England head coach Sarina Wiegman has been dealt a major blow after Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps sustained an injury during Friday’s 2-1 defeat to France.
It was a disappointing night at Wembley for the Lionesses despite taking the lead through Beth Mead after half an hour. Elisa De Almeida equalised 11 minutes later before Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the winner in front of a crowd of 42,561 spectators.
The result leaves England third in their Euro 2025 qualifying group on four points, level with Sweden and five points behind leaders France. Ireland sit bottom with no points from three games.
Wiegman‘s team will travel to Saint-Etienne next week for the return fixture needing a win if they are to stay in contention for first place. The top two in every group will qualify for next summer’s tournament in Switzerland.
“We have to win out in France if we want to be in a good position in July,” the Dutchwoman told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Today we wanted to go and win and most of the time we played well. As a team and in defence, we did pretty good.
“We’re very disappointed now, that is very clear because really we all feel it was very unnecessary – but then we’ll move onto Tuesday.”
Earps was visibly upset after coming off the pitch just eight minutes into her 50th cap for England to be replaced by Hannah Hampton. Wiegman delivered an update on her injury after the game.
“Mary got injured and it took about five minutes to get started, then she went down again and had to be substituted,” she told ITV Sport. “That was not what we were expecting.
“I can’t say anything (about her injury) because I haven’t spoken to anyone yet.”
Wiegman later specified in her post-match press conference that it is an issue “around her hip”.
“Of course I’m concerned,” she added. “She doesn’t go off the pitch often and she’s on crutches. I really don’t know but of course there are some concerns.”
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