Belgium vs England LIVE: Result and reaction as Lionesses suffer Nations League defeat
Belgium 3-2 England: A dream start for the hosts helped them get revenge for a 5-0 drubbing in Bristol last week
Belgium produced a stunning first-half performance to upset England in Leuven for a second time in three years.
Having been beaten 5-0 in Bristol on Friday, the hosts were much improved with returning skipper Tessa Wullaert making a major impact. The forward scored twice and set up another as Belgium surged into a 3-0 advantage, cutting the Lionesses to ribbons with their counter-attacking play. Without Alessia Russo and Lauren James due to injury, Sarina Wiegman’s side lacked quality and could not get into their flow of possession.
Beth Mead’s first-half penalty gave them a foothold but it took until late on for England to grab a second as debutant Michelle Agyemang made a remarkable first impression at international level. Her sublime take and volleyed finish gave the visitors hope of a late equaliser but it did not arrive, with Belgium deserved winners in the Women’s Nations League.
Re-live all of the action from Leuven in our live blog below:
Disjointed defeat to Belgium shows England’s lack of depth — and it could cost them at Euro 2025
Instinctively, England feel like a side with a lot of depth. The problem, though, is they never seem to act like a team who do. A handful of injuries can make the house of cards fall in the way it did on Tuesday as the sloppy, disjointed Lionesses were beaten by Belgium.
The only real positive came through a moment of individual brilliance from Michelle Agyemang, who produced something spectacular to net her first England goal and ensure they left with a 3-2 defeat which does not hint as much at the weaknesses in their display.
Disjointed defeat shows Lionesses lack of depth — and it could cost them at Euros
Leah Williamson speaks to ITV after England's defeat
“We started too slow,” the Lionesses skipper says. “They were very quick. We needed to figure it out a little bit quicker and we didn’t. We didn’t damage them with the ball like we did in the first game.
“Ultimately you have got to deal with players and runners better than we did today. That shouldn’t be an area of weakness for us, so we need to improve that. There is a lot of frustration but we have two more games to go. We should be winning this game, that’s why we are frustrated.
“They were a completely different side to the one in Bristol the other night and I don’t think we adapted.”
FT: Belgium 3-2 England
Serious celebrations from Belgium after the full-time whistle blows, England beaten again by a side that seems to have their number in Leuven. From 5-0 on Friday to 3-0 in half-an-hour here, the contrast was clear between the enervated side thrashed at Ashton Gate and a fully-focussed Belgian team tonight.
England rallied and Michelle Agyemang’s debut goal will live long in the memory, but it’s another difficult outing to raise questions over their depth.
Belgium 3-2 England, 90 + 4 minutes
Michelle Agyemang shows well again, winning a corner. Is this their last chance? Up comes goalkeeper Hannah Hampton...
Claimed by Lisa Lichtfus in the Belgium goal.
Belgium 3-2 England, 90 + 3 minutes
Esme Morgan is booked after reacting angrily to a Belgium foul, and then rather riskily tugs an opponent back to prevent a counter-attack developing. It’s far enough forward that no second yellow card is forthcoming.
Belgium 3-2 England, 90 + 1 minutes
Jarne Teulings is taken off. Tine De Caigny will charge about for three minutes or so as Belgium waste a bit of time.
Belgium 3-2 England, 90 minutes
Ella Toone slashes an effort a yard or so wide as the board goes up to signal four additional minutes.
Belgium 3-2 England, 89 minutes
Belgium have just calmed England a little. How much longer will the Lionesses have to hunt an equaliser?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments