Sarina Wiegman admits England learned ‘hard lesson’ against Belgium

Sarina Wiegman expressed her disappointment after England’s 3-2 loss to Belgium in the Nations League, stating that they made it difficult for themselves and that it was a “hard lesson” for the team.

England initially fell behind to an early free-kick from Laura De Neve and also suffered a setback when defender Alex Greenwood was injured and had to be carried off on a stretcher. However, they managed to turn the game around with goals from Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby. Unfortunately, Belgium equalized just before half-time and then secured the win with an 85th-minute penalty.

Wiegman acknowledged that England had dominated the game and created numerous chances, but they were not efficient in possession and allowed Belgium to exploit their counter-attacks. She emphasized the need to improve in the final third and avoid losing the ball in crucial moments.

This loss puts England in a difficult position in Group A1, with two games remaining. They currently sit in third place, three points behind the Netherlands and one point behind Belgium. If they want to secure a qualification spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics, they need to finish at the top of the group.

The upcoming fixtures for England include a crucial match against the Netherlands at Wembley, followed by a game against Scotland at Hampden Park. It is essential for England to win both matches in order to have a chance at claiming the top spot in the group.

Despite the defeat, Wiegman remains optimistic but acknowledges the challenging position they are in. She emphasized the need to improve their performance and achieve positive results in the remaining games.

Furthermore, Wiegman provided an update on the condition of Alex Greenwood, stating that she is conscious and talking and being monitored by the medical staff.