“Two set-pieces killed us,” said England captain Leah Williamson.
On the surface that summed up the Lionesses’ “really disappointing” and “unnecessary”, in manager Sarina Wiegman’s words, 2-1 European Championship qualifier defeat by France at Newcastle’s St James’ Park on Friday.
England know France are threatening from set pieces and yet allowed their opponents opportunities to have them and then failed to deal with them. Perhaps it may have been different had goalkeeper Mary Earps, who was forced off with a hip injury in the first minute, been commanding her team-mates from the two corners that undid England. Let’s not take anything away from Elisa De Almeida and Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s exceptional finishes either side of half-time though.
England’s issues, however, run deeper than defensive set pieces. They neither looked after the ball well enough all over the pitch nor created clear-cut chances in front of goal. Wiegman opted for the centre-back partnership of Leah Williamson and Millie Bright, a winning combination at the 2022 European Championship but one which she had not used since February 2023 in a 6-1 win over Belgium.
Bright then sustained a knee injury a month later which ruled her out until the World Cup while Williamson ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in April of the same year. In the Belgium game, 16 months ago, Alex Greenwood played at left-back but against France the most in-form England defender, who can play left-centre-back or left-back, was left on the bench.
Earps leaves the pitch on crutches after defeat by France (Photo: DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
When asked about the Manchester City player’s omission, Wiegman acknowledged Greenwood’s competence and impressive season but stood by her decision, explaining Bright and Williamson were chosen because of France’s pace and power. Yet Wiegman also preferred Jess Carter over Greenwood at left-back — resulting in a back-line of four right-footed defenders — and presumably wanted more pace, a one v one specialist and no-nonsense approach against France’s wingers Kadidiatou Diani and Delphine Cascarino.
But Les Bleues did not target England’s full-backs as much as expected and rarely exploited the space in behind. For all of Carter’s defensive attributes, she does not have the ball progressing qualities of Greenwood and Wiegman’s side lacked creativity and a natural left-footer on that side.
The defence gave away the ball far too often. Bright, who only returned from a recurring knee niggle for Chelsea last month, looked rusty with some wayward passes and heavy touches although her physical presence against Katoto was noted. Williamson, meanwhile, also conceded possession at times but her line-breaking ball to Ella Toone for England’s goal proved why she is instrumental to breaking opponents down.
Although England dominated possession (58 to 42 per cent) and had more shots (12 to France’s seven), they only created half chances. Against France, England registered only a slightly higher expected goals (xG) total (1.19) than their 1-1 drawn against Sweden in April, at the time, their fourth-lowest xG (1.11) since the start of the World Cup.
The second half felt flat and yet Wiegman waited until the 79th minute to make substitutions, bringing on Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly for Georgia Stanway and Beth Mead respectively.
“I took so long because I thought we played well,” Wiegman said. Neither replacement has played regular minutes nor been in good form for their club and yet Wiegman had, admittedly more inexperienced but equally capable options in Aggie Beever-Jones, Grace Clinton and Jess Park at her disposal. Wiegman explained Kelly “could bring something extra with her crosses and pace” while Kirby, a “smart”, “experienced” player with “game intelligence”, in theory provided a more attacking threat but neither could make enough of an impact in the fifteen minutes they had on the pitch.
England now sit third in their group, tied on points with Sweden but with an inferior goal difference and although all four sides could still qualify for the 2025 Euros — two through the play-offs — it is their first defeat in European qualifying since 2002. They are now on a run of just three clean sheets in 14 games, against Scotland, Belgium and Ireland.
Wiegman denied there were concerns and said her team played better in and out of possession against France than Ireland and Sweden but also nodded to the strength in opposition. France beat Sweden 1-0 away and also made the Nations League final, succumbing to World Cup champions Spain 2-0, having beaten Germany in the semi-finals. France understandably celebrated victory over the reigning champions in front of 42,561 fans in their own backyard, a feat only achieved once before in Wiegman’s 50 games in charge — a 2-0 defeat to Australia last April. France manager Herve Renard, who was serving a touchline ban, said: “It’s important to send a signal to our opponents.”
England are still in a rut and have a quick turnaround to address shortcomings before playing France away in four day’s time. “All eyes are on Tuesday,” said Stanway. “We have to get that win.”
(Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
