England suffered their first defeat under Sarina Wiegman in a 2-0 friendly home loss to Australia at Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, London.
Sam Kerr put Australia ahead with a chipped goal in the 32nd minute after she intercepted Leah Williamson’s nodded backpass.
Kerr was again involved in Australia’s second goal as she turned provider with a 67th minute cross, which Charlotte Grant headed in via Williamson’s deflection to score her first international goal.
England’s 30-match unbeaten run consequently came to an end as they now commence World Cup preparations, with Wiegman’s next task being to name her squad for the tournament in the coming weeks.
Speaking post-match to ITV4, Wiegman criticised her Lionesses for a lack of “dynamic movement” to stretch “very efficient” Australia but admitted that they needed “to be quicker, have energy, stretch them and run behind.”
Pre-match, Wiegman made two changes to her England selection as Alex Greenwood misses out due to concussion protocols and is replaced by Esme Morgan.
Lauren James meanwhile has been dropped to the bench as Chloe Kelly comes into the front three, having scored the winning penalty in their victory over Brazil in Finalissima.
Torrential weather conditions though prevented England from making their usual high-intensity start, although Russo’s fourth minute shot was saved by Mackenzie Arnold.
England’s defence though struggled with the slippery pitch at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, which allowed Hayley Raso to intercept Keira Walsh’s 11th minute pass to Morgan, yet the Australian’s shot was successfully blocked and cleared.
Australia however resiliently dug in defensively but Clare Polkinghorne was lucky to not concede a 19th minute penalty, having fouled Russo on the turn after the Manchester United forward had seen a shot blocked following her collection of Georgia Stanway’s pullback pass.
Stanway then saw a 23rd minute chipped cross into the box from a short corner saved by Arnold, who continued to brilliantly deny England with a series of saves.
Russo meanwhile wasted a huge opportunity to put England ahead in the 30th minute as she flicked Chloe Kelly’s cross wide of the bottom-right corner.
Australia two minutes later punished that error as Clare Hunt played a direct long ball up pitch which found Williamson, who could nod the ball towards Mary Earps but Kerr was alert to intercept and chip in unmarked to put the Aussies in front.
England consequetly failed to score the opening goal for only the third time under Wiegman, of which they came from behind to win on both previous occasions against Netherlands and Spain respectively last summer.
Tony Gustavsson’s Aussies though dug in deep to protect their lead until half-time despite Arnold fumbling Kelly’s cross in the third minute of injury-time, only to recover possession before Russo could pounce as England upped their intensity in a flat first-half performance.
Wiegman though opted to stick with her sluggish starting line-up after half-time but there was little improvement, despite a brief period of attacking movement in the 47th minute with no clear-cut chances.
Mary Fowler almost doubled Australia’s lead in the 50th minute as she played through Kerr who sidestepped in-between Jess Carter and Morgan, only to bend her shot wide of the bottom-left corner.
Substitute, James proved England’s brightest threat early in the second-half as she picked up Ella Toone’s 60th minute pass, only for Arnold to block her shot towards the bottom-right corner.
Kelly two minutes later rifled over the bar after she pounced upon Russo’s deflection of a clearance into her path.
England though were once again punished for a sloppy display in the 67th minute as Kerr pounced upon a direct pass towards the right flank, from which she whipped in a cross which Grant headed in via Williamson’s deflection to double the Ausssies’ lead.
Rachel Daly – who had came on as a 60th minute substitute – missed a chance to pull a goal back for the hosts, as she headed a 73rd minute cross wide of the bottom-right corner.
England eventually stepped up their intensity again but failed to find a consolatory goal, although Stanway rifled wide and saw a free-kick saved by Arnold in injury-time.
Australia ultimately held on to their two-goal lead which meant that England’s 30-match unbeaten run under Wiegman dating back to September 2021 came to an end, having won 25 games and drawn five matches during that period.
England meanwhile head into their World Cup preparation with plenty of vital lessons to review and learn from, with Wiegman now facing selection dilemmas over which players to call up for the tournament in July.
Speaking post-match to ITV4, Williamson admitted that England “lacked ideas on the ball, and we got punished.”
On her mistakes which led to both goals and England’s first defeat under Wiegman, Williamson added: “It was my mistake for first goal, and they were ruthless on counter.
“Sometimes in football you have those games. We weren’t as efficient as we usually are, we need to figure out why.
“I’m not one for dwelling on personal things, that first goal has made it worse for me but the whole teams feels really rubbish about losing. It hurts.”
What’s Next?
England are yet to announce warm-up friendlies prior to this summer’s World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand, with the Lionesses playing all of their group matches plus any knockout matches in Australia.
Australia will host France in Melbourne in a warm-up friendly on 14 July.
Teams
England: Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter (Park 84′), Leah Williamson, Esme Morgan, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone (Daly 60′), Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp (James 28′)
Substitutes: Maya Le Tissier, Ellie Roebuck, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles, Jordan Nobbs, Lauren James, Laura Coombs, Rachel Daly, Jess Park, Hannah Hampton, Katie Robinson, Lucy Parker
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold, Clare Polkinghorne, Ellie Carpenter, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Tameka Yallop (Vine 40′, Wheeler 86′), Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr (Chidiac 90+4′), Hayley Raso (Nevin 90+4′)
Substitutes: Lydia Williams, Courtney Nevin, Aivi Luik, Cortnee Vine, Teagan Micah, Larissa Crummer, Remy Siemsen, Clare Wheeler, Alex Chidiac, Jada Whyman, Amy Sayer, Matilda McNamara
Referee: Natalie Simon
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