Beckham the inspiration as England draw
A pep-talk from former England captain David Beckham before the game, but a sense of frustration after it as the Lionesses wasted a wonderful opportunity to beat Germany. England scored twice through Ellen White, the second a brilliant solo effort, but they had the chances to score several more and gifted Germany their two goals with careless defending.
Beckham made a surprise appearance in the dressing room to offer his support to his friend and former Manchester United teammate, Phil Neville, and was asked to give a speech by the new England manager, as well as present goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain with her 50th cap and defender Abbie Mcmanus with her first.
“His enthusiasm for the women’s game is fantastic and as soon as I got the job he said he was coming to the game,” said Neville. “He was in New York because it was his son’s [Brooklyn] birthday. He’s here with his wife, but he wanted to come into the dressing room, meet the players and say a few words about what playing for England meant to him. He spoke really well.”
Germany, though, the multiple European champions, are used to spoiling the party for English football teams and, although Neville’s side played well, this was a missed opportunity to beat the country that has set the standard in European football for so long.
Neville, so serene on the touchline during the 4-1 rout of France last week, was put through the full spectrum of emotions by his players this time. Some of England’s football was excellent, but the defending which led to both German goals was atrocious.
England have been able to compete with the best teams physically and tactically for a while. Technically, though, they have been found wanting and, as a result, tended to adopt a defensive game, to frustrate their opponents, waiting for a mistake. It has been effective, but the team are set to play a different type of game under Neville. England will look to impose themselves, to try and force mistakes to happen.
Germany, though, were always going to be tougher to crack and Svenja Huth wasted a good chance when she shot tamely at Chamberlain early on. It was a proud day for the Liverpool goalkeeper, but she will not be happy at the way she was beaten for Germany’s first goal, failing to hold on to a speculative shot. England still had chances to clear the danger, but when Fara Williams put the ball straight back to Tabea Kemme, rather than out of play, it was returned and eventually squeezed in by Hasret Kayikci.
It was a horrible goal to concede but England were level within a matter of seconds. Fran Kirby’s initial effort was blocked, but the follow-up strike was a sweet one from Williams. White had no chance of getting out of the way, which worked out well, the ball spinning off her and wrong-footing goalkeeper Almuth Schult.
England had got out of jail and should have taken the lead moments later when Lucy Bronze and Kirby combined to set up Toni Duggan, but she curled a low shot wide. It was a bad miss. At the other end, Svenja Huth glanced a header wide.
Kirby was also presented with a great chance after half-time, but decided to try and dribble around a defender when she should have shot. Neville threw his arms in the air in exasperation. England have to be more clinical, especially when they defend so poorly.
Another mistake from Chamberlain, slow off her line, enabled Dzsenifer Marozsan to steal possession from Abbie Mcmanus. The defender managed to block the first shot and Chamberlain saved the second with her feet, but the ball ended up in the net via the heel of Millie Bright. White equalised and might have won it late on – so could have Rachel Daly – but Germany also had their moments, Alexandra Popp heading narrowly over before Marozsan volleyed millimetres wide late on.
England Subs Germany Subs Twitter account ‘Footballers With Animals’ has captioned “Francis Coquelin and Per Mertesacker making friends with a sleeping wombat”. It will bring steel and energy to the midfield.