Sarina Wiegman blasts ‘sloppy’ England Lionesses after shock Nations League defeat
'Not good enough!'
Sarina Wiegman blasted her ‘sloppy’ Lionesses team after they lost 3-2 to Belgium in the Women’s Nations League on Tuesday night.
It was a poor away performance from England, who found themselves 3-0 down with just 29 minutes on the clock to leave Wiegman disappointed.
Tessa Wullaert, who plays her club football for Inter Milan, scored twice while Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet also netted for the home team.
Beth Mead scored from the penalty spot to reduce Belgium’s lead while Michelle Agyemang, making her debut, also got on the scoresheet late-on.
Speaking after the match, England’s Dutch manager Wiegman told ITV: ‘We started really sloppy and they exposed us. Then you are down very quickly.
‘We conceded three goals within half an hour which is not good enough. We played a better second half but overall it was not good enough.
‘We expected this and planned for this and knew it was going to be a different game [from the 5-0 home win over Belgium on Friday night].
‘This game also had to do with being really focused and that’s what we didn’t do the first 30 minutes. That is the biggest lesson we have learned today.’
Former Lionesses star Karen Carney believes that the result is a ‘reality check’ for England, who’ve now fallen behind Spain in League A Group 3.
‘I think the last three games I have been really pleased,’ Carney said. ‘It is a bit of a reality check for the group. We’ll be out of things if we defend like that.’
Agyemang, meanwhile, was left delighted following her debut goal for England, finding the back of the net just 41 seconds after she was introduced.
The 19-year-old, who earned her first senior England call-up this month to replace the injured Alessia Russo in the squad, came on for Jessica Park in the 80th minute.
‘It means a lot to me,’ Agyemang said. ‘I’m really grateful for the opportunity for my debut and to come and score my first goal.
‘Unlucky with the result but I think the team put a lot of effort in and on another day, that’s three points.
‘It was a great ball from Leah [Williamson] and as soon as I touched it, I just thought, ‘Hit it’ – I’m really grateful and really proud of myself.
‘I think there’s a lot more [to come from me]. I want to go out there, put the work in, score goals, and help the team win games. That’s what I’m here for.’
England’s last two Women’s Nations League matches come on May 30 and June 3 respectively when they face Portugal and then Spain.
The Lionesses are then in action at the 2025 Women’s Euros in July, with Wiegman’s team in a group with France, the Netherlands and Wales.
