Georgia Stanway: 'A really, really tough game'

England’s Georgia Stanway was in reflective mood following the Lionesses’ defeat to Brazil in Manchester in the first of the team’s Homecoming Series.

Taking to the pitch for the first time since they were crowned as EURO champions in the summer, the Lionesses found themselves two goals down within 20 minutes before Brazil were reduced to ten players before the break.

And while Stanway’s second-half penalty reduced the arrears, England couldn’t quite find a way to equalise despite no shortage of pressure and possession against a team who were crowned as South American champions in the summer and provided a tough test for Sarina Wiegman’s side.

“It’s one of those games where you’re going to get battered and bruised,” said Stanway.

“We’re not used to playing against nations from a different continent, so it’s something we’ve got to adapt to.

“It was a really, really tough game. It’s difficult when a team goes player-to-player all over the pitch and it was difficult to find the space. There was a lot of movement and a lot of running.

“I think there are some really good things we can take away from there, obviously with the red card it helped us find the free player a little bit more.

“But, yes, the opening 20 minutes were a bit disappointing from us.

"We had a lot of chances second half, on another day they go in. We'll review this, build from it. We've got a lot of time.

"It’s not a setback, we've come here to a home crowd with a European trophy in our hands. Today was a day we came to celebrate with them."