Report: Germany 5-0 England WU23s

England women’s under-23s fell to a 5-0 defeat against reigning WU23 European champions Germany on Thursday evening in Fulda.

Despite their determined efforts in difficult conditions with heavy rain and swirling wind, Emma Coates’ side kicked-off their 2025-26 campaign with a loss due to braces from Larissa Mühlhaus and Sophie Weidaur before Mathilde Janzen’s header completed the scoring.

The Young Lionesses, playing their first game as a new WU23s group this term, started with ambitious intent and Sarah Brasero was first to test Maria Grohs in the early exchanges, forcing the goalkeeper into a low save.

Despite their positive start, England came under pressure and it took a brave block from Hannah Silcock to deny Mühlhaus’s effort in her attempt to give Germany the advantage.

The hosts eventually broke the deadlock on the 26th minute when Mühlhaus’ penalty found the top corner and that lead was doubled four minutes later when Mühlhaus found the bottom corner with her second penalty of the evening.

It was that second goal which created uphill task for the Young Lionesses who turned to Isobel Goodwin for a route back into the game, but the forward narrowly missed the target with the two opportunities she created.

The hosts continued to press after the interval, but England were still persistent in their defensive duties – a fantastic sliding challenge from Cerys Brown denied Germany advancing further.

But after Natalia Negri saved the initial effort, Germany added a third goal when Weidauer tapped the ball in from point-blank range.

Weidauer got her second of the evening in the final quarter of the game, finishing clinically into the bottom corner.

England actively searched for a route back into the game and Silcock’s effort narrowly missed the target from close range.

Moments later, Mathilde Janzen clinically added a fifth goal with her headed effort.

England will be back in action again on Monday 27 October (7pm GMT) when they host Portugal in Northampton.

England: 1 Natalia Negri (Ipswich Town), 2 Cerys Brown (London City Lionesses), 3 Anouk Denton (West Ham), 4 Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns, on loan from Arsenal), 5 Hannah Silcock (Liverpool), 6 Naomi Layzell (Manchester City) (c), 7 Mia Enderby (Liverpool), 8 Olivia McLoughlin (Leicester City), 9 Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), 10 Sarah Brasero (West Ham), 11 Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses).

Substitutions: 22 Keira Barry (Sunderland, on loan from Manchester United) for Godfrey 61, 14 Georgia Mullett (Aston Villa) for Goodwin 61, 21 Lexi Potter (Chelsea) for Laila Harbert 72, 16 Gracie Prior (Manchester City) for Silcock 72, 12 Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur) for Mia Enderby 77, 19 Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City) for Brasero 77
 
Substitutes not used:13 Faye Kirby (Liverpool), 15 Jess Simpson (Southampton, on loan from Manchester United), 17 Ashanti Akpan (Southampton, on loan from Chelsea), 18 Mari Ward (Bristol City), 20 Evie Rabjohn (Sunderland, on loan from Manchester United), 22 Katie Cox (Aberdeen, loan from Chelsea)