Sarina Wiegman has urged her gamers to ‘stick collectively’ after the damage of struggling their heaviest defeat in 17 years.
The Lionesses had been outclassed in a 4-0 defeat to Spain in Mallorca which implies automated qualification to the 2027 World Cup is now out of their palms.
Targets from Pati Guijarro, Claudia Pina and a double from Alexia Putellas put England to the sword, leaving them second in Group A3 with only one sport left to play.
The result’s the largest margin of defeat by an England facet because the Euro 2009 ultimate (6-2 vs Germany), and Wiegman has admitted that the way of the end result hurts each her and her gamers.
“In fact it hurts,” Wiegman mentioned in her post-match press convention.
“I hoped for a very totally different sport. I anticipated a good sport, a really aggressive sport. However there was a distinction tonight.
“We needed to press excessive in moments, however they performed straight over our press and even when we dropped just a little bit, they might play.
“They received their first purpose which was a deflection, we misplaced the ball the place you do not wish to lose it. After that, we did not get any momentum.
“We had been actually struggling to maintain the ball and discover longer passes, or play it in behind. They performed very well, and we did not play so effectively.
“We had been actually struggling to maintain compact with out the ball, even in our personal half.
“What I am attempting to do now’s assume what brought about this. What went actually flawed, did we execute our sport plan very well? I do not assume so. Attributable to ourselves but in addition by Spain.
“I am pissed off and really disillusioned however so are the gamers. It hurts as a result of we’ve misplaced a few instances however by no means by a couple of purpose.”
Qualification probabilities slim however England should reply vs Ukraine
With their path to Brazil subsequent yr now out of their palms, Wiegman isn’t getting distracted by discuss of automated qualification or play-offs. As an alternative, she is concentrated on seeing a response from her crew on the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday evening.
“If we qualify, there is a totally different preparation than if we do not. To begin with, we’re actually specializing in Tuesday. We wish to get a great efficiency in that sport, and win – that is a very powerful factor.
“After that, we all know what it is about. Spain should go to Iceland too, we have seen how arduous that sport is. Let’s have a look at what occurs on Tuesday. The primary chance is we qualify, relying on Spain, and the opposite is we’re in a play-off.
“I desire a response, that we’re a crew, a robust crew and play a robust crew on Tuesday and stick collectively. That is a very powerful factor.”
Stanway ‘very, very disillusioned’ with England efficiency
England midfielder Georgia Stanway reacts to the 4-0 loss to Spain within the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup UEFA qualifiers
England midfielder Georgia Stanway on Sky Sports activities Information:
“The higher crew received. There’s not a lot we are able to say, we lacked high quality and had been just a little bit late in all areas. We missed timings, we had been late to the ball, their high quality was stronger than ours.
“We’re disillusioned, Spain beat us at residence, we beat them at residence. We’re stage on factors and there is a lot to play for on this group. Our full focus is on Tuesday.
“Now we have to undergo it, analyse it and choose it aside. In fact, it is troublesome being a midfielder, you are within the combine on a regular basis.
“It will be attention-grabbing to see how we are able to change our form or alter these totally different components to cease these objectives.
“We knew coming right here was going to be powerful. They have a very good residence document, we mentioned earlier than the sport they’re among the finest groups on the planet they usually cease you from enjoying your sport, however take over possession too.
“We’re very, very disillusioned with as we speak however we wish to thank the followers for coming over – and now full focus is on Tuesday.”
What’s subsequent for the Lionesses?
Sarina Wiegman’s facet will look to mud themselves off and choose up a win in opposition to Ukraine of their ultimate 2027 World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Tuesday on the Hill Dickinson Stadium, kick-off 8pm.
