2 weeks Ago
England duo Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh are determined to take lessons from defeat after the Lionesses fell to Germany at Wembley. Stanway bagged a first-half brace in front of a raucous Wembley crowd but her efforts weren't enough to prevent Germany from taking home the spoils as they overcame England 4-3. Lucy Bronze's 81st minute effort offered the Lionesses a lifeline but the visitors held on to exact revenge for their defeat in the Euro 2022 final at the same ground.
Yet despite the loss, Stanway is intent on using the occasion as a learning experience. She said to ITV: "It's one for the fans but not one for us. I'm disappointed after they scored that early, it's not like us.
It's good we got back into the game. "The penalty was a little unfortunate but it's one we need to learn from. We just needed to adjust our shape and we couldn't jump out in areas.
"As soon as we changed our shape, we got more compact and got on the ball. The first half result was more generous. I wouldn't say we were the weaker team.
"I don't think it's about us not being at it. Germany are good. We can't say they aren't a world-class team.
"We've got things to work on and we've got another opportunity on Tuesday to make some improvements. We've got a long process to be right for the Euros next year." Keira Walsh echoed her teammate's words, with the midfield general stressing that the side have not lost sight of their long-term targets as the Lionesses prepare to defend their Euros crown in Switzerland next year.
She said to ITV: "It was end to end. I imagine it was exciting for the fans but we are disappointed with the manner that we conceded the three quick goals. We should not be conceding in that manner.
"We did well to come back into it, they are a world class team and I think it is clear we are both trying to figure out how we will play going into the next Euros. It is not about being ready tonight, but being ready when the tournament comes. "We are just disappointed but it is not all negative.
We had a few goals ruled out as offside and created a lot. It is just about being better in transition defensively." "Germany are a world class team, we can't stand here and say that they are not, so we knew the game was going to be difficult.
We wanted to win but it is not as easy as that against a team like this. We have a lot of things to improve on, we know that." England next face a friendly against South Africa in Coventry in three days' time before a return to Wembley to take on the United States at the end of November.
.
