Emma Coates: “There are lots of positives we can take away and learn”

Following a narrow defeat against Germany for England women’s under-23s on Thursday evening, head coach Emma Coates remained in positive spirits ahead of a clash with France next week.

The Young Lionesses were beaten 3-2 by their opponents in their first outing of 2023 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

“You always want to come to these games and win,” reflected Coates. “I said to the girls that it was really competitive.

“There are lots that we can take away and learn from it. These types of fixtures we can learn, develop and ultimately prepare them for the next level.”

Michelle Agyemang – the Arsenal forward on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion – netted a brace in the first half after opening the scoring inside just six minutes with a powerful strike, earning some high praise from Coates.

“She’s done really well,” said Coates. “She is lethal in front of goal. As there is with all the players, there are areas where we can kick on, but I am really proud of her tonight.”

Coates also highlighted on the areas for improvement ahead of her side’s next fixture against France.

“They caused us some problems with their wide rotations – that gave us a lot of decisions to make off the ball,” she added.

“That is great for their development. It probably doesn’t feel like that in the 90 minutes, but in the long-term this will be good for them.”

Similarly, England’s Player of the Match, Maisie Symonds, was upbeat in spite of the score-line, after putting in a spirited individual performance which saw her presented with the accolade.

“I’m a bit surprised, to be honest,” she said. “I thought it would be Misha (Michelle Agyemang). I’d be annoyed if I scored two and didn’t get Player of the Match, but I'll happily take it!

Maisie Symonds is your #YoungLionesses England Player of the Match connected by @EE! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6U8BJnMaAM

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) February 20, 2025

“She (Agyemang) is so clinical. I knew when she got those chances in front of goal that she would take them, and I was very happy when I saw she was starting tonight. It's always nice to play with her.”

The Brighton and England midfielder now turns her attention to the Young Lionesses’ next match-up against France at the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday 25 February.

“We went behind twice, but we stayed in it the whole time,” continued Symonds. “We really went for it at the end but it’s difficult when we concede an indirect free kick.

“I felt like we did give them a good game today and it could have gone either way.

“A few of the girls made their debuts tonight. We have really good depth in the squad.”