England Falls to Germany in Seven-Goal Friendly Thriller

England suffered a disappointing defeat against Germany in a thrilling seven-goal friendly, revisiting the stage of their Euro 2022 final at Wembley. The match proved chaotic with England unable to control the game and quickly falling 3-0 within the first 30 minutes. Germany’s captain, Giulia Gwinn scored two goals including a penalty before Klara Buhl added a third, stunning the Lionesses on home soil.

England fought back with a quick double from Georgia Stanway, narrowing the deficit and they nearly equalized as Alessia Russo hit the post and had a goal disallowed for offside. Despite their efforts, England’s defensive frailties emerged as Germany exploited gaps in their backline. In the second half, referees penalized Russo for a challenge in her own area, allowing Sara Dabritz to score from the spot and extend Germany’s lead to 4-2.

Lucy Bronze pulled one back for England after Germany’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger fumbled a free-kick delivery, but the home side, who dramatically won the Euro 2022 final, couldn’t find an equalizer. The match featured two hits on the woodwork and three disallowed goals—two for England and one for Germany—entertaining the fans while exposing England’s defensive weaknesses.

While supporters hoped for a repeat of the Euro 2022 excitement, the match highlighted England’s need for improvement before the next European Championship in Switzerland. Despite the loss, England showed resilience and attacking intent, giving head coach Sarina Wiegman plenty to consider ahead of the upcoming tournament. If they want to defend their title, England must address their defensive lapses and capitalize on scoring opportunities.