LIONESSES LACKING BITE

Sloppy England rue wasted opportunities in Belgium loss, putting them in hard position’

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LEUVEN World Cup runners-up England slipped to a 3-2 defeat by Belgium on Tuesday, putting their Women's Nations League hopes as well 2024 Olympic Games qualification in the balance.

Laura de Neve curled in a free kick to give Belgium the lead on nine minutes, only for Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby to put England back in charge. The home side were level, though, before halftime through their captain Tessa Wullaert, who scored in first-half stoppage time.

When Georgia Stanway was penalised for handball five minutes from time, Wullaert calmly put away the penalty to secure the win for Belgium in Leuven.

It was the first time that England have conceded three goals since Sarina Wiegman took over as coach in 2021, and she lambasted her team's vulnerability at the back.

"We were sloppy on the ball and they were ready for that. They play their long ball and they are gone.

We didn't do it good enough today," Wiegman, who was also not pleased with their lack of ruthlessness in attack, told ITV4.

"They scored three goals and we scored two. This was a game we should have been tighter on the ball. The tempo wasn't great. We did create lots of chances. We dominated the game totally.