Sarina Wiegman admitted there was room for improvement within the closing third after England edged to a slender 1-0 victory over Austria of their opening Euro 2022 group fixture.
Beth Mead’s lob after 16 minutes proved decisive on a night that noticed England pissed off by their well-drilled, sturdy opponents.
Ellen White glanced a header narrowly large and Lauren Hemp noticed her effort from shut vary nicely saved by Manuela Zinsberger, however the Lionesses’ clear reduce alternatives on objective have been in any other case largely restricted.
“I think we were a little rushed in the final third,” stated Wiegman. “We did create a lot of chances but the final touch or the choice on the ball to shoot or to cross – we can do that better. But the most important thing is that we scored one and we kept a clean sheet which is really nice too and that we have three points.
“This begin is so necessary and it provides such a lift to the staff and to the group in order that was essential. We had some superb moments within the sport, we created lots of possibilities, we should always have scored just a little extra, however we had additionally some laborious moments within the sport that we bought via and I feel that is actually good.”
England started nervously in front of a Women’s Euros record crowd of over 68,000 at Old Trafford, surrendering possession on a couple of occasions on the edge of their own box, but grew in confidence as they settled into the enormity of the occasion prior to Mead breaking the deadlock.
A nervy last 10 minutes ensued with England protecting their narrow one-goal advantage, but Wiegman was impressed with the maturity her side displayed to see the game out.
“We had a few phases within the sport,” the England boss added. “So we began not nice, then we had management within the sport and pushed them again into their half, and that is what they did very well too. They’re very compact, very bodily, very nicely organised.
“In the second half we were too sloppy on the ball in moments where we should keep control. I do think in the last minutes we were very calm and we kept the ball longer, and that was very mature.”
