I think you are referring to losing to an academy side who were 15 or 16, cant remember. England also lost to Arsenail u17s in a pre tournament game I think. I would bet the academy teams treated it very differeently to the national teams building up to a tournament. Academy sides often play games against pro teams for differrent reasons but usually behind closer and no reporting, for a reason. Not sure it is evidemce of where the womens game is to be fair. Believe 100% about 20-0 games. Anything above a 4 goal deficit is pathetic in competitive games.
The Australian womens team lost 7-0 to Newcastle Jets U15's in 2016 and then lost 4-1 to Colorado Rapids U15's in 2019
I would bet it happens regularly across the pro game mate. The cuo with u23s in it are similar, i.e. prem teams being incredibly experimental. Sometimes tge young uns beat a league 1 team. These behind closed academy games are never for result and always for experimemtation. I would bet, for example the academy played a few overage players, in some positions, at the request of the national team. I would also bet the national teams were playing 3 different formations, for example, and some first teamers in the stands. You can also be sure tackles were all but banned. I am in danger of going too far here. I am not saying womens football is at the level of pro game in uk. Chelsea charge £9 for a reason as I have said. I am not buying a semi-pro team would batter England though. I am obviously in the minority though so probably wrong, just stubborn.
I agree it's all so contrived and forced on football fans. I can see them playing the women's match on a Saturday before the men's and claiming the crowds there to see the women. Fact is they would struggle to fill a corner unless the tickets are handed out round primary schools for free and even then a lot wouldn't bother turning up. It's not up to Sunday league level in reality but the players want to be paid like they are premier league superstars.
You're right it won't happen but it's blatantly obvious it needs to in order to make the game competitive and get people's attention (changes to the pitch not the strip!). I have seen a few international matches on TV and it's absolutely awful to watch in its current form, wouldn't sit through 90 minutes of it to save my life.
