Scorers: Stanway 33′ [Pen], 36′, Bronze 81′ ;Gwinn 4′ [Pen], 11′, Buhl 29′, Dabritz 72′ [Pen]

A fast start from Germany ensured that they ran out 4-3 winners over a poor England side at Wembley.

The visitors got off to a perfect start after just four minutes, when a poor backpass from Leah Williamson resulted in Mille Bright bringing down Linda Dallmann and conceding a penalty, which Germany captain Giulia Gwinn tucked away to hand her side the lead.

England saw an effort of their own ruled out for offside, but just seven minutes later Gwinn doubled Germany’s advantage as Jess Carter was caught out of position, allowing Gwinn to cut inside and lash the ball past Hannah Hampton to make it 2-0.

Though the hosts appeared to be getting back into the game, they were stung on the half hour mark as yet more poor defending allowed Klara Buhl to add a third goal and leave Germany threatening to run away with proceedings.

But moments later, Gwinn was penalised for a handball after a VAR check, and an England penalty pulled the Lionesses back into proceedings, with Georgia Stanway slamming the ball home from 12 yards out.

And, in a shock momentum shift, England reduced the deficit to just one goal moments later as Stanway applied a deft finishing touch after she was found by Beth Mead, before Ella Toone missed a glorious chance to bring the hosts level before the break.

The second half continued to be littered with mistakes from the England defence, and Germany were only denied a fourth goal by the offside flag after capitalising on another error.

Still Weigman’s side continued to make mistakes at the back, with Germany looking far more likely to add a fourth than England to find an equaliser.

And that is precisely what happened 18 minutes from time when Alessio Russo was deemed to have fouled a Germany player inside the penalty area, much to the fury of the Wembley crowd. Unfazed, substitute Sara Dabritz smashed the spot kick home to pull Germany further in front.

But it was their turn to make a mistake ten minutes from time, as goalkeeper Ann Katrin Berger spilt a simple catch into the path of Lucy Bronze, who gleefully tapped home for the seventh goal of the night.

However, despite late England pressure the visitors clung on to what was a deserved win to leave Weigman asking questions of her Lionesses.