\n<\/p>\n
The bulk of England’s issues seemed to stem from midfield as Georgia Stanway and Walsh were overrun and their opponents were devastating on the break. <\/p>\n
Wiegman admitted sloppiness in possession played into France’s hands as they pressed hard and took advantage of individual errors.<\/p>\n
Captain Leah Williamson was visibly frustrated at full-time and described the errors as “some cheap sort of emotional defending”. <\/p>\n
France winger Sandy Baltimore won her individual battles with her Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze – the England defender losing six duels, the most by any player.<\/p>\n
And until Walsh’s 87th-minute strike, the Lionesses had not achieved a shot on target.<\/p>\n
“I think we played like we were a little bit scared,” said Carter.<\/p>\n
“Maybe we weren’t aggressive enough, maybe we were worrying about their threats in behind and what they can do rather than doing what we can do. <\/p>\n
“We didn’t do as well on the ball, or off the ball. The only positive to take is the last 10 minutes. I really believed we would get a [second] goal.”<\/p>\n
England’s level seemed to surprise French media, who had largely written off their side’s chances when key centre-back Griedge Mbock was ruled out through injury.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t think the French could play at this level already and I didn’t think England could be so disappointing like they were for an hour,” French journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n
France manager Laurent Bonadei admitted England’s explosive start, that saw Lauren James create a handful of chances, took them by surprise. But he felt his side controlled proceedings after that and “physically it was not easy for England”.<\/p>\n
James’ apparent free role certainly looked exciting at the start – but did it leave her side exposed in midfield?<\/p>\n
Wiegman’s response to that question was emphatic. <\/p>\n
“[James] didn’t have a total free role. We got exposed by losing balls in moments where we didn’t want to lose the ball,” she said. “That was the main topic we wanted to find a solution for.”<\/p>\n
Following the introductions of Chloe Kelly, Grace Clinton and Michelle Agyemang, the Lionesses responded, but too late to change the outcome, and former midfielder Karen Carney was far from impressed.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t good enough. We were bullied all over the pitch. We didn’t win enough duels. We looked like we’ve never played together,” she told ITV.<\/p>\n
“This is our trophy and that wasn’t good enough. We played into their hands a little bit too much.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n