England boss Sarina Wiegman maintained full religion in her facet to stage the beautiful second-half comeback that lifted the Lionesses to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands of their penultimate Ladies’s Nations League group-stage conflict at Wembley.
Needing a victory to stay in rivalry to complete high in Group A1 and advance within the match, which serves as a qualifier for subsequent summer season’s Olympics in Paris, England shortly dug themselves a gap after Lineth Beerensteyn netted twice earlier than the break to place the Dutch 2-0 up.
However the Lionesses battled again after the restart on a frigid night time in London, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp stoking the group again right into a frenzy by the hour mark earlier than substitute Ella Toone sealed a dramatic victory in stoppage time.
Ella Toone loves scoring huge targets at Wembley. pic.twitter.com/FCg8wvdwk7
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
Wiegman stated: “I used to be truly fairly calm. I used to be very dissatisfied they scored the second objective as a result of I didn’t assume we performed dangerous. The second objective we have been a little bit bit unfortunate, it was an pointless objective. We didn’t play dangerous however we would have liked some extra. We really believed we may flip it round. We by no means misplaced belief.
“At half-time we stated the sport was completely not over and that if we rating a objective they will grow to be a bit shaky.
“They have been fighting the defence with how we performed in assault. We additionally did a tactical factor we would have liked to do higher in defence. We stated everybody wanted to step up and produce one thing additional. You would inform the gamers gave every thing as a result of they have been actually drained.”
It leaves England in second place within the group, degree on factors with the Netherlands and one in entrance of Belgium, forward of concluding their group matches by taking part in Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday. Belgium drew 1-1 with Scotland in Friday’s different Group A1 contest.
All to play for in #UWNL Group A1 – with one sport remaining! pic.twitter.com/mux5FvtjUy
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
England and the Dutch are degree by way of head-to-head file, with the latter – who face Belgium at house subsequent week – having a objective distinction superior by three, whereas England will end their group stage away at relegated Scotland on Tuesday.
Regardless of the victory, England’s keeper Mary Earps was left in tears as she spoke post-match in regards to the two targets the Lionesses conceded, the second of which noticed her get her glove to the ball solely to see it slip previous her and trickle in – one thing that left the Manchester United stopper beating the turf in frustration.
Understanding England wanted to win by two targets to take over on the high of the group, Earps instructed ITV: “I assumed the ladies have been unbelievable to return again into the sport. I assumed they have been unbelievable, the subs that come on impacted the sport.
“I’m simply sorry that my efficiency has price the group tonight.
“That [second goal] will hang-out me for a very long time as we speak, I’m actually gutted as a result of it may have been a extremely particular night time.
“The group have been unbelievable, don’t get me mistaken, the targets are unbelievable, the way in which that they performed and moved it round confirmed nice persistence at occasions, actual tenacity, actual depth to the play.
“I’m a competitor however when it’s not adequate, it’s not adequate and I can solely apologise to my team-mates and to the followers, I take that totally with my complete chest.”
The apology was totally pointless for Wiegman, who stated: “I spoke to her very shortly and I don’t need her to speak like that.
“We win as a group and lose as a group. That’s a part of the sport. In fact she didn’t just like the group down, everybody does her greatest. You solely let the group down whenever you don’t put effort into the sport and we by no means don’t put effort in.
“Everybody stepped up. We wanted to step up as a group. I feel everybody did that.”
