After Hannah Hampton conceded four on Friday, the PSG star put in a calm and commanding performance against South Africa that could go a long way
It's been a while since there was so much to discuss from an England camp. After qualifying automatically for the 2025 European Championships in July, the Lionesses have been afforded the luxury of organising friendly matches of their choice for the remainder of the year, facing opponents that will challenge them in different ways as they prepare for next summer's tournament. In these games, head coach Sarina Wiegman will have wanted areas for improvement to be highlighted, though it's hard not to be concerned by the degree to which they were this past week.
On Friday, England were picked apart by Germany in what was actually defeat by a flattering scoreline. With less than 30 minutes on the clock, the Lionesses had conceded three goals for the first time in almost 10 years. Midway through the second half, they conceded a fourth, the first time that has happened under Wiegman. Fortunately, some heroics from Georgia Stanway helped pull the score back to 4-3, but that shouldn't paper over the cracks.
It likely won't either, because just four days later, South Africa exposed the England defence in a very similar manner. The Lionesses started that outing in a more impressive manner and deserved the 2-0 lead they held at half-time. However, things quickly changed after the break, as one sloppy mistake gave the African champions a goal back and several more errors gifted them the chances to at least equalise, if not win the game.
Fortunately, on that occasion, there were a lot more positives for Wiegman to take as her England side emerged 2-1 winners, with young Grace Clinton a particularly bright light as she staked her claim to start for the Lionesses. Still, it's hard not to feel like this was a camp that produced more questions than answers, with the coach and her staff having a number of concerns to address ahead of their European title defence next summer.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from England's latest international window…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Mary Earps
For the next eight months, Wiegman's choice of goalkeeper for every fixture is going to be analysed and scrutinised as everyone tries to decipher who is leading the race to be the Lionesses' No.1 at Euro 2025. Ahead of this camp, after three starts in a row, it felt like Hannah Hampton was tentatively in pole position. That became slightly stronger when she also got the nod against Germany in what was just about Wiegman's first-choice XI.
However, as the camp comes to an end, it feels like Earps may now be just ahead. Hampton had a couple of difficult moments on Friday, not least with the error that led to Germany's fourth goal, whereas Earps was solid against South Africa. There wasn't a ton for her to do in the first half, and there was little she could do about the visitors' goal, but the Paris Saint-Germain star made herself big for an important second-half save and was a generally commanding presence, taking control of several situations that could've gone awry while also recognising when the time was right to slow things down.
By no means was it a show-stopping display from Earps on Tuesday, but this is a fiercely competitive race to be England No.1 and she is certainly the goalkeeper who emerges from this camp in the more positive place.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Leah Williamson
When Leah Williamson struck home after just 12 minutes against South Africa, the relief was palpable in her celebration. Four days prior, the England captain had endured a really tough outing against Germany, making a big mistake in the build-up to their opening goal and generally looking shaky from there on out. It was a performance that continued the difficult form she's been showing at Arsenal through the first few weeks of this season and so, when she marked her 50th cap with a goal on Tuesday, it felt like the confidence boost she needed.
Sadly though, those errors would creep back in before the day was out. It was Williamson's pass that allowed South Africa in for their goal in Coventry, that one of several mistakes made in the game, but fortunately for her, the only one that was punished.
It's understandable that Williamson finds herself in this difficult spot. After all, she only returned from her ACL injury in January and has just had her first pre-season campaign since that devastating setback. It'll take time for her to get back to her best. Throw in that the England defence as a whole looked poor, and the upheaval at club level after Jonas Eidevall's departure, and there are also factors out of her control that will not help.
Whether Wiegman should have started her in both of these games is one question, though sometimes it's best just to try and work through these moments, especially in games where the results are not a priority. Hopefully, it's just a matter of time until Williamson is approaching her top level again.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Chloe Kelly
Things have been tough for Chloe Kelly at club level over the last few months. The winger dropped out of Manchester City's XI towards the end of last season and is still working at regaining that spot in the new campaign, with game time at a premium under a coach, in Gareth Taylor, who doesn't make a lot of substitutions. Given she is in the final year of her contract while all of this is going on, it's unsurprising that speculation continues to swirl around her future, too.
This international window will have been a welcome break from all of that, then – not least because Kelly got a good run out off the bench against Germany and a first start, for club or country, since May in the clash with South Africa. That second game was particularly positive for the winger, who delivered a strong performance which she was so close to capping with a goal, only to see a fierce strike from range cannon off the crossbar.
This is a week that will certainly be good for Kelly's confidence and, if she is called upon by City in the coming weeks, her sharpness. Amid a lack of club minutes, it'll build her credit with England too, with her proving that she's able to shake off any rust with relative ease.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Aggie Beever-Jones
Wiegman used all-but-four members of her squad in this international window, with the lack of action for uncapped goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, the similarly inexperienced defender Lucy Parker and Lotte Wubben-Moy, who had a setback in her return to play protocol, somewhat understandable. The absence of Aggie Beever-Jones, though, was a surprise.
The 21-year-old has been excellent since breaking through at Chelsea last season, earning herself an England debut in the summer. Capable of playing out wide or as a No.9, and both very effectively, it feels like she can be a very useful member of the Lionesses' team, not least because of the lack of depth at centre-forward.
However, Beever-Jones didn't see a single minute of game time across these two matches. Instead, after Alessia Russo started against Germany, it was Jessica Naz – predominantly a winger – who led the line against South Africa. The Tottenham forward was good too, showing great energy with her pressing and her runs in behind, while her composure to tee up Williamson for the opener was impressive.
It feels like there is an opening in the England squad to provide the depth at centre-forward behind Russo, to be the impact sub who replaces her in a tournament like Euro 2025. Through the first few weeks of the season, Beever-Jones' form has suggested she could earn that spot. That she didn't get the chance to impress in an England shirt this week then, while Naz took her opportunity well, will have been a blow.