Leah Williamson: 'To lose gives you a bit of fire'

Leah Williamson is hoping England Women’s 2-0 defeat to Australia could end up being a blessing in disguise and believes it will provide the players with ‘a bit of fire’ ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Goals from Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant at the Brentford Community Stadium inflicted Sarina Wiegman’s first defeat as England head coach.

But Williamson said: “[It's] absolutely not a setback. You have to take blessings in disguise, maybe that is not the worst thing that can happen to us. 

“We wanted to learn this whole time, we wanted to be pushed to our limit and we need to take it up to a new level. 

“In the past we have won those games but to lose it gives you a bit of fire.”

The opening goal came after Williamson attempted a headed back-pass to Mary Earps, which the Chelsea striker managed to intercept.

Williamson said: “I am not really one for dwelling on personal things, it's part of the game, I choose to be a professional footballer, I choose to put myself in positions where I need to not do those things to be successful. 

“That first goal has probably made it worse for me than everyone else but the whole team feels really rubbish about losing, it hurts.”

She continued: “I thought we nullified the threat [of Sam Kerr] pretty well as a collective in the back four.

“Obviously I gifted that goal. When you play the top teams, you expect to play against the best players and when they are on form, they punish you which is what happened tonight.”

England had 71 per cent of possession and had 16 shots to Australia’s five but only four of the Lionesses’ efforts were on target.

And Williamson said: “I think we looked like we were lacking ideas a little bit on the ball. We definitely can be better. 

“We got punished, it was my mistake for the first goal and they were pretty ruthless on the counter. We could have had a little bit more about us tonight.

“Sometimes you are going to have those games. They were well organised. Efficiency was the word Sarina used, we weren't as efficient as we usually are. We need to figure out why.”