MY ACCOUNT
Sarina Wiegman insists England have no need to mourn the end of their unbeaten streak after losing to Australia.
The Lionesses were downed 2-0 on Tuesday night at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadoum as they slipped to their first defeat since the Dutchwoman took charge in September 2021.
Wiegman, 53, had wanted more games against top competition ahead of this summer’s World Cup and she got her wish in the Matildas, who recalled a fresh and firing Sam Kerr.
It was Kerr’s goal after 32 minutes that proved decisive, with the Chelsea striker capitalising on a mistake from Leah Williamson to ensure the hosts did not extend their undefeated run to 31 games.
Yet Wiegman said: “I haven’t been focused [on the streak] at all. We just want to win every game.
“You remind us all the time but we don’t talk about that in our camp. We talk about the next game and that we want to improve.
“It would be really nice to still be undefeated, I would love that, but sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
“[The loss] doesn’t feel great. I think a big learning thing against a very physical, well-organised, aggressive Australia.
“We really wanted to get behind the defence more and switch plays but we didn’t do that and made some mistakes.”
One of those lapses put the Matildas ahead when skipper Williamson sold keeper Mary Earps short with a header, allowing Kerr to swoop in.
The England skipper was also involved in the Matildas’ second, a first in green and gold for Charlotte Grant after her header deflected off Williamson.
Wiegman will now focus on finalising her squad to travel to Down Under, with England set to open their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on July 22.
She added: “I’m not worried. I don’t worry very easily.
“We know we have to be at our top level. Every game we get some warnings.
“I don’t think we’re losing momentum, it’s just a really big learning for us.”
