England’s puzzling form continued with a defeat in Belgium but Sarina Wiegman insisted she is unconcerned and believes the result will help her side in the long run.
From 3-0 down, the Lionesses attempted a stunning comeback, helped by a world-class debut goal from the striker Michelle Agyemang, but it was too little too late. Having seemed to be back to their entertaining best when emphatically beating Belgium on home soil on Friday, an injury-hit England side produced a wholly contrasting first‑half display in Leuven and could have no complaints about the scoreline.
“It’s April now. I’m not concerned,” Wiegman said. “Although this doesn’t feel good, it’s a huge learning for us. They [Belgium] actually played as we expected. We know it was going to be totally different [to Friday].
“There are a lot of different circumstances. Friday was all good and we were 5-0 up. We just stay neutral. There are things in your journey that go well and things that don’t go well. Tonight was a disappointment but there were a lot of learnings.”
One thing she will have learnt is that they have a magical talent on their hands. Brought on as a substitute for the final 10 minutes with England trailing 3-1, with her first two touches of senior international football the 19-year-old Agyemang controlled the ball with her thigh and volleyed home an outstanding, instinctive finish that gave the visitors hope of a late comeback, but they were unable to add to that magical moment and were left to rue their poor first-half performance.
With this result England drop to second in their Women’s Nations League group with a total of seven points from four games, behind a Spain side who moved top courtesy of their 7-1 victory against Portugal. More pertinently, with just under three months before the start of the European Championship in Switzerland, the first 45 minutes of this game was another reminder that England must improve significantly and become more consistent if they are to retain their title.
The first goal, scored inside four minutes, was alarmingly simple from an England point of view. A routine ball over the top of the Chelsea left-back Niamh Charles was latched on to by the fit-again Belgium captain, Tessa Wullaert, and she proved too quick for the England backline, having plenty of time to pick her spot and place the ball low into the far corner past Hannah Hampton. It was the hosts’ first attack and the European champions proved powerless to stop their break upfield.
For England’s coaching staff, the second Belgium goal will also have been worryingly easy, with the tallest player on the pitch heading in from a set piece. The Everton midfielder Justine Vanhaevermaet beat Leah Williamson in the air and looped her header into the corner from the Inter striker Wullaert’s well-placed free-kick delivery.
When the third Belgium goal went in before the half hour, England were in truly uncharted territory in the Wiegman era and facing something of a humiliation. This time it was a well‑worked Belgium move that dragged the England back four across to the right and Wullaert beat Millie Bright to meet the low cross played in from the left by Davina Philtjens. The travelling England fans behind that goal could scarcely believe their eyes.
Defensively from the Lionesses it was all too reminiscent of their most recent visit to this stadium in October 2023, albeit with different personnel. On that night they were beaten 3-2 after being unable to contend with the pace of Wullaert on the counterattack. Admittedly, England had been depleted by injuries since the resounding win at Ashton Gate on Friday, with the Arsenal striker Alessia Russo and the Chelsea forward Lauren James – who both looked in excellent form in Bristol – returning to their clubs for treatment, with Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp also among the injured forwards.
Scotland took a deserved lead into half-time against Germany in Wolfsburg – only to concede six goals in 25 minutes. The Scots were much improved in the first period after losing 4-0 against the same opponents at Tannadice on Friday and Caroline Weir capped an impressive showing with the opening goal five minutes before the break. However, Scotland capitulated after the interval as they suffered a 6-1 defeat, Selina Cerci scoring a hat-trick, to remain without a point after four games.
Kirsty Hanson and Claire Emslie were among four players drafted in after the defeat in Dundee and both had an impact as Scotland caused problems.
Emslie and Lauren Davidson forced saves and Scotland defended well while showing composure and confidence on the ball. They took the lead after winning the ball back just inside the German half – Hanson's shot was spilled and Weir showed skill and composure to finish from close range.
Germany made changes and the second half was a different ball game. The hosts hit the post shortly before Cerci headed the equaliser from a 51st-minute corner. The same player scored from close range five minutes later after a second German header hit the bar.
A slick passing move and a clever finish from Giovanna Hoffmann made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute and the forward scored again almost from the restart after she was left unmarked. Laura Freigang made it three goals in four minutes with a back-heel finish but she was allowed too much space from the Scotland defence.
Hanson should have had a penalty but the referee waved play on and Cerci completed her hat-trick with a brilliant strike.
Hannah Cain struck in the second half to earn Wales a 1-1 draw in their match against Sweden in Gothenburg. Only four minutes after coming on as a substitute, Cain collected a 68th-minute pass from Rachel Rowe and rounded goalkeeper Jennifer Falk before finishing via a post.
Sweden had taken the lead through Magdalena Eriksson on the hour and while the Group A4 pacesetters dominated the closing stages, they were unable to find a winner. It is the second time they have drawn 1-1 with Sweden having held the group favourites to the same scoreline in Wrexham in February. Wales remain bottom of the group on two points.
Republic of Ireland maintained the pressure on leaders Slovenia with a 2-1 win against Greece in Dublin. The gap remains at three points after Carla Ward's side responded to Slovenia's victory over Turkey earlier in the day to stay in touch in Group B2.
Ireland had not lost to Greece in any of their eight previous meetings and Amber Barrett's ninth-minute penalty – her eighth international goal – after Leanne Kiernan was brought down, set them on their way to extend that run.
Five minutes after half-time, Anna Patten headed home Megan Campbell's corner to give them a cushion, which was needed as Veatriki Sarri pulled one back in the 72nd minute.
Northern Ireland slashed Poland's lead at the top of Group B1 of the Women's Nations League to three points with a 1-0 victory over Romania at Windsor Park.
Kascie Weir fired the hosts ahead in the eighth minute following a slick passing move that began close to the halfway line, with Keri Halliday providing the killer ball.
But they could not produce a second despite controlling the game against the group's bottom placed side, who threatened to grab an equaliser late on.
Northern Ireland are now three points behind Poland after their rivals were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina. PA Media
After Beth Mead pulled a goal back from the visitors with a crisply converted penalty shortly before the break, Wiegman made changes in the second half and England went close when a long‑range Williamson strike was tipped over the crossbar and Lucy Bronze headed wide from a Mead cross, before the Brighton youngster Agyemang – who is on loan with the Sussex club from Arsenal – introduced herself to the national team in style.
Wiegman praised the debutant’s strike, saying: “She came in and did really well. She scored an incredible goal, the composure she has and the calmness. I think we do have to celebrate that a little for her. We haven’t done now because overall we are disappointed, but that was really good.”
