England experienced their worst defeat of Sarina Wiegman’s reign as a nightmare night was compounded by a serious head personal injury to Alex Greenwood.
The Lionesses hopes of topping their Nations League team and qualifying for the Olympics is now out of their hands, but the 13-moment stoppage for Greenwood, who was taken off on a stretcher, was of equal issue.
The Lionesses bench looked right away anxious when Greenwood went down in the 19th minute subsequent a collision with Jassina Blom. Six paramedics and 4 members of England’s medial group attended to the defender, who was provided oxygen.
Greenwood was placed in a neck brace as she went off but was found squeezing the hand of group-mate Millie Bright as she left the pitch. UEFA’s regulations do not allow for for concussion substitutes, which exist in the Women’s Tremendous League, with England manager Sarina Wiegman contacting for ‘consistency’.
Greenwood, just one of the stars of England’s Globe Cup marketing campaign, was conscious and strolling by total-time but was heavily missed in defence as her workforce-mates capitualted on a depressing night time in Leuven.
A disappointing loss for England was compounded by the worrying damage of Alex Greenwood
Greenwood went down in the 19th minute following a collision with Jassina Blom
Greenwood was attended to by health care employees on the pitch for roughly 13 minutes
Even though it was a stressing scene, a subsequent article from the Lionesses’ formal X account claimed Greenwood was ‘conscious and chatting, and… currently being monitored by our health-related staff members.’
And Wiegman stated of the Manchester Town player: ‘I have not talked to the professional medical workers still… She’s alright – when she’s going for walks, she’s alright.’
‘Of class we are very let down, pissed off also. I consider this was unwanted,’ Wiegman additional when reflecting on the game by itself.
‘We had been much too sloppy. We were being in possession so significantly more than they were, and we did produce so many chances, but we are struggling to get the ball in the net.
‘We have work to do.’
Belgium had taken an unlikely guide 8 minutes prior to Greenwood’s withdrawal when Laura De Neve’s totally free-kick deceived England’s five-player wall and goalkeeper Mary Earps to conclusion up in the base correct corner.
England had been stage shortly right after Greenwood left the pitch, as Chloe Kelly’s absolutely free-kick picked out Lucy Bronze, who despatched a header into the leading right corner.
The Lionesses then took the direct by means of a effectively-labored staff target. Keira Walsh performed in Lauren Hemp down the still left. She reduce the ball back to Fran Kirby, who put a serene complete into the base ideal corner.
A exceptional vibrant observe on the evening was Fran Kirby’s aim on her return to the squad soon after personal injury
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The get sees Belgium leapfrog England into next location of the Nations League group
Sarina Wiegman admitted that her workforce were sloppy in possession as fell to defeat
But England were being the constructs of their have downfall as they gifted Belgium an equaliser in added time. Justine Vanhaevermaet pounced on Georgia Stanway’s loose pass to play in Tessa Wullaert, who concluded neatly earlier Earps.
England controlled possession but struggled to split down a resolute Belgian defence and essential a massive help you save from Earps to deny Wullaert on the hour mark.
But Earps could do very little to protect against Wullaert scoring the winner from the penalty location in the 85th moment soon after Stanway had been penalised for handball.
The consequence indicates England’s fate is out of their arms. They will require to beat the Netherlands and Scotland in December and hope Belgium fall details in their remaining fixtures.