England boss Sarina Wiegman conceded she was “upset” after her defending champions may solely handle a 1-1 draw with Sweden to kick off their Euro 2025 qualifying marketing campaign at Wembley.
Alessia Russo nodded residence Lauren James’ supply to open the scoring within the twenty fourth minute, however it was the guests who appeared likelier to attain as half-time approached.
The Lionesses preserved their lead till the sixty fourth minute, when England’s focus switched off and allowed Fridolina Rolfo to float in and nod substitute Rosa Kafaji’s supply previous Mary Earps.
THANK YOU, @wembleystadium! pic.twitter.com/NzeyeX4Opa
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 5, 2024
Wiegman stated: “I believe this group is absolutely robust. After all I’m upset, as a result of we all the time need to win.
“I believe we scored a fantastic purpose, there was momentum within the sport, we performed nicely and we stored the ball somewhat longer.
“Second half I assumed the purpose was actually pointless. They scored as a result of we gave away a throw-in and from that throw-in we weren’t capable of take out the cross they usually scored from that. That was disappointing.
“As we see Sweden is a really robust opponent. I do assume we may have achieved a few issues higher, but additionally confirmed Sweden gave us a tough time in the mean time.
“We simply need to be taught from these video games, we need to do higher each sport as different nations need to do too. I believe it simply reveals how shut and the way tight our competitors is.”
England have been maybe fortunate that Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius, who supplied the successful strike within the Gunners’ League Cup last victory on Sunday, didn’t resolve one other contest this week.
She got here achingly shut when she discovered herself one-on-one with Earps shortly after the equaliser, as an alternative directing her effort simply extensive of the England goalkeeper’s proper publish.
Wiegman made 4 second-half modifications and staged a late rally, however have been unable to seek out the final touch earlier than the whistle blew on three minutes of added time.
Leah Williamson, who captained the Lionesses to their European triumph at Wembley in 2022, watched everything of the competition from the bench, virtually a yr out from her final England look.
The Arsenal defender, who was dominated out of final summer time’s World Cup after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament, has skilled plenty of setbacks since returning to the Gunners in January.
Wiegman, nevertheless, was fast to substantiate her resolution to bench the 27-year-old had nothing to do with health issues that plagued Williamson within the build-up to those qualifiers, after she was substituted within the second half of the League Cup last.
She firmly acknowledged: “She just isn’t injured in any other case she wouldn’t have been within the squad, and I might have informed you that she was injured.”
The England boss additionally disagreed with hypothesis by some pundits that she had prematurely substituted her goalscorer, who was swapped for Chloe Kelly within the 79th minute, explaining: “Alessia performed nicely however tactically we needed to alter a few issues. We introduced Lauren Hemp inside. We simply needed one thing somewhat bit totally different.”
A robust shift, @keira_walsh #Lionesses | @weetabix pic.twitter.com/MK4A3gq6go
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 5, 2024
The final time these two sides confronted one another was within the semi-finals of Euro 2022, when Russo memorably scored an audacious backheel within the 4-0 victory to earn a nomination for FIFA’s purpose of the yr.
Friday’s assembly was a a lot nearer affair, with Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson later revealing he was happy by the best way his aspect’s plan to close down England midfielder Keira Walsh – who wore the captain’s armband – had labored.
He stated: “It’s one level every now, and it’s 5 extra video games. We don’t know what will occur.”
