DERBY, England — England cruised to a cushty 3-0 win over Australia, compounding the Matildas’ ache from their 2023 World Cup semifinal defeat. But the victory was overshadowed when Euro 2025 hero Michelle Agyemang was stretchered off within the second half after collapsing and clutching her knee.
Up till that time, it had been a near-perfect night time in Derby for the Lionesses. Australian defender Alanna Kennedy was proven a crimson card within the Nineteenth minute for a juvenile problem, with Aggie Beever-Jones discovering the again the online in response. Lucy Bronze, England’s participant of the yr, added a second within the first half, earlier than Georgia Stanway sealed the end result from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. The efficiency was an emphatic response to England’s 2-1 defeat to South American champions Brazil on Saturday. Supervisor Sarina Wiegman had described the Australia conflict as an opportunity to “proper the wrongs” from that loss and her facet delivered convincingly.
For Australia, nevertheless, the defeat laid naked quite a few acquainted frailties that new head coach Joe Montemurro should urgently handle. A passive, toothless assault failed to bother the European champions, highlighting simply how far the Matildas stay from their peak kind. — Emily Keogh
Simply after we thought this was going to be a near-perfect night for the Lionesses — an evening when Wiegman’s 5 adjustments paid off, and all was effectively once more for the Euro 2025 champions — the 73rd minute ticked round, and the occasion ambiance fell into hushed quiet as Agyemang fell to the bottom. The priority of her teammates round her was palpable, Agyemang in apparent agony and misery. A couple of minutes later, Beever-Jones left the pitch injured, making it 10 vs. 10. Immediately the adjustments, the objectives and the return to profitable methods have been overshadowed.
For the primary 73 minutes of this one-sided match, this was as Wiegman would have hoped, her testing England’s depth. Having mentioned all alongside Maya Le Tissier was a proper again, she began her at heart again. Debuts have been handed to Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds. Beever-Jones is normally a striker at Chelsea however was on the left wing Tuesday night time, and Hannah Hampton returned in objective. All of the adjustments labored, and all seemed to be effectively once more after the Brazil defeat on Saturday.
The reminders of Euro 2025 are nonetheless in every single place: the montage of the triumph, injured duo Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton bringing out the trophy prematch. However the resolution to begin Le Tissier at heart again and hand Hinds and Kendall debuts was Wiegman taking England into the subsequent cycle, the main focus solely on the 2027 World Cup, fairly than on what’s already come earlier than.
Whereas England lacked fluidity and a leading edge in opposition to Brazil, they appeared way more pressing in entrance of objective this time round. However this comes with a caveat — the Nineteenth-minute crimson card to Australia’s Kennedy modified every part. After Kennedy’s lapse of judgement, Australia’s recreation plan was scattered into the chilly Derby sky, and their menace minimal.
It allowed Kendall time on the ball in midfield — an ideal possibility at No. 8 for Wiegman and somebody to throw into the combo alongside Clinton as competitors for Stanway. Hinds did effectively at left again — one notable contribution was monitoring again within the first half to stop Ellie Carpenter carving out area to search out Sam Kerr. Beever-Jones grabbed England’s first with a robust strike from the sting of the field, but in addition was splendidly elusive within the field. She steadily misplaced her marker on the far submit and located area, just for her ending to be a spark off. Hampton was assured in objective, however Le Tissier followers would’ve been delighted to see her again at her standard residence at heart again.
The noise over England’s positioning of Le Tissier has been a curious subplot to those pair of internationals — her membership facet Manchester United reacting to Wiegman’s assertion that she sees her without any consideration again by posting her membership stats, studying 103 video games at heart again out of 104 appearances. She appeared way more at residence in the course of protection alongside Esme Morgan — steadily an outlet on the again to restart play and reshape the main focus of England’s assault. Bronze — on her 142nd cap and birthday — acquired England’s second with a well-struck effort.
Two objectives to the nice at halftime, England rang the adjustments and Australia supplied a minimal menace in entrance of the sold-out crowd. Wiegman had additional possibilities to check new-look mixtures and it was all going so effectively. Agyemang was given her probability within the 62nd minute — her title receiving one of many loudest cheers of the night time, the savior of England’s Euro 2025 championship. She performed along with her standard boundless vitality till the 73rd minute struck. Minutes later Beever-Jones was walked off, unable to complete the match.
Now comes the nervous wait on their prognoses. Stanway slotted a late penalty, however nonetheless ideas have been with Agyemang. England had re-found their profitable contact, however probably at some value. — Tom Hamilton
England broke Matildas followers’ hearts as soon as once more, following up their 2023 World Cup semifinal triumph with one other victory — this time made simpler by Australia’s personal struggles. The Lionesses’ 3-1 win in Sydney ended the Matildas’ dream of reaching a World Cup ultimate on residence soil, and when the 2 sides met once more, feelings have been operating excessive. The Australians have been determined to avenge that heartbreak and show themselves in opposition to the reigning European champions, however the night time resulted in acquainted disappointment.
A crimson card for Kennedy and an ineffective, at instances invisible, assault led to the Matildas’ second straight defeat to England. It was a dismal exhibiting from Australia, who managed solely three makes an attempt on objective, and only one on track.
Even the return of prolific striker Kerr, who made her comeback to worldwide soccer after 725 days away in a 2-1 win over Wales on Saturday, couldn’t spark the facet. Kerr and the wingers have been left remoted because the Matildas accomplished simply 40 profitable passes into the ultimate third and recorded solely 14 touches inside England’s field. They have been referred to as in for defensive assist, leaving their counterattack non existent. Against this, England dominated with 250 passes and 47 touches in Australia’s space.
As soon as Australia did get the ball, they have been incompetent at preserving it, outplayed and outclassed by England’s suffocating press. They didn’t be taught sufficient after the primary half to appropriate their frailties within the second half. Their halftime preparation, firing photographs at goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, proved their focus was merely to restrict the drubbing — which it did — and never expose themselves pushing for a objective and worsening the scoreline. This passive method is uncommon, however hopefully extra time underneath the Australian coach will create a extra proactive recreation plan.
Montemurro, appointed in June after a season with Lyon, has now overseen six matches with a blended file of two wins, one draw and two losses. Whereas it’s nonetheless early days, the weaknesses on show — significantly in creativity and composure underneath stress — will want pressing consideration forward of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup on residence soil at the beginning of that yr.
Furthermore, whereas the match was formally labelled a pleasant, any conflict between England and Australia is something however. The rivalry stays fiery and filled with emotion, and after this newest defeat, the scars from final yr’s World Cup heartbreak will sting even deeper for the Matildas. — Keogh
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