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Perhaps the only positive for England is there can be no avoiding the reality now. For the Lionesses, there was no repeat of their glorious victory over Germany at Wembley. Instead, a rematch of the Euro 2022 final served up a warning ahead of England’s European Championship defence next summer. The Lionesses were complacent and error-strewn as a refreshed, reshaped Germany team repeatedly tore through them. Had it not been for Germany’s own calamitous defending, the scoreline could have been even more of an embarrassment.
England conceding four at home should be enough as it is. That this was a friendly does not hide the fact it was a bad night for Sarina Wiegman, her worst as England manager, but there is an argument that a wake-up call like this was needed ahead of Euro 2025. If the manager has been accused of being too loyal to too many of her players who won the Euros and reached the World Cup final, there is an even greater case to finally change her first-choice team. There are too many still starting for England who are living off their reputations, at least on current form.
It should not be said that this team lacks character. From three goals down inside half an hour, England rallied and pulled two back through a double from Georgia Stanway. The period where Germany raced into their lead was alarming enough, however, raising questions over England’s defensive structure and Wiegman’s selection. Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, in particular, are out of form at a struggling Arsenal and it showed. It was the captain’s early mistake, resulting in Germany’s first penalty, that set the tone for an England performance littered with errors from start to end.
Wiegman may reflect that she got the big calls wrong. Perhaps a 4-3 defeat at home could be framed as acceptable if the Lionesses had tried out some new ideas. Instead, the problems stemmed from Wiegman not changing at all, apart from Hannah Hampton replacing Mary Earps in goal. Williamson and Millie Bright were England’s best centre-back partnership at the Euros two years ago. Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway were England’s undisputed midfield pairing at the same tournament. That does not mean they are now, but Wiegman has been hesitant to try anything new so a challenge can be made to the starting order.
Williamson knew this was a big night. The England captain had referenced the “noise” around her performances for Arsenal this season after returning from her long-term injury layoff but reclaimed her place ahead of Alex Greenwood, who is impressing at the heart of a Manchester City team that has defeated Barcelona this season. Williamson’s disastrous back-pass led to Germany’s opener inside four minutes, as Bright fouled Linda Dallmann in the box and Giulia Gwinn converted one of three penalties on the night.
Between them, England’s back four were all culpable at points of the first-half collapse. For the second, Jess Carter was dragged out of position and Gwinn could not believe the room she was given to smash past Hampton. England were porous, failing with their press and repeatedly losing the ball in midfield. Germany could counter-attack with ease. The third came as Germany broke and switched to Klara Buhl, who cut inside Lucy Bronze and beat Hampton at her near post. Bronze’s defending was statuesque.
Germany have taken a very different path to England since the Euros final. They crashed out of last year’s World Cup in the group stages and have since waved farewell to several veterans of the national team, including legendary striker Alexandra Popp. But there is promise now under new head coach Christian Wuck, who saw his front three come alive on his first game in charge. Buhl, Jule Brand and Dallmann displayed all the energy and movement that England lacked for long spells. Even after the Lionesses fought their back before half time, Germany simply reasserted their authority. They were far quicker and sharper throughout.
Wiegman had made one significant change, in starting Hampton ahead of England fan favourite and two-time Fifa Best goalkeeper Earps. Though this was a strange night for her as well. Hampton kept England in the game with a string of fine saves once Germany reestablished their superiority, including a superb stop to tip Dallmann’s long-range striker onto the crossbar just before half time, and another to deny Brand after a sensational run through England’s defence.
