Sampson: Lionesses have laid down another marker

Mark Sampson believes his England Women’s team have made a “big statement” by earning a third draw against powerhouses Germany.

The Lionesses put in a huge shift in Duisburg to come away with a 0-0 draw – only the fourth time in 22 matches they have avoided defeat against the eight-time European champions.

Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley made three crucial saves, but Jordan Nobbs and Jill Scott had two chances each for England, while Demi Stokes had the visitors’ best chance at the end of the first half, but her angled drive was well saved by Lauren Benkarth.

Sampson said: “It’s a big statement for us to come here and get that type of result, but most importantly put in that type of performance.

“We were determined to get a result and win the game, but stamp our authority on the match and play with a confidence and a high level of belief, and we did that exceptionally well.

“We got on the front foot, we were aggressive with our pressure and we defended our goal very well when we needed to.

“Maybe with a little bit of extra quality, that final pass or more composure in the final third, we could have helped ourselves to some goals which would have been the icing on the cake.

“We are pleased to come away with a clean sheet and we are disappointed we didn’t come away with a win.”

England had never beaten Germany until this summer’s World Cup, when Fara Williams’s penalty earned her country World Cup bronze.

Their two previous draws came in 2007, while the Lionesses were humbled 3-0 by Germany at Wembley last November.

And head coach Sampson reckons his side’s last two results against Germany prove that they are growing in confidence.

England players congratulate each other after their 0-0 draw in Germany

He added: “We are producing performances which justifies our belief.

“Against Germany we were aggressive, we got on the front foot and we put them under lots of pressure.

“Okay, we conceded some chances and Karen Bardsley made three excellent saves, but we created chances ourselves which we should have done better with.

“There are some huge positives to take away. The players will grow in belief again.

“It’s another big result against a top nation and it’s only three or four months ago that we had never got one of them.

“For us as a group we need to keep building that momentum.”

England will fly home on Friday to prepare for their Euro 2017 qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Bristol on Sunday.

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