01 November 2023 , 11:53
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Ian Wright has warned England must improve defensively or face being exposed by top international sides.
The Lionesses were beaten 3-2 in Belgium on Tuesday night, their fourth defeat under Sarina Wiegman and the first time they had conceded more than two goals since the Dutch coach took charge in 2021.
Qualification for the Nations League finals is now out of their hands after Tessa Wullaert struck twice for Belgium, including a late penalty to hand England a second loss of the tournament. It was a tough night for the European Champions who also lost key defender Alex Greenwood, stretchered off after a nasty head clash.
England's hopes of reaching the tournament finals - and a place as Team GB at the Paris Olympics - are now hanging by a thread following the defeat. Wiegman's team must win their final two games to have any chance of topping the group.
And Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes they will have to improve when facing better opposition after a poor defensive display in Belgium. On Punditry duties for ITV, Wright warned that England could be "roasted" if they continue to allow space for opposition attackers.
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"With the two full-backs pushing so high," Wright explained. "We are too exposed at the back. We are not good enough defensively and I don't think Keira Walsh has the pace to be a screen. Belgium did well and you saw the chances they had, and they took them.
"But if that is a better team, we will get roasted. We haven't got the balance right, we can't have two full-backs bombing forward and leaving our defence bare.
England were beaten by a resurgent Belgium side in Leuven"We do need them to go forward on either side but if you have a No.10 in Fran Kirby or Ella Toone, then Georgia Stanway needs to drop back. If that's how we are going to attack then they need to drop in. It just seemed gung-ho and we lost."
Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby's goals appeared to have put England on course for a vital win in Belgium. But their defence was horribly exposed when Wullaert outpaced Jess Carter and Millie Bright to equalise.
The Belgium skipper had already nearly restored the hosts' lead in the second half, forcing a good save from Mary Earps, before Georgia Stanway's handball allowed her to win the match from the spot. Although England missed good second-half chances through Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly, they were exposed on the counterattack.
Wright's fellow ITV pundit, former England star Karen Carney, agreed that the back four were left vulnerable due to the tactical approach.
"There are so many big gaps and distances in between our defenders," she said. "It shouldn't happen but it is because our structure in front and midfield balance is not correct."
England next face table-topping Netherlands at Wembley on December 1. They then travel to Glasgow to face Scotland five days later, knowing they must win both ties to have keep alive their slim hopes of qualification.