MANCHESTER — In a stunning result, Brazil defeated Euro 2025 champions England 2–1 in a women’s international friendly at the Etihad Stadium, despite playing much of the match with 10 players. The result marked a statement win for the South American champions, exposing defensive flaws in the English side that had lifted the European title just months earlier.
Brazil Stun Euro Champions England 2–1: Early Goals Shock the Lionesses
England’s Euro 2025 celebrations quickly turned sour as the Lionesses were undone by a relentless Brazilian attack. Missing key defensive players Leah Williamson, Millie Bright, and Hannah Hampton, England’s backline struggled from the start.
Beatriz Zaneratto opened the scoring after capitalizing on a poor clearance from England, slotting calmly past debutant Khiara Keating, who became the first Black female goalkeeper to start for the Lionesses. Just minutes later, Dudinha doubled Brazil’s lead following a costly midfield giveaway from Ella Toone, silencing the home crowd.
Red Card Turns the Tide, but England Fall Short
The match took a dramatic twist when Brazil captain Angelina was shown a straight red card for bringing down Toone on the edge of the box. England seized control after the sending-off, coming close when Alex Greenwood’s free-kick struck the crossbar.
The hosts finally pulled one back through Georgia Stanway’s penalty after Beth Mead was fouled in the box. Despite intense late pressure — including another Stanway strike off the bar and a close header from Alessia Russo — Brazil held firm to seal a memorable victory.
Wiegman Calls Defeat a “Reality Check”
Head coach Sarina Wiegman admitted frustration with England’s slow start but praised their resilience:
“We played short and were punished twice, but after the red card we dominated — just lacked precision in the final third.”
Sky Sports analyst Charlotte Marsh described the result as a “reality check” for the Lionesses, highlighting issues in transition and midfield coordination. Still, she emphasized the benefit of facing top non-European opposition ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Midfielder Georgia Stanway remained optimistic:
“It’s not a step back. We came here to celebrate with our fans — the result hurts, but we’ll learn and grow from this.”
England’s Road Ahead
Despite the defeat, England’s performance offered valuable lessons in adapting to diverse styles of play. The Lionesses now turn their focus to their upcoming friendly against Australia, as they aim to rediscover the rhythm that made them European champions.
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