulative attendance figure across the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship might have surpassed one million for the first time last season, but the Friday night attendance was significantly down on that sold out Euros final. Granted, even if this match was a glorified friendly that carried no jeopardy, it was still an opportunity for Wiegman’s side to prove that they are still relevant, that they can still show up for the big occasions.
Wiegman, unsurprisingly, began ringing the changes at the break. Jess Park came on in a bid to win more front foot ball, although her impact was negligible. Williamson, England’s captain, was hauled off for Alex Greenwood on the hour mark to provide more ballast at the back, but the hosts’ misery only continued.
It was a busy night for Hannah Hampton, who started in place of Mary Earps in goal, and her performance marginally superseded the defensive frailties that plagued England. She dealt with a panicked back pass from Bright in the first half and tipped Dallman’s long-range effort over when Germany were looking to restore their two-goal cushion, before magnificently denying Jule Brand after the break.
But she spilt Germany’s inswinging free-kick, which led to the visitor’s fourth. Russo attempted to clear the ball away from Sophie Woolter - replays showed the Arsenal striker touch the ball - but referee Marta Huerta de Aza pointed to the spot and Sara Dabritz guessed the right way. By the time Lucy Bronze capitalised on a howler by Ann-Katrin Berger late on, England’s night was already done.
Match details
England 4-2-1-3: Hampton; Bronze (Le Tissier 82), Williamson (Greenwood 61), Bright, Carter; Walsh, Stanway; Toone (Park 46); Mead (Naz 82), Russo (Kelly 72), Hemp
Booked: Bright
Replacements not used: Earps (gk), Morgan, Beever-Jones, Clinton, Moorhouse (gk), Parker
Germany 4-3-2-1: Berger; Linder (Rauch 45), Minge, Nusken (Dabritz 62), Gwinn (Wolter 63); Dallmann, Buhl (Endemann 82), Senss; Brand, Doorsoun (Kleinherne 67); Hoffmann (Cerci 45)
Replacements not used: Johannes (gk), Winkler (gk), Lohmann, Grawe, Anyomi
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spa)
Attendance: 47,967
