England boss left with more questions than answers after nervy win over South Africa

"We have to evolve." That was the message frommidfielder Georgia Stanway ahead of Tuesday night's clash with South Africa at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The Lionesses found themselves at the centre of intense media scrutiny last week following . Though it was only a friendly, there could be no arguing with the fact it was not a performance befitting of a side hoping to defend their crown at the European Championship in Switzerland next summer.

It was the first time England had conceded four goals under Sarina Wiegman and their first defeat at Wembley Stadium since 2019. It was a potent reminder of how significantly the Lionesses' air of infallibility has diminished since their Euros win in 2022, laying bare the extent of work still to be done if Wiegman's side harbour genuine ambitions of remaining as the queens of the continent in less than 12 months' time.

"When the expectation is continuous we are probably not able to live up to it," Stanway said on Monday. "I think it's inevitable that at some point you are going to plateau.

"We have been with Sarina for four years now so we will get to a point where we can't continuously win because teams will figure us out. That's where we have to work together to reinvent ourselves - change a little bit of tactics, bits here and there, and get the one up on the opposition again."

Certainly, Wiegman's team selection against South Africa suggested she, too, felt it was time for something new. The Dutchwoman made eight changes to the side that started against Germany, with Tottenham's Jessica Naz, Manchester United's Grace Clinton and Manchester City's Jess Park among those to come in.

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And it was an energetic start from the hosts in the east Midlands, with City's Chloe Kelly coming out of the blocks quickly and Naz posing plenty of early questions for the South African defence. England got their reward in the 12th minute when captain Leah Williamson - making her 50th appearance for the Lionesses - rifled past goalkeeper Kaylin Swart from a corner.

After a period in which the Arsenal defender's form has been the subject of intense debate, her neat finish into the bottom corner was the perfect tonic, and her relief was palpable as she was quickly swarmed by her celebrating teammates.

Parity was, however, almost immediately restored when the visitors pounced on a defensive error by Esme Morgan, with Hildah Magaia's attempt inexplicably scrambled away off the line. That last-ditch clearance opened the door for the Lionesses to further exert their dominance, with Clinton doubling the hosts' tally for the evening with a fine header after a superb ball into the box from clubmate Maya Le Tissier.

Though Wiegman's side had enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first-half and went into the break two goals to the good, many of the problems from the Germany defeat persisted. The defence remained porous, the passing occasionally sloppy, and the Lionesses were made to pay for their nonchalance after the restart when Thembi Kgatlana seized upon a loose pass by Williamson and finished brilliantly past Earps to notch South Africa's first ever goal against England.

Kgatlana thought she had grabbed a second 16 minutes from time after getting in behind the England defence and rippling the back of Earps' net but the Lionesses were granted a reprieve by the offside flag.

Still, it was an uncomfortable end to the game for the hosts as South Africa exploited their deficiencies at the back, though Chloe Kelly and substitute Ella Toone did come close to extending the Lionesses' advantage.

Ultimately, England did just enough to hold on for the win, but the last two games have thrown up plenty of pressing questions for Wiegman to consider ahead of next summer. Now, it is up to the Dutchwoman to find the answers.