Sarina Wiegman defended her England gamers however blamed set items for a primary dwelling qualifying defeat in additional than 20 years by the hands of France in a 2-1 loss.
Needing victory to leapfrog their opponents into prime spot of their Euro 2025 qualifying group, Beth Mead’s purpose received England off to the proper begin.
However a pair of objectives from corners in both half noticed France go away with victory – simply as they did in October 2002, after they have been the final staff to beat England in a qualifying recreation away from dwelling.
Wiegman was glad with England’s efficiency regardless of the end result, however much less impressed with their decision-making within the last third or poor set-piece defending, which may have made the scoreline worse had Maelle Lakrar not seen a first-half header saved.
“It was frustrating,” she informed ITV Sport. “I believe we performed fairly nicely, we conceded two objectives from set performs which we now have to do rather a lot higher on.
“In these matches, you do not get too many possibilities. Within the first half we created a number of, however solely scored one – and so they sadly scored one too.
“We have been extra on the ball within the second half with out creating too many extra possibilities, however we have been harmful. The ultimate cross wanted to be higher.
Beth Mead put England forward on the half-hour mark from Lauren Hemp’s cross
“We know France are really good at set-pieces. Of course, we were prepared but they still got that time. The first half was unlucky, I think Hemp was bombarded but the second one, she got a little more space and finished it well too.”
England captain Leah Williamson was left equally irritated by the Lionesses’ fragility from lifeless balls, and the impression that they had on a primary defeat in six matches for her facet.
“Really disappointed, the game was there to be won,” she mentioned. “It was a incredible event, the followers have by no means allow us to down so it is a disgrace to not give them a win as nicely.
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England’s Ella Toone says the gamers are upset after their defeat to France however will study classes from the efficiency and errors that have been made.
“Two set pieces and second balls. We played well, not good enough to win the game, but the chances were there to win it. Two set pieces have killed us. There’s an element of luck to those things, but first contact and second contact need to be better. We will be better on Tuesday.”
England took the lead regardless of a disrupted opening interval, with restored No 1 Mary Earps injured contained in the opening minute and finally compelled off regardless of trying to play by way of the ache barrier.
The Man Utd goalkeeper’s situation has but to be decided however she was seen on crutches on the pitch following the full-time whistle.
Mary Earps was pictured on crutches after the sport, having been compelled off contained in the opening 10 minutes with a leg harm
“It was a strange start with that first ball where Mary got injured,” mentioned Wiegman. “It took about five minutes, then she went down again and had to come off. It wasn’t the way we were expecting it!
“We needed to get organised once more, then we received it and began taking part in rather a lot higher. I can not say something [about the injury] as a result of I have never spoken to anybody after the sport.”
What are the opposite Euro 2025 qualifying dates?
Qualifying matchdays one and two: April 3-9
Qualifying matchday 4: June 4
Qualifying matchdays 5 and 6: July 10-16
Play-off draw: July 19
Play-off spherical one (two legs): October 23-29
Play-off spherical two (two legs): November 27-December 3
Euro 2025 finals draw: December 16
Euro 2025 finals: July 2-27 2025
