England boss Sarina Wiegman maintained full religion in her facet to stage the gorgeous second-half comeback that lifted the Lionesses to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands of their penultimate Girls’s Nations League group-stage conflict at Wembley.
Needing a victory to stay in competition to complete high in Group A1 and advance within the event, which serves as a qualifier for subsequent summer time’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 gang 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 large objectives at Wembley. pic.twitter.com/FCg8wvdwk7
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
Wiegman stated: “I used to be really fairly calm. I used to be very disenchanted they scored the second objective as a result of I didn’t suppose we performed unhealthy. The second objective we have been a little bit bit unfortunate, it was an pointless objective. We didn’t play unhealthy however we would have liked some extra. We really believed we might 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’ll develop into a bit shaky.
“They have been scuffling with 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 could possibly inform the gamers gave all the things as a result of they have been actually drained.”
It leaves England in second place within the group, stage on factors with the Netherlands and one in entrance of Belgium, forward of concluding their group matches by enjoying 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 recreation remaining! pic.twitter.com/mux5FvtjUy
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 1, 2023
England and the Dutch are stage 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 objectives 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.
Figuring out England wanted to win by two objectives to take over on the high of the group, Earps informed 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 value the staff tonight.
“That [second goal] will hang-out me for a very long time at this time, I’m actually gutted as a result of it might have been a extremely particular night time.
“The staff have been unbelievable, don’t get me fallacious, the objectives are unbelievable, the best way 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 staff and lose as a staff. That’s a part of the sport. After all she didn’t just like the staff down, everybody does her greatest. You solely let the staff down once you don’t put effort into the sport and we by no means don’t put effort in.
“Everybody stepped up. We would have liked to step up as a staff. I feel everybody did that.”