Yahoo Sports England fall short in 7-goal Wembley thriller against Germany
England and Germany played out a chaotic seven-goal thriller at Wembley on Friday as the road to Euro 2025 began in earnest.
A quite ridiculous first half exploded into life after just three minutes. A sloppy pass from Lionesses skipper Leah Williamson put Giulia Gwinn through on goal. Trying her best to track back, Millie Bright could only foul the German captain for a penalty. Gwinn picked herself up and rifled home past Hannah Hampton.
Early German goals set the tone
Worse was to come for England. They initially thought they had equalised after 11 minutes through Alessia Russo. Wembley erupted, but the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. Straight from the resulting free-kick, Klara Bühl set Gwinn away with a sensational cross-field ball. As the England defence scrambled back, Gwinn had acres of space and made no mistake with an unerring finish low into Hampton’s right corner.
England still created chances, and barely a couple of minutes later, Russo struck the post.
The game seemed to be all but over with just under 30 minutes played when Germany added a third. It was a counter-attack of the highest class that started on the edge of their box.
Working their way through the England team, Giovanna Hoffman’s wonderful through ball took the back four out of the game. Bühl was on the receiving end and still had plenty to do but slammed her shot under Hampton at the near post.
England’s penalty brings them back into contention
Eventually, the Lionesses got going via a penalty of their own after VAR intervened. Georgia Stanway’s spot kick had just enough on it to slip past Ann-Katrin Berger.
Two minutes later, Sarina Wiegman’s side were really in business. Russo’s ball out wide was put back into the middle by Beth Mead, and Stanway was there to bag her second of the night. A Wembley crowd that had been stunned into silence was now bouncing.
The most remarkable of comebacks should’ve been completed by Ella Toone straight from the restart. A loose ball was pounced on, and Toone was put in on goal. But she put her shot wide with only Berger to beat.
There was still time at the end of a frenetic 45 minutes for Linda Dallmann to force Hampton into a wonderful save, tipping the ball onto the bar.
A chaotic second half and missed chances
The second half was a thankfully more serene affair. The hosts started well, camping in the German half for the opening minutes. But, as was the story of the game, defensive lapses looked to have cost England. Germany added a fourth, but this time, the offside flag denied them.
England were causing all their own problems. Bühl was denied twice more by Hampton.
With 20 minutes left, the Chelsea keeper dropped a routine free-kick. The resulting scramble led to a German player being fouled, and the referee awarded another spot kick. Sara Däbritz stepped up to slot her penalty home past the despairing dive of Hampton.
Seven minutes later, England were denied again by the flag. This time it was Lauren Hemp who was frustrated as her well-placed curling effort was chalked off.
Defensive struggles continue for the Lionesses
England did get a third with 10 minutes to play. Berger dropped a seemingly routine Hemp free-kick, and Lucy Bronze made no mistake to give the Lionesses hope.
A couple of late set-pieces amounted to nothing for England as Germany held on for the win.
Then, the referee brought an end to a frustrating night for Sarina Wiegman’s side. They most probably should have grabbed a draw. But the defensive frailties of England that Germany so routinely exposed will be a huge concern.
