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England went 3-0 down inside 30 minutes and never fully recovered - PA
Belgium 3 England 2
How can a team who won 5-0 so convincingly be beaten by the same opponents just four days later? That is the problem with the Lionesses right now. You do not know what you are going to get from one game to the next.
It had seemed as though they had fixed their defensive frailty after conceding four against Germany back in October. But in a stadium that so often brings them misery, England were worryingly exposed by Belgium’s veteran striker Tessa Wullaert.
It was Wullaert who destroyed the Lionesses defence with ease on the same turf in October 2023 and Wiegman had said on the eve of this game that England wanted to “take revenge on themselves” for that poor performance.
THE COMMENTATOR'S CURSE IS ALIVE AND WELL! ️
It's Tessa Wullaert at the double️
Belgium are on fire #ITVFootball | #UWNLpic.twitter.com/LEs4GgnYeo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
But this defensive display was worse than anything we have seen from the Lionesses during Wiegman’s tenure. They were 3-0 down after 29 minutes before Beth Mead won and converted a penalty to pull one back at half-time.
The one bright spark came from England’s youngest player, Michelle Agyemang, who marked her debut with a stunning goal just 41 seconds after coming off the bench.
The 19-year-old was a late call-up following a spate of withdrawals and she took her opportunity in style, scoring a volley with her first two touches to give the Lionesses late hope. She has perhaps given herself an outside chance of earning a call-up for the Euros, but it was a bad night for several of England’s more experienced players.
WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF!!
Michelle Agyemang with a BEAUTY!
England are right back in this one...#ITVFootball | #UWNLpic.twitter.com/RrzXuP9qZL
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
Niamh Charles was not solely to blame for how badly England defended but she was out-paced on numerous occasions, including for the first goal after just four minutes. She is not a left-back by trade and at times that showed.
Millie Bright, who is usually so reliable, did not give her much help and was at least partly at fault for the second and third. Justine Vanhaevermaet seemed to get between Bright and Leah Williamson to head in the second, but Hannah Hampton should have made a comfortable save.
There was then confusion between Bright and Hampton for the third goal, with the defender leaving the cross played in by Davina Philtjens, which an unmarked Wullaert tapped in. Bright appeared to question a lack of communication from Hampton, though it should be noted that Lucy Bronze was also out of position when the cross came in.
It was a bad night for the entire back four and it was not surprising to see Charles and Bright hooked at half-time for Jess Carter and Esme Morgan.
This was a night that underlined how important England’s injured players are. Alex Greenwood is the only natural left-footed player Wiegman has picked, and, while she is a centre-back by trade, she played more than a hundred games at left-back in the early part of her career and would be a safe option.
Alessia Russo was another big miss. England do not have another out-and-out No 9. Russo’s hold-up play is exemplary and her replacement, Nikita Parris, struggled to fulfil that role. Aggie Beever-Jones also found it difficult to make an impact on the game and England looked a much poorer team without Lauren James. There are fears that James, who withdrew from the squad with a hamstring injury, could miss the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, England’s midfield continues to look lost without Georgia Stanway. The trio of Keira Walsh, Grace Clinton and Jess Park felt too lightweight, though the introduction of Ella Toone on the hour mark did seem to make a difference. Chloe Kelly had already withdrawn from the squad before England’s victory in Bristol in Friday, which further reduces Wiegman’s attacking options.
Agyemang’s introduction brought a spark of raw brilliance but it was too little, too late.
Match details
Belgium (3-4-3) Lichtfus 6, Deloose 6, Tysiak 6, Cayman 6, Janssens 6, Vanhaevermaet 6, Teulings 7 (De Caigny 90+2), Philtjens 7 (Dhont 77), Wullaert 8, Detruyer 6 (Delacauw 70), Eurlings 7 (Blom 70). Subs Evrard, Bastiaen, Van Kerkhoven, Wijnants, Toloba, Elyn, Mathys, Missipo. Booked Philtjens, Teulings, Detruyer, Blom.
Goals Wullaert 4, 29, Vanhaevermaet 16.
England (4-3-3) Hampton 5, Bronze 5, Williamson 6, Bright 4 (Morgan HT), Charles 4 (Carter HT), Clinton 5 (Toone 60), Walsh 6, Park 5 (Agyemang 80), Mead 6, Parris 5 (Kirby 60), Beever-Jones 6. Subs Earps, Moorhouse, Le Tissier, Turner, Naz, Symonds. Booked Bronze, Morgan.
Goals Mead 35 pen, Agyemang 81.
Referee Maria Caputi (Italy).
09:49 PM BST
Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV
09:44 PM BST
Post-match thoughts of Michelle Agyemang
09:37 PM BST
Leah Williamson speaking to ITV
09:34 PM BST
ITV crew reflect on Agyemang’s debut
Michelle Agyemang - remember the name️#ITVFootball | #UWNL | @IanWright0 | @seemajaswalpic.twitter.com/fGcK8e2sCu
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
09:30 PM BST
Bad result for England but stunning debut impact from Agyemang
09:29 PM BST
Matchday five
Friday 30th May:
Belgium v Spain
England v Portugal
09:28 PM BST
League A Group 3
- Spain- 9 points (4 games)
- England- 7 points (4 games)
- Portugal- 4 points (4 games)
- Belgium- 3 points (4 games)
09:27 PM BST
Belgium’s winning moment
09:26 PM BST
FT stats
Possession: Belgium 32%-68% England
Shots: 5-16
Shots on target: 4-3
Corners: 3-9
09:22 PM BST
Full time
There is the final whistle and Belgium have won it 3-2. Wild scenes in Leuven. They lost 5-0 to England last Friday but have pulled off an unlikely victory after a blitz in the opening 30 minutes. England’s unbeaten run in the Nations League is over.
09:22 PM BST
Full time
There is the final whistle and Belgium have won it 3-2. Wild scenes in Leuven. They lost 5-0 to England last Friday but have pulled off an unlikely victory after a blitz in the opening 30 minutes. England’s unbeaten run in the Nations League is over.
09:21 PM BST
90+5 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Hampton is up from goal as the corner is sent in but Lichtfus catches near her own line. That was probably England’s last chance.
09:21 PM BST
90+4 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Time is running out for England. We have hit four minutes of the four added on but Belgium did make a change so we play on. Agyemang wins England a late corner...
09:19 PM BST
90+2 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Another yellow card shown as Blom tried to delay the restart and was having a scuffle with the England players. Morgan is also booked for her part in that scuffle.
09:18 PM BST
90+1 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Teulings, recently booked is taken off and De Caigny is on in her place.
09:17 PM BST
90 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Toone shoots from range but her effort goes just wide of the far post.
There will be four added minutes.
09:15 PM BST
88 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Teulings is shown a yellow card for dissent. Belgium are frantically holding on.
09:14 PM BST
87 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Belgium are holding on now and they are whipping up the crowd. They will need their home fans to see out this win.
09:10 PM BST
84 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
England might fancy themselves now not only to get back on level terms here but to potentially completely turn this around and win the game.
09:09 PM BST
82 mins: Belgium 3 England 2
Toone is booked.
09:07 PM BST
GOAL! Agyemang scores stunner moments into debut
What a way to mark your debut just seconds into it! This is a stunning goal! The ball is sent into the box. Agyemang takes one touch with her knee and then hooks a volley into the top corner. She has been on the pitch not even a minute and scores a goal like that. England still alive and Belgium will be very nervy now.
WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF!!
Michelle Agyemang with a BEAUTY!
England are right back in this one...#ITVFootball | #UWNLpic.twitter.com/RrzXuP9qZL
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
09:07 PM BST
80 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Delacauw is booked for a late challenge on Bronze, presenting England another chance to send in a free-kick, which is sent in and nearly flicked into their own net by Belgium. England take it short and Toone wins another corner.
England keep it alive inside the box and Park’s first-time effort is headed onto the top of the bar and England have what feels like their millionth corner of the game.
England are making their final change and it is a senior debut for Agyemang.
Belgium deal with the corner.
09:03 PM BST
77 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
England have another set-piece, this time a free-kick. The delivery is sent all the way to the far post and Bronze meets it but her header goes just wide. Another good opportunity for Bronze.
Belgium are taking off recently-booked Philtjens and replacing her with Dhont.
09:01 PM BST
75 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Bronze wins England a corner out on the right. They have had plenty of set-pieces in this second half but not carved out too many genuine opportunities. This delivery comes close to finding the head of Bronze but Belgium head away.
09:00 PM BST
73 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Philtjens is booked for delaying a restart as England looked to take a free-kick inside the Belgium half. Mead sends it in and after a bit of head tennis Belgium clear their lines.
08:57 PM BST
70 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
England’s corner count is increasing and they have another out on the right. It is sent in but Belgium deal with the danger.
Belgium are going to make a double change as Delacauw and Blom come on for Eurlings and Detruyer.
08:53 PM BST
66 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Toone shoots from the edge of the box on the right and her effort goes just wide of the far post.
08:52 PM BST
65 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Beever-Jones wins a corner off Tysiak. Mead sends in the delivery flat to Williamson but her flick goes out of the box. Walsh then takes on a shot from outside the box which takes a deflection but Lichtfus gets down to make the save and stops it from going out of play.
08:47 PM BST
60 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
England are just starting to ramp up the pressure on Belgium but the hosts still look a threat on the counter.
England are making a double change as Kirby and Toone replace Clinton and Parris.
08:44 PM BST
58 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Williamson shoots from range and forces Lichtfus to tip it over her own bar. She should be saving that but it still needed saving. The delivery from the corner is a good one and Bronze meets it six yards out but cannot guide her effort on target. That was a chance.
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Should Lucy Bronze have done better with this chance? - Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images
08:43 PM BST
56 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Bronze goes down wanting a penalty for the second time in the game and, not only is it waved away, she is shown a yellow card for diving. She was rightly aggrieved in the first half but that was never a penalty. She was looking for it and, although a yellow card may have been harsh, she cannot complain about not being given a penalty.
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Yellow card for diving - Olivier Matthys/Shutterstock
08:39 PM BST
52 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Big chance for Mead to get her second of the night. The ball is played into her on the left-hand side of the box and she should get her shot away quickly but she opts not to. She waits and then eventually gets her shot away but it is dealt with.
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England trying to fight back from 3-1 down - Lars Baron/Getty Images
08:36 PM BST
49 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Mead is caught down England’s right not a million miles from the Belgium box and this gives England the opportunity to send a delivery into the penalty area. The free-kick is sent to the back post and the last touch comes off a Belgium player so England will have a corner. England play it short and ultimately never carve out a chance. That felt like a waste for the visitors not to send in a cross.
08:31 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way in Leuven. How will England react to that first-half performance? Sarina Wiegman has reacted by making two changes at the break as Carter and Morgan have replaced Charles and Bright.
08:31 PM BST
Karen Carney on ITV
08:27 PM BST
League A Group 3 table as it stands
- Spain- 9 points (4 games)*
- England- 7 points (4 games)
- Portugal- 4 points (4 games)*
- Belgium- 3 points (4 games)
*Spain thrashed Portugal 7-1.
08:25 PM BST
What will Sarina Wiegman say to her side at half time?
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England will need to perform much better in the second half - Yves Herman/Reuters
08:20 PM BST
HT stats
Possession: Belgium 42%-58% England
Shots: 5-4
Shots on target: 4-1
Corners: 2-0
08:16 PM BST
Half time
That is it for the first half and Belgium have an unexpected but deserved 3-1 lead at the break.
08:15 PM BST
45 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
There will be one added minute at the end of this first half.
08:11 PM BST
41 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Mead’s penalty was England’s first shot on target. Bronze sends in a very dangerous cross from the right which nearly picks out the head of Parris but she is denied by a great defensive header from Deloose.
08:09 PM BST
39 mins: Belgium 3 England 1
Parris shoots from range but gets it all wrong and her effort goes sailing over the bar.
08:05 PM BST
GOAL! Mead gets one back for England
Mead steps up and that is quality finish, right into the bottom left corner. No chance of saving that. England have a goal back.
PENALTY TO ENGLAND!
Beth Mead converts to give England hope
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
08:03 PM BST
PENALTY ENGLAND!
A lifeline for England? Mead just gets to the ball first and is then taken out by Philtjens as she swung in an attempt to clear the ball. That was a fairly simple decision and England will have the chance to get a goal back through Mead, who won the penalty...
08:02 PM BST
32 mins: Belgium 3 England 0
Belgium close to making it 4-0. Janssens is played in behind down the right channel and, from a narrow angle, gets her shot away from inside the box. Hampton makes a decent save and the ball goes behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
07:59 PM BST
GOAL! Wullaert doubles up
What is going on in Leuven? Sarina Wiegman looks stunned. It is a well-worked goal from Belgium. The ball is played out to the left to Philtjens in space. She plays a delightful flat ball across the six-yard box and picks out Wullaert, who makes no mistake from six yards out. Belgium are in complete dreamland through the opening half an hour. England are all over the place.
THE COMMENTATOR'S CURSE IS ALIVE AND WELL! ️
It's Tessa Wullaert at the double
Belgium are on fire #ITVFootball | #UWNLpic.twitter.com/LEs4GgnYeo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 8, 2025
07:56 PM BST
25 mins: Belgium 2 England 0
To make matters worse for England, Spain have just thrashed Portugal 7-1 which means the Spanish will be top of the group as things stand.
07:55 PM BST
24 mins: Belgium 2 England 0
This time England are awarded a foul as Parris is taken down by Tysiak out on the left. England can send this delivery into the box. Mead sends it all the way to the back post and Bright looks like she she may have a chance but Cayman puts her off and the last touch comes off Bright and behind for a goal-kick.
07:53 PM BST
22 mins: Belgium 2 England 0
Bronze goes down on the edge of the Belgium box but is told to get up. The referee was very quick to wave that away and it looked like there was contact. Looking at the replays that looked like a foul and it was in the box but there is no VAR tonight so the original decision will not be changed. England can probably feel aggrieved there.
07:50 PM BST
19 mins: Belgium 2 England 0
Very nearly more trouble as Janssens is played in behind down the right channel but the offside flag goes up. England need to settle down quickly. I am not sure many people would have predicted this start to the game.
07:46 PM BST
GOAL! Vanhaevermaet doubles Belgium’s lead
2-0 to the hosts! Wullaert, scorer of the first, is the provider of the second. She sends in a delicious delivery, finding the head of Vanhaevermaet in between England’s two centre-backs. She flicks on a header, which beats Hampton and goes into the far corner to send the home side into a state of delirium. Just a matter of days ago, England beat Belgium 5-0. Fast forward a few days and Belgium are 2-0 up through 15 minutes.
07:46 PM BST
15 mins: Belgium 1 England 0
Bronze fouls Eurlings down Belgium’s left, giving the home side a free-kick in a good position to send it into the England penalty area...
07:45 PM BST
14 mins: Belgium 1 England 0
Wullaert runs at Bright and gets a shot away just inside the England box which Bright blocks behind for a Belgium corner, their first of the match. It is sent all the way to the far post, where Tysiak meets it but her header loops over the bar.
07:43 PM BST
12 mins: Belgium 1 England 0
With Belgium scoring so early, England have plenty of time in this game and cannot allow frustration to grow. They are yet to create any genuine scoring opportunities but have had plenty of possession.
07:40 PM BST
9 mins: Belgium 1 England 0
Now that they are ahead, Belgium look happy to sit deep and get players behind the ball. One of the keys for England here is to remain patient and not force things as they will create chances with the quality they have.
07:34 PM BST
GOAL! Wullaert gives Belgium early lead
The hosts are ahead just three minutes into the game. The ball is played in behind the England defence by Janssens down the right channel and Wullaert, well onside, gets on the end of it. She moves into the box and is clinical as her shot clips the inside of the far post and goes in. Dream start for Belgium, worst possible start for England.
07:30 PM BST
Kick-off
We are under way in Belgium.
07:27 PM BST
Plenty of travelling support
07:24 PM BST
Anthem time
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and it is time for the national anthems. “God Save The King” followed by “La Brabançonne”.
07:22 PM BST
Reminder of the teams
Belgium: Lichtfus, Janssens, Deloose, Tysiak, Cayman, Philjtens, Vanhaevermaet, Teulings, Detruyer, Wullaert, Eurlings.
Substitutes: Bastiaen, Blom, De Caigny, Delacauw, Dhont, Elyn, Mathys, Evrard, Wijnants, Van Kerkhoven, Missipo, Toloba.
England: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles, Walsh, Clinton, Park, Mead, Parris, Beever-Jones.
Substitutes: Earps, Morgan, Le Tissier, Turner, Carter, Toone, Parker, Naz, Kirby, Moorhouse, Symonds, Agyemang.
07:18 PM BST
Travelling support
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Can England continue their unbeaten start in the Nations League? - Lars Baron/Getty Images
07:14 PM BST
Lucy Bronze speaking to ITV
07:08 PM BST
Recent results
England:
Friday 4th April: England 5-0 Belgium (Nations League)
Wednesday 26th February: England 1-0 Spain (Nations League)
Friday 21st February: Portugal 1-1 England (Nations League)
Tuesday 3rd December: England 1-0 Switzerland (Friendly)
Saturday 30th November: England 0-0 United States (Friendly)
Belgium:
Friday 4th April: England 5-0 Belgium (Nations League)
Wednesday 26th February: Belgium 0-1 Portugal (Nations League)
Friday 21st February: Spain 3-2 Belgium (Nations League)
07:02 PM BST
The Telegraph Women’s Sport podcast
For more, click here.
06:58 PM BST
Full team news
There are four changes to the Belgium side which lost 5-0 to England on Friday. Tessa Wullaert, who was injured on Friday, starts today. There is a change in goal as Nicky Evrard is replaced by Lisa Lichtfus. Laura Deloose and Marie Detruyer also come into the starting XI.
Belgium: Lichtfus, Janssens, Deloose, Tysiak, Cayman, Philjtens, Vanhaevermaet, Teulings, Detruyer, Wullaert, Eurlings.
Substitutes: Bastiaen, Blom, De Caigny, Delacauw, Dhont, Elyn, Mathys, Evrard, Wijnants, Van Kerkhoven, Missipo, Toloba.
Sarina Wiegman has made three changes to Friday’s England team. Lauren James and Alessia Russo returned to their clubs over the weekend after picking up injuries in the last match so Aggie Beever-Jones starts alongside Brighton’s Nikita Parris in attack. Jess Park replaces Ella Toone in midfield.
England: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles, Walsh, Clinton, Park, Mead, Parris, Beever-Jones.
Substitutes: Earps, Morgan, Le Tissier, Turner, Carter, Toone, Parker, Naz, Kirby, Moorhouse, Symonds, Agyemang.
06:53 PM BST
Visitors arriving
06:49 PM BST
Big goalkeeping decision
06:44 PM BST
Women’s Euro 2025 predictor
Can Sarina Wiegman and her England team win back-to-back European titles? Select your group positions and the winners of each knockout round to find your champion.
06:39 PM BST
League A Group 3 table
Spain- 9 points (4 games)*
England- 7 points (3 games)
Portugal- 4 points (4 games)*
Belgium- 0 points (3 games)
Spain are currently beating Portugal 4-0 in their fourth game of the group.
06:33 PM BST
Sarina Wiegman on injured players Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood
06:28 PM BST
Belgium team news
06:26 PM BST
England team news
06:24 PM BST
Match preview
England travel to Leuven to take on Belgium in the Women’s Nations League. These sides met on Friday, with Sarina Wiegman’s side thrashing Belgium 5-0 at Ashton Gate. Aggie Beever-Jones and Keira Walsh scored their first England goals to move top of Group A3. England are hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign having drawn at Portugal and beaten Spain before thrashing Belgium last Friday. Despite dominating Friday’s night game against tonight’s opponents, who are ye to win in this Nations League group so far, Wiegman is not taking anything for granted.
“It is going to different,” Wiegman said. “Players will be back. I think they are going to try and play physical and be very compact.
“I expect them sometimes to press a little bit higher and also maybe drop a bit deeper. Basically, we expect everything. When we are at our best then I think we will play a good game.”
England will be without the services of Chelsea forward Lauren James and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo, who withdrew over the weekend due to injury. Chloe Kelly also pulled out of the squad before the victory over Belgium last Friday. Tottenham’s Jess Naz has replaced James and Michelle Agyemang, on loan from Arsenal at Brighton, has been called up for the first time in place of Russo. They were already without Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood coming into this camp.
The Lionesses lost 3-2 in the Nations League in Belgium back in 2023, which proved costly for their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics Games. Wiegman is keen to see her side prove they are better than they were back in 2023.
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England are hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the Nations League - Harriet Lander/Getty Images
“How I experienced that game is that we did not play our best, and it was off the back of the World Cup so we were struggling with our levels,” said Wiegman. “How I see tomorrow [tonight] is that we really want to kind of get revenge on ourselves. We want to show that we are better than we were then and we can do a lot better.”
In the eight meetings between these sides, England have won five, Belgium have won one and there have been two draws.
Kick-off from Belgium is at 7.30pm.
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