England's Lionesses, fresh from their Euro 2025 triumph, were given a reality check by Brazil in a friendly match at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The South American champions, reduced to 10 players in the first half, secured a 2-1 victory, exposing some vulnerabilities in Sarina Wiegman's experimental side. Despite the loss, there's no need for England fans to panic, as the match provided valuable insights and opportunities for growth ahead of future competitions.
Brazil started strongly, with Bia Zaneratto finding the net in the 9th minute after outpacing Jess Carter. Dudinha capitalized on an English defensive error just nine minutes later, extending Brazil's lead to 2-0. Ella Toone's turnover in midfield allowed Brazil to launch a three-on-two attack, with Dudinha slotting the ball past debutant goalkeeper Khiara Keating. The Lionesses' makeshift defense, missing key players like Leah Williamson and Millie Bright, struggled to contain Brazil's pace and physicality.
A lifeline appeared in the 21st minute when Angelina, Brazil's captain, was shown a straight red card for a foul on Toone. However, England failed to capitalize on the man advantage in the first half, with only a few chances created.
The second half saw England improve, and they were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute when Beth Mead was fouled in the box. Georgia Stanway converted the penalty, halving the deficit. Stanway later struck the crossbar with a powerful shot, but England couldn't find an equalizer despite sustained pressure.
Sarina Wiegman acknowledged that her team was not clinical enough in the final third. She highlighted Brazil's physicality and defensive toughness, noting that England could have made better decisions in execution. Wiegman also emphasized the importance of learning from the match and improving the team's ability to create and execute chances.
The match served as an opportunity for Wiegman to experiment with her squad and test new combinations. Khiara Keating made her debut in goal, becoming England's first black goalkeeper to receive a cap. The center-back pairing of Jess Carter and Esme Morgan was also relatively new, as Maya Le Tissier deputized for Lucy Bronze at right-back and Alex Greenwood shifted to left-back.
Despite the defeat, Wiegman has a track record of tactical brilliance and player development. She guided England to Euro 2025 victory, showcasing her ability to adapt and get the best out of her players. This friendly against Brazil, while exposing some weaknesses, provides valuable lessons and opportunities to fine-tune the squad ahead of future challenges. The Lionesses' journey to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, remains firmly on track.
