More questions than answers for England in defeat

The fans were entertained astatine Wembley Stadium but the quality of overmuch of the excitement would not person been what England intended during their 4-3 decision by Germany.

This was the commencement of England's preparations to support their European crown successful Switzerland adjacent summertime and their weaknesses were ruthlessly exploited.

"It's 1 for the fans but not 1 for us," England midfielder Georgia Stanway said afterwards arsenic she reflected connected the seven-goal thriller.

It was chaotic from commencement to decorativeness arsenic Germany raced to a 3-0 pb wrong fractional an hr earlier Stanway's speedy treble closed the gap.

But idiosyncratic errors and antiaircraft frailties continued to beryllium costly for Sarina Wiegman's broadside and Germany extended their pb successful the 2nd half, yet wrapping up a deserved triumph successful London.

"I don't deliberation it's astir america not being astatine it. Germany are good. You can't backmost distant from the information they are a world-class team," said Stanway.

"They person won galore trophies successful the past and are starting a caller run conscionable similar we are. We cognize we person things to enactment on.

"As a whole, I don't deliberation we request to beryllium disappointed excessively much. We person a agelong process to beryllium close for the Euros.

"This is simply a measurement successful the absorption - whether it's a bully 1 oregon a atrocious one. It's a mode that we tin learn."

While it was lone a affable and determination are inactive much than 8 months to spell until Euro 2025, the easiness successful which Germany were capable to punish England successful the archetypal fractional was concerning.

On excessively galore occasions, England's defence was divided isolated by a azygous pass, portion the gaps crossed the transportation were alarming and idiosyncratic errors piled up.

Germany's opener came from a mistake by skipper Leah Williamson, who gave the shot consecutive to Linda Dallmann and she was brought down by Millie Bright to gain a penalty.

Jess Carter and Lauren Hemp's nonaccomplishment to way Giulia Gwinn led to the 2nd extremity and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was beaten excessively easy astatine her adjacent station erstwhile Klara Buhl fired successful a 3rd done the legs of defender Lucy Bronze.

It was a seemless watercourse of errors compounded by Germany's ruthlessness connected the counter-attack, but Wiegman insisted this was the trial they wanted.

"I didn't privation the result. I wanted america to bash a mates of things amended of people and I'm not the lone 1 - the players did too," she said.

"That was disappointing but I deliberation it was a precise high-level crippled wherever determination were truthful galore challenges for america and besides for them. That's what we wanted astatine this stage.

"It gave america truthful overmuch accusation and showed america precisely what we request to bash amended and the challenges tactically we had - and truthful did they."

Wiegman's mentation for the goals was "losing the shot successful moments we don't privation to suffer the ball", adding that England needed to enactment connected the timing of their precocious press.

Going forward, England were reasonably effective. Alessia Russo and Beth Mead caused problems, portion Ella Toone struck agonisingly wide successful the archetypal half.

They besides showed resilience to travel from 3-0 down to adjacent the spread to 3-2 soon earlier half-time - but it is wide the Lionesses person enactment to bash earlier adjacent summer.

Focus successful the build-up to the lucifer this week was connected Wiegman's squad selection, with respective regular starters struggling for home form.

Williamson, who lifted the European trophy 2 years ago, kept her spot contempt calls for Manchester City centre-back Alex Greenwood to travel in.

She struggled earlier being taken disconnected successful a planned substitution successful the 2nd half, portion in-form United midfielder Grace Clinton did not get connected the pitch.

Goalkeeper Hampton fought disconnected contention from Mary Earps for her spot - but it is not unafraid aft a mixed performance.

Wiegman was pressed connected her squad enactment but said she had nary regrets and was "happy" with the starting XI she chose.

"That's ever casual to accidental aft a game. If we had won past the question is different. I'm blessed with the starting line-up and the team," she said.

"What we wanted is to spot different players, which we did, and we cognize determination is immense contention going on. That is bully for the team."

Tottenham's Jess Naz, Manchester City's Jess Park and United skipper Maya Le Tissier were among those to travel connected arsenic substitutes, portion Greenwood replaced Williamson an hr in.

But it was the aforesaid starting XI that drew 0-0 with Sweden successful July, and 7 of the 11 players had lined up to look Germany successful the Euro 2022 final.

This was the archetypal of 4 affable matches successful 2024, giving Wiegman plentifulness of accidental to experimentation with her squad selection.

She whitethorn inactive bash that with South Africa to travel connected Tuesday, but this felt precise overmuch similar the tried and tested - and it yet failed to impress.

All successful all, England volition permission Wembley Stadium with much questions than answers.

Brighton guardant Nikita Parris, who was portion of the squad astatine Euro 2022, said it was a "disappointing night" for England but Wiegman is "not a reactionary manager".

"The show is mode disconnected wherever England privation to be," Parris told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But Wiegman won't commencement shouting oregon screaming - she volition [react] successful a wide and concise way. She is precise methodical successful her mindset and however she sees the game.

"For sure, the girls are disappointed and they volition cognize from Sarina's assemblage connection that she is disappointed.

"She volition beryllium pointing fingers and saying 'I request much from you here'. That's the benignant of manager she is and wherefore she has the respect of the full team."