FORMER England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis says the Lionesses have been a “soft touch” in the run-up to the Women’s European Championships but urged fans to keep faith in Sarina Wiegman and her side.

England suffered the first defeat of their Women’s Nations League campaign last week as they lost 3-2 to Belgium just four days after hammering the same opponents 5-0 at Ashton Gate. 

It was their fourth loss since they suffered World Cup final heartbreak against Spain nearly two years ago.

Wiegman’s team are now preparing for a significant few months as they look to defend their European crown in Switzerland in July.

Brown-Finnis, who won 82 caps for England, said: “Everybody watching the Lionesses has probably been concerned about form, and that they have been a bit of a soft touch at times in the last nine months.

“Eyeballs are on the team and [fans] want them to be in top form going into the Euros and that hasn’t been the case.

“The Lionesses are the hunted team now, they are a team everyone wants to beat. They have to acknowledge that and steam roll teams when they have to.

“People have been worried about form but have learned to have faith in Sarina Wiegman and her methods.”

England will be looking to not only defend their title, but to reach a third final in three major tournaments under Wiegman.

She added: “It’s a new badge of honour that they are wearing, and they shoulder this newfound sense of expectation they take into a game, as they go into most games expecting to win.

“It would be amazing to get to the final again, it would be special. Doing it on home soil was historic. To do it again, they have already cemented history, I believe we can.

“There are dangerous teams everywhere, but we have Sarina who is the best manager in the world.”