England’s defeat in Belgium leaves qualification for the Olympic Games on behalf of Team GB in doubt after another frustrating performance – and their weaknesses are now being exposed far too regularly.
The Lionesses, who reached the Women’s World Cup final in August, lost 3-2 in Leuven and sit third in their Women’s Nations League table with just two matches remaining.
It was a third defeat in five games for the European champions as concerns are increasing over their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and the mounting number of defensive errors on display.
Olympic qualification is now hanging in the balance as England, as the nominated nation to qualify on behalf of Team GB, must win their Women’s Nations League group to stand a chance of reaching Paris in 2024.
Asked about their hopes of qualifying, manager Sarina Wiegman told ITV: “First of all we have to beat the Netherlands by more than one goal at Wembley [in December] so we know we have work to do.
“We have put ourselves in a hard position at the moment.”