If the storm had struck 24 hours earlier, the subsequent conditions at the Carl Zeiss Jena Stadium would have been much nearer normality for the England players and maybe, just maybe, they would have got a result.

But the change of weather they were hoping for came too late and now they are facing an almighty task to progress beyond the group stages.

They must beat Germany - something they have never done before - and hope that Sweden fail to beat Russia if they are to qualify for the semi-finals of the eight-nation tournament.

It is an unlikely combination of results, but in the hotel lobby after the game the players were looking ahead to Saturday's game with as positive an attitude as they could muster.

Positive attitude

Tranmere winger Sue Smith, England's 'Nationwide International Player of the Year' for the season just ended, said: "We are all feeling down right now but there's no point in dwelling too long on the defeat.

"It's hard to take and it shows we've a way to go to match the best teams in Europe, but we have got to get ourselves prepared for the Germany match and go into it believing we can win - if we don't take that attitude then we may as well go home now."

Smith was "gutted" with not only the result but also the fact that she had been substituted at half-time.

Her room-mate Rachel Yankey took over with coach Hope Powell looking to the Fulham forward for an injection of pace which might hopefully pull the game round.