England Women beat Germany to win the European Championships. Photo Credit: UEFA via Twitter.
England head into the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the title of European Champions added to their accolades. For years the women’s team have caused the same pain to fans in major tournaments as the men’s team, missing out on finals and featuring in dramatic penalty shootouts.
However, England changed the record, winning the 2022 European Championships on home soil – other teams now viewing England as a giant within women’s football.
With a number of caveats including key injuries, the fact that the tournament is on the other side of the world and the involvement of major teams such as the USA and Canada, England’s chances perhaps aren’t as favoured by pundits and bookies. Here is a dive into the history of the side at World Cups, their recent form, England group and some key players to look out for.
World Cup History
2019 (4th)
The 2019 Women’s World Cup in France was a turning point for the interest in the Lionesses, particularly back home in England. Exiting the tournament in 4th place, it wasn’t their most successful, but it was the first major tournament for some of England’s current stars such as Mary Earps, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh.
It’s reflective of both the state of injuries and more positively, the increased professionalism that only seven members of the 2019 squad will feature at the 2023 World Cup.
England’s 2019 journey had its challenges with a nervy first game against Scotland – which was unexpected – but also highs with a 3-0 win over Norway. The Lionesses suffered defeats to both the USA – in the semi-final – and Sweden in the third-place match.
However, in the past 12 months, England have enjoyed a 4-0 win over Sweden in the Euros semi-final and a 2-1 over the USA in a friendly at Wembley.
2015 (3rd)
The best World Cup outing for England was at the Canada World Cup in 2015. A young trio of current England players Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood and Jordan Nobbs featured for the first time at a senior World Cup in this year with the team finishing in 3rd place – the highest in the teams’ history.
In Canada, England lost their opening game to France but bounced back to reach the semi-finals, going on to beat Germany 1-0 in the third-place play-offs.
England’s performance at the 2015 World Cup made a statement and improved the reputation of the side. Knocking the hosts, Canada, out of the tournament in the quarterfinals created conservation both back home in England and at the tournament itself.
Recent Form
Win over the USA
In a sell-out friendly at Wembley, England beat World Champions, the USA, just months after the Euros victory. Although it wasn’t the greatest performance from either side – and VAR was a significant factor – England did look the better side with Lauren Hemp bagging an early goal and Georgia Stanway scoring one of her textbook penalties. It got fans excited as England have struggled to face the USA in previous meetings.
Brazil win & penalties
Again at Wembley, England played another match in font of a sell-out crowd. It was the ‘Finalissima’, a trophy contested by the winners of the Copa América Femenina (Brazil) and the European Championships (England).
England took the win in a nervy penalty shootout, of course hero Chloe Kelly once again scoring the winner. The shootout was an ideal opportunity for England to practice penalties with a trophy at steak in front of a large crowd.
Australia loss
England’s first loss under Sarina Wiegman came in April against Australia in a friendly. It was a 30-match winning streak which came to an end as goals from Charlie Grant and the inevitable Sam Kerr exposed weaknesses in England’s side. It may have caused some panic among fans but the streak had to be broken at some point and England wouldn’t have wanted it to end in a World Cup final.
England’s Group: Haiti, China, Denmark
England are in group D, perhaps one of the easier groups, where they will face Haiti, Denmark and China.
This is Haiti’s inaugural appearance at a World Cup having only had tournament experience at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship where they didn’t leave the group stages, in the most recent edition. Without disrespecting Haiti, England may treat this as an opportunity to finalise what works for the side with a number of personnel changes.
England’s easier group gives them more time the iron out some of the issues they have had in recent friendlies against Australia and Portugal.
China have been World Cup regulars but have struggled to reach knockout stages. Although they are ranked 14th in the world, China have found difficulties against Spain, Switzerland, Ireland and Sweden in their latest friendlies – competition who will be at the World Cup.
However, China have a very different style of play to England’s more recent opponents and so will have to tactically adapt, making the game more of a challenge.
Denmark are currently ranked 13th in the world and the Lionesses are relatively familiar with facing the Danes but haven’t competed since 2019 where England won 2-0 comfortably.
This is the first World Cup since 2007 that Denmark have qualified for and although they competed at the most recent Euros, the Danish team exited in the group stages.
England’s Chances
England will be up there among the favourites but with their captain, Leah Williamson and key attackers, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby absent through injury, it means England’s successful line ups will have to be changed and calm, experienced heads will be missing.
But, a change in England’s tactics and players does make England slightly more mysterious and less ‘figured out’ by opposition which can only be an advantage.
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