England used to relish playing in front of a home crowd under Sarina Wiegman, but it is starting to feel like that magic is wearing off.
Defeat against France, their first loss in a qualifying fixture for 22 years, leaves them with work to do if they want to retain their European crown in Switzerland next year.
Only the top two teams will progress automatically from what is a tough Euro 2025 qualifying group, with England now in third place.
They now have to travel to France, who they play again on Tuesday, before facing Ireland at home and Sweden away in July.
Perhaps what is most concerning for Wiegman is that her side have taken just one point from their two home fixtures.
Sarina Wiegman’s England struggled to lay down a marker during their home defeat to France
Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the winner for France with just over 20 minutes remaining
England goalkeeper Mary Earps was forced off early in Newcastle with a nasty looking injury
They had their moments against France, but too many players were sloppy in possession and the two goals they conceded came from poorly defended set-pieces.
The Lionesses lacked a spark and, in truth, many looked tired after a testing season. Elisa De Almeida’s superb volley, which brought France level after Beth Mead had opened the scoring, was undoubtedly the best moment of a game lacking quality.
‘The result is really disappointing and I think unnecessary,’ Wiegman said.
‘I think our performance was good for most parts of the game. The first part of course was very different than [what] we were expecting, so we had to find our feet to get started. After that we did well, we scored a goal, I think we had chances of scoring more, and then they scored from a corner. That was disappointing.
‘Then in the second half I think we controlled the match more than we did in the first half. But we didn’t score, we created almost chances, so it’s that pass that will create the best chance, or the touch, or the cross, in many moments we played pretty well but it’s very frustrating that we then concede a goal from a corner [set-piece], we know they’re very good at that, so we really wanted to do that [defend set pieces] very well, and in some moments we did but in too many moments we didn’t.’
For the first time since February 2023, Wiegman was able to select a centre back pairing of Leah Williamson and Millie Bright, with both players having spent time out injured in the last year.
But the decision not to select Alex Greenwood, who has enjoyed a fine season with Manchester City, at either centre back or left back was puzzling.
Greenwood was arguably England’s best player at the World Cup last summer and her composure on the ball and passing ability was missed.
Beth Mead scored England’s opener with a side-footed finish into the bottom right corner
Defender Elisa De Almeida scored a stunning side-footed volley for France’s first-half equaliser
Things got off to a bad start for England when Mary Earps was forced off after just five minutes.
The goalkeeper, who was making her 50th international appearance, appeared to twist her hip after a routine pass and despite efforts to continue, was replaced by Hannah Hampton.
After a cagey opening, Ella Toone could have put England ahead mid-way through the half when she connected with Lauren Hemp’s cross in the box, but her effort spun just wide.
Hemp continued to cause problems down the left wing and, on the half hour mark, created the opener. The forward’s cross evaded Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway, who was perhaps fouled by Selma Bacha as she tried to connect with the delivery, but the ball dropped to Mead and she sent a side-footed finish into the bottom right corner.
France almost hit back immediately but Hampton was on hand to push Maelle Lakrar’s header around the post. But Les Bleus did find a way back in before half-time, with Elisa De Almeida sending a fantastic side-footed volley into the top left corner. There was a question mark over whether Wendie Renard had fouled Hemp in the build-up, but with no VAR in use the goal stood.
There had been limited chances in the second half until Katoto put France ahead in the 68th minute. The goal came from another set-piece as England failed to clear their lines, with Katoto sending a smart finish into the bottom right corner.
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