England's recent defeat in Belgium leaves qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games on behalf of Team GB in doubt, as their weaknesses are being exposed far too regularly. The Lionesses, who reached the Women's World Cup final in August, lost 3-2 in Leuven and sit third in their Women's Nations League table with just two matches remaining. Concerns are increasing over their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and the mounting number of defensive errors.
Olympic qualification is also balanced, as England must win their Women's Nations League group to reach Paris in 2024. Manager Sarina Wiegman stated on ITV that they must beat the Netherlands by more than one goal at Wembley [in December], so they know they have work to do.
England's World Cup campaign was successful, but they received criticism for several underwhelming displays in Australia. They struggled to impose themselves and often lacked creativity. Given a clean slate in the new Women's Nations League competition this September, it was a chance for the Lionesses to showcase their true potential again. However, a testing 2-1 win over Scotland and a subsequent 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands did little to fill supporters with confidence before their latest defeat by Belgium.
Injuries to key players - captain Leah Williamson and forward Beth Mead - have undoubtedly contributed, but England's faults were mainly of their own making once again in Leuven on Tuesday night. England had 73% possession in the match, and 18 shots, but only five were on target, and Belgium scored from three of their five total attempts.
Wiegman said it was becoming "harder to score," and it was "frustrating" they were not taking advantage of the chances they were creating. Despite the boost of playmaker Kirby's return to the starting XI for the first time in over a year, England were still wasteful in possession, with Wiegman saying they were dealt a "hard lesson" for their mistakes.
Despite England losing just four matches in total under Wiegman, defender Bronze remains confident they can dig themselves out of the group stages and into the Nations League semi-finals, keeping alive their Olympic hopes.
