England 0-2 Australia: Lionesses weaknesses exposed - is this a wake-up call?

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr scored and assisted for Australia

There were nary celebrations this clip arsenic England suffered the unfamiliar feeling of decision - but with a World Cup looming was this conscionable an untimely decision oregon clip to beryllium concerned?

"We're evidently gutted," said England striker Alessia Russo. "We don't similar losing. I wouldn't accidental I would ever privation to suffer a shot crippled to larn from it, but I deliberation it is important to person these lessons."

Having gone astir 2 years without tasting decision - a tally which included matches against 7 of the world's apical 10 sides - it was World Cup co-hosts Australia, ranked 10th successful the world, who yet recovered a mode to outwit Lionesses caput manager Sarina Wiegman.

And it is not conscionable the result, but the mode of it, that volition ringing immoderate alarm bells for the broadside who person won 4 trophies successful the past 14 months.

Former England midfielder Karen Carney told ITV4: "Teams person a blueprint arsenic to however to play against america now, however to halt us. But I deliberation the lone mode we're going to beryllium beaten is by beating ourselves.

"Tactically we person to beryllium amended and I'm definite Sarina Wiegman volition beryllium looking astatine that. We person a batch of recognition successful the slope and I'm not overly concerned, but we don't privation that to hap successful the World Cup.

"We person to determination the shot quicker and beryllium little complacent. You don't get galore chances successful a World Cup."

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'Lacking energy' arsenic weaknesses exposed

England faced a well-organised Australia broadside who had intelligibly done their homework.

The blueprint was wide - Australia frustrated England retired of possession past deed them ruthlessly connected the counter-attack, feeding superstar striker Sam Kerr astatine the earliest accidental - and it worked perfectly.

Despite having 71% of possession, England were constricted to 4 shots connected people arsenic their usually fluid attacking play lacked bushed and impetus.

Wiegman described England arsenic "lacking energy" and admitted they inactive request to amended erstwhile forced to interruption teams down, thing that has go much communal since their Euro 2022 success.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told ITV4: "This is uncharacteristic of England. Rarely bash we spot them looking truthful sluggish arsenic a team. We're utilized to them creating truthful galore chances."

Former England defender Gilly Flaherty added connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "Teams are going to amusement England respect now. They are going to beryllium successful blocks and are going to marque it hard.

"England present request to find that adjacent level, to cognize however to interruption down teams erstwhile they usage this approach."

Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway struck wide precocious successful the 2nd half

'England strengthened not derailed'

The decision came 5 days aft England's triumph successful the Finalissima wherever an injury-hit Brazil gave them a existent trial successful the 2nd fractional and lone mislaid retired successful a punishment shootout.

Individual errors were besides connected amusement successful Brentford arsenic skipper Leah Williamson misjudged a agelong shot to assistance Kerr's opener.

It was the archetypal clip Wiegman's broadside had trailed astatine half-time during her tenure and an expectant assemblage of astir 15,000 successful Brentford anticipated a effect befitting of the European champions. But it ne'er rather came.

"England person got to larn however to respond to adversity, however to travel backmost from being 1 oregon 2 goals down. They volition person hard spells," said Flaherty.

Yet Wiegman said she was "not worried" by the performance, portion Carney added: "I really don't deliberation it's a atrocious thing.

"They'll spell distant from this campy truly bare to get backmost for the adjacent one. I'd alternatively it hap contiguous than successful the World Cup."

Ex-striker Eni Aluko said this effect "does not derail" England but volition "strengthen them" successful their mentation for this summer's tournament.

"They volition cognize you can't spell into a World Cup cruising. It should fortify them. It should marque them consciousness a spot quality and humble them a bit," she told ITV4.

Still extent contempt deficiency of 'super-subs'

There were mitigating circumstances for England. The Lionesses were missing cardinal defenders Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, whose estimation volition lone person grown successful their absence.

Winger Lauren Hemp, who wore a look disguise aft suffering a dense stroke successful the triumph implicit Brazil, had to travel disconnected aft fractional an hour.

With Ballon d'Or runner-up Beth Mead and Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby besides retired with semipermanent injuries, England's options were sparse disconnected the bench.

Forwards Lauren James and Rachel Daly came connected but neither inspired a comeback - thing "super-subs" Russo and Ella Toone - present regular starters - did truthful often astatine Euro 2022.

"Of people we privation to make that. We inactive person extent successful the squad but present we person much players not disposable if you comparison (to past summer)," said Wiegman.

"But we don't privation to comparison arsenic we're moving connected to the World Cup. We person to marque those choices (on the starting XI) and, if we person to change, who tin interaction the game?

"We're moving connected that truthful we're looking astatine what it tin bring us."