England kickstarted their Euro 2025 preparations with a chaotic and disappointing 4-3 defeat to Germany at Wembley Stadium.
In a rematch of the Euro 2022 final, Germany capitalised on three defensive mistakes from the hosts to race into a 3-0 lead within 30 minutes.
Leah Williamson and Millie Bright combined two individual errors to give away a penalty within three minutes, which Giulia Gwinn converted emphatically.
Jess Carter then opted to leave Gwinn completely unmarked on the right flank, letting the Bayern Munich midfielder take her time and fire an effort into the bottom, left corner 11 minutes in.
Klara Bühl compounded the misery by doing the same on the opposite flank, breezing past Lucy Bronze and firing past Hannah Hampton at her near post.
England did eventually kickstart their comeback through two quick-fire goals from Georgia Stanway, the first of which came from the spot, but it proved to be in vain.
A 72nd-minute penalty from Sara Dabritz sealed victory for Germany before Lucy Bronze pulled another goal back nine minutes later after Ann-Katrin Berger dropped the ball.
Unlike previous matches, this wasn't an England team lacking inspiration or void of attacking freedom. If anything, it was the opposite; they were too attacking early on.
While friendly results might not mean anything in the immediate future, it won't increase the belief that they can defend their European crown next summer. Here are VAVEL's England player ratings from Wembley.
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England Player Ratings (4-3-3)
Hannah Hampton - 5
A night of inconsistency. Hampton was beaten far too easily at the near post by Bühl as the visitors made it 3-0, but she followed it up with a series of fine saves.
She stopped Dallmann's long-ranged effort with a stunning fingertip save over the bar, whilst also denying Felicitas Rauch in the second half with another fingertip save over the bar.
Lucy Bronze - 5 (Subbed off '81)
Gave Bühl too much freedom to cut in from the left flank and fire a powerful effort past Hampton as Germany made it 3-0.
Capitalised on a mistake from Berger to make it 4-3 in the latter stages, but she was caught out of position too often during a night when England's defensive struggles came to fruition.
Leah Williamson - 3 (Subbed off '60)
Out of form at Arsenal, Williamson continued her struggles for The Three Lions.
It was her woeful slack pass that Giovanna Hoffmann intercepted for Germany's opener, whilst she never looked comfortable all night.
Millie Bright - 4
Fouled Dallmann just three minutes in to give away a penalty, kickstarting her struggles for the night.
She was fortunate her weak clearance at the start of the second half didn't lead to a goal, with Jule Brand's strike disallowed for offside. Brand also dazzled past her too easily in the 58th minute, with only Hampton's firm stop denying the forward.
Jess Carter - 4
Decided to move centrally as Germany advanced forward 11 minutes in. It left Gwinn completely unmarked on the right flank as she took her time and fired past Hampton.
It summed up a poor performance from the Chelsea defender.
Keira Walsh - 5
Struggled to control the tempo of the match alongside Stanway. They were torn to pieces in the opening 30 minutes, which The Three Lions never quite recovered from.
Georgia Stanway - 7
Converted her penalty into the bottom, left corner comfortably and fired another easy strike three minutes later past Berger to give England hope of a comeback.
But, alongside Walsh, England were opened up too easily early on.
Ella Toone - 4 (Subbed off '45)
Timed her run fractionally too early in the 10th minute, leading to Alessia Russo's goal being offside.
Her struggles continued when she fired her one-on-one effort wide of the right post at the end of the first half. Jess Park replaced her at half-time.
Beth Mead - 6 (Subbed off '81)
Whipped in a well-weighted cross for Russo when they were 2-0 down, but her Arsenal teammate could not convert.
Assisted Stanway with her second goal at the end of the first half after latching onto Russo's pinpoint through-ball, but she wasn't consistent enough.
Alessia Russo - 5 (Subbed off '72)
Bright, energetic and always looking to get on the ball, but no end product. Just like her Arsenal performances.
Had a goal disallowed due to Toone being offside in the build-up and also hit the post minutes later after dragging her effort to the left.
It was her stunning through-ball to Mead in the build-up to England's second goal that gave fans in attendance hope of a comeback, yet she cancelled that out by conceding a penalty in the second half after her high foot caught Pia-Sophie Wolter.
Lauren Hemp - 5
Always looked to create chances in the final third; it was her cross that deflected off Gwinn's arm to win England a penalty in the 33rd minute.
She did find the back of the net with 15 minutes to go, but it was disallowed as she timed her run incorrectly.
Substitutes
Jess Park - 5 (Subbed on '45)
Featured in a quieter and less frantic second half. Never really asserted herself in the middle of the park, though.
Alex Greenwood - 6 (Subbed on '60)
Cleared the ball off the line in the final five minutes and provided England with a natural left-footer.
Chloe Kelly - 4 (Subbed on '72)
Struggled to assert herself in the match for the final 20 minutes.
Jess Naz - 6 (Subbed on '81)
Used her pace to stretch Germany's defence in the latter stages.
Maya Le Tissier - 5 (Subbed on '81)
Didn't put a foot wrong for the final 10 minutes as England pushed for an equaliser.
