The Lionesses were starting to look like the team to beat ahead at the summer’s Women’s World Cup after a seemingly unassailable 30-match unbeaten run under manager Sarina Wiegman with four trophies along the way, but the the inevitable defeat has finally arrived.
There’s never a good time for a 30-game unbeaten streak to reach its end, but there are less opportune times and Tuesday’s friendly loss against World Cup co-hosts Australia in the final match before the summer’s showpiece event certainly feels the lesser of any ill-timed evils.
Still, the list of talking points reads long. It was an uncharacteristically lethargic performance from the European champions, even if in the guise of a friendly. It was one punctuated by an atypically flustered Leah Williamson in the backline, the inexperienced Esme Morgan and Jess Carter struggling to deal with Australia’s voracious front duo of Mary Fowler and Chelsea star Sam Kerr, and an attack totally bereft of ideas.
Kerr’s inclusion in Tony Gustavsson’s starting line-up was salient in crafting the Matildas' victory, but also dredged up an important inquiry into Wiegman’s England ahead of July.
Against Australia, England were greeted with an elite opponent unencumbered by injuries, while they themselves bore the look of the slightly beleaguered squad.
This is new territory for Wiegman’s England.
Stretching back to last summer’s European Championships, the Lionesses faced a Spanish side in the quarter-finals without two-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona star Alexia Putellas.
An hour before the Euro 2022 finale, Germany’s top goalscorer Alexandra Popp was pulled out of the starting XI due to an injury suffered in the warm-up.
Against Brazil in the inaugural women’s Finalissima last week, the Lionesses faced one of their toughest tests yet, scraping by on penalties in dramatic fashion, but also avoided two of Brazil’s top attacking weapons in Debinha and Marta in doing so.
England’s 30-match unbeaten run has not arrived purely off the back of felicity; they too have battled injuries and utilised strength in depth.
But has there been some fortune in the strength of Wiegman’s squad and lack thereof when facing more dangerous opponents? And will that fortune run out at the summer’s World Cup?
Our Reach Women's Football writers discuss.
Jack Lacey-Hatton
I’ll stick up for the Lionesses, a little, as poor as they were for large periods against the Aussies. After all they’ve earned some credit in the bank.
There’s an old truism in football - ‘you can only beat what is in front of you.’ In that respect, I feel it is slightly harsh to say the England defence has been lucky in the opponents they have faced over the last year.
They have beaten nearly all of the top sides in the world and the best nations should not be reliant on one forward. If they are, that is on them, not the Lionesses.
The likes of Spain and Brazil need to have options beyond Alexia Putellas and Marta, although the drop off in quality is understandable. England as well won’t be at full strength in attack this summer, due to Beth Mead’s absence.
Sadly injuries are part and parcel of football, particularly in the women’s game at the moment.
I still wouldn’t trade a fully fit Millie Bright and Leah Williamson for any other partnership in the world at centre-back, regardless of who they may or may not have faced. Both would push to get in a world XI. I also think Williamson’s error against Sam Kerr was noticeable by its singularity.
England will, undoubtedly, have to deal with greater challenges than they have faced before in the summer, but I wouldn’t write-off the Lionesses defence from proving they can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Hannah Pinnock
Defeat, at some stage, for the Lionesses was always inevitable. Two years without a loss is an incredible achievement and, while they have come up against lesser opposition in that time, they have pitched themselves against some of the very best and they’ve come out on top at almost every time of asking.
Germany are still a fantastic team without Popp, the USA are still a force to be reckoned without Alex Morgan, Brazil are exciting to watch even without their first choice forwards. These are all teams England have managed to beat since Wiegman took charge.
Injuries are part and parcel of the game. The Lionesses will likely be without Beth Mead this summer and even if she’s fit and makes the squad, it will be a huge ask for her to perform at the levels shown before her injury so soon. The absence of one key player won’t diminish England’s World Cup hopes, likewise, opponents missing one or two big names doesn’t necessarily lessen the challenge of beating them.
If the Lionesses are to lift the World Cup this summer and add to their impressive trophy haul so far, they’re going to need to beat the best to be the best. That was always the case, they’ve shown they can do it on numerous occasions and now it’s just about doing it on an even bigger stage.
To put it quite simply, you don’t win a European title and go 30 games unbeaten purely based on luck. To suggest so would in many ways downplay the achievement.
England no doubt have things to work on and Brazil and Australia’s ability to nullify their threat so effectively over the course of the two games will be something Wiegman and the team need to look at. They’ll be responsible for crafting their own fortune this summer, that hasn’t changed.
Megan Feringa
Against Australia, England boasted the lion’s share of possession and total shots at goal but it was the Matildas' two shots on target that unravelled them. It’s textbook tournament football, as is dealing with a depleted squad.
In terms of lessons learned, Tuesday’s timing could prove pivotal in England’s bid for World Cup glory and a fifth trophy lifted under Sarina Wiegman’s reign. Any dangerously lurking complacency will have been dashed, and while placing too much stock in international friendlies is a dangerous game, it also presents a humbling for a squad, and a fanbase, that has relished unprecedented success.
Still, there’s no getting beyond the fact that England have faced world-beating sides without significant cutting edge players and are now, for the first sincere time in the Wiegman era, dealing with a slew of injuries to serious players of their own.
That Australia inverted the equation on England and emerged triumphant is no coincidence.
Is it cause for concern? Some, but there’d be more cause for concern if England weren’t considering the serious tests awaiting them come July. In the friendly against the USA in October, England narrowly triumphed, but the USA were midway through a transition period, dealing with the scandalous revelations that rocked their domestic league and also missing key players, including Alex Morgan and midfield stalwart Julie Ertz.
England have enjoyed the rub of the green but more often than not, they’ve carved out their own. Luck is as much made as it is enjoyed. England's calibre is more than capable to continue creating their own.
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