Belgium vs England LIVE: Result and reaction as Lionesses suffer Nations League defeat | OneFootball

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Belgium produced a stunning first-half performance to upset England in Leuven for a second time in three years.

Having been beaten 5-0 in Bristol on Friday, the hosts were much improved with returning skipper Tessa Wullaert making a major impact. The forward scored twice and set up another as Belgium surged into a 3-0 advantage, cutting the Lionesses to ribbons with their counter-attacking play. Without Alessia Russo and Lauren James due to injury, Sarina Wiegman’s side lacked quality and could not get into their flow of possession.

Beth Mead’s first-half penalty gave them a foothold but it took until late on for England to grab a second as debutant Michelle Agyemang made a remarkable first impression at international level. Her sublime take and volleyed finish gave the visitors hope of a late equaliser but it did not arrive, with Belgium deserved winners in the Women’s Nations League.

Disjointed defeat to Belgium shows England’s lack of depth — and it could cost them at Euro 2025

Instinctively, England feel like a side with a lot of depth. The problem, though, is they never seem to act like a team who do. A handful of injuries can make the house of cards fall in the way it did on Tuesday as the sloppy, disjointed Lionesses were beaten by Belgium.

The only real positive came through a moment of individual brilliance from Michelle Agyemang, who produced something spectacular to net her first England goal and ensure they left with a 3-2 defeat which does not hint as much at the weaknesses in their display.

Adam Millington in Leuven8 April 2025 21:45

Leah Williamson speaks to ITV after England's defeat

“We started too slow,” the Lionesses skipper says. “They were very quick. We needed to figure it out a little bit quicker and we didn’t. We didn’t damage them with the ball like we did in the first game.

“Ultimately you have got to deal with players and runners better than we did today. That shouldn’t be an area of weakness for us, so we need to improve that. There is a lot of frustration but we have two more games to go. We should be winning this game, that’s why we are frustrated.

“They were a completely different side to the one in Bristol the other night and I don’t think we adapted.”

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Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:34

FULL TIME: Belgium 3-2 England

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Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:23

Belgium 3-2 England, 90 + 3 minutes

Esme Morgan is booked after reacting angrily to a Belgium foul, and then rather riskily tugs an opponent back to prevent a counter-attack developing. It’s far enough forward that no second yellow card is forthcoming.

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:20

Belgium 3-2 England, 90 + 1 minutes

Jarne Teulings is taken off. Tine De Caigny will charge about for three minutes or so as Belgium waste a bit of time.

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:18

Belgium 3-2 England, 90 minutes

Ella Toone slashes an effort a yard or so wide as the board goes up to signal four additional minutes.

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:17

Belgium 3-2 England, 89 minutes

Belgium have just calmed England a little. How much longer will the Lionesses have to hunt an equaliser?

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:16

Belgium 3-2 England, 86 minutes

After entering with aplomb, that’s rather more naive from Michelle Agyemang, a bundle in the back conceding a soft free kick.

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2025 21:13