'I love you always my G' - Alisha Lehmann sends special birthday message to Aston Villa team-mate Rachel Daly just hours after heartbreaking Nations League experience for Lionesses star

Daly watched on from the bench at Hampden Park on Tuesday night, as England heroically attempted to rack up a margin of victory over Scotland that would have seen them overhaul the Netherlands for top spot in their Nations League group, and crucially clinch qualification for Team GB in next summer's Paris Olympics.

Despite a 6-0 win, Lionesses' hearts were broken soon after full-time when news of a 95th-minute Netherlands goal against Belgium saw England squeezed out by the narrowest of margins.

The morning after night before, Lehmann did her best to raise her club-mate's spirits.

The Switzerland international posted a message to her 16 million Instagram followers saying: "Happy Birthdaaay to the one and only Rachel Daly. I Love you as always my G. Have the best day and you deserve everything."

Instagram:@alishalehmann7

Tuesday night's remarkable events came as a rare blip in England's resurgence under Sarina Wiegman. While their Nations League exit will hurt, it's the missed opportunity to go to an Olympics with a realistic shot at bringing home gold that will really sting the squad. As the highest ranked of Great Britain's four nations it was the Lionesses who were charged with the responsibility of earning Team GB's qualification.

Lehmann and her Swiss team-mates, meanwhile, finished a dismal campaign with a 3-0 loss in Italy and relegation to League B of the Nations League.

The pair will have to dust themselves down and put their international disappointments behind them as Villa take a trip up the M6 to take on Manchester City on Saturday. Villa are down in tenth in the WSL table with just two wins to their name after eight games of the 2023-24 season.