Sarina Wiegman has rued England Women’s inability to finish chances in 2-0 friendly win over Ghana.
England finished their Homecoming Series with a 2-0 victory over Ghana through goals from Lucia Kendall and Alessia Russo, but Wiegman rued the lack of clinical quality in the final touches from her team throughout the match.
“I had hoped we would score more,” lambasted Wiegman on her players’ poor finishing despite giving various young players a chance alongside the experienced stars.
“I think if we had taken the chances better, we should have scored more so I was a little frustrated.
“Of course, we had lots of new players but you have to find these connections and I think if we scored earlier we would have added more.”
Wiegman however did have compliments for Kendall who opened the scoring with a sixth-minute rebound effort at St Mary’s Stadium, which was where she began her career with Southampton, with the goal having been her first senior goal in her third international appearance for the Lionesses.
“It was a great moment – she celebrated like it was a Champions League final but good for her,” complimented Wiegman as she praised the 21 year-old for her performance
“When she played Australia last month she nearly had a goal and now she has that goal and it was just a brilliant moment.
“That’s what we needed today. We expected to be high on the pitch all the time so we want people to make those runs and get numbers in the box.
“We had some big opportunities but they were just on the wrong side of the post or on the crossbar.”
The friendly also marked England’s first-ever meeting against Ghana and Wiegman is still yet to avoid defeat against African opposition during her time in charge of England – having beat Nigeria on penalties in Round of 16 at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup then defeated South Africa 2-1 in a friendly in October 2024.
“We knew they were organised and they played how we expected them to play,” explained the ex Netherlands Women Manager who had anticipated plenty of duels and physical battles.
“We also know that they wanted to play duels and they have some physicality, but when we dropped them deeper they started playing out and that looked good.”
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