No more friendlies. No more cricket score qualifiers. The time for practice, tinkering, experimentation with theoretical line-ups and formations, is over. The Lionesses preparation time has come to an end. The home Euros, the biggest tournament in Lioness history, is now mere moments away. It’s a far cry from 2005, when England lacked the notoriety, experience, and level of talent that this squad possesses. All eyes will be upon them, as England hopes this will be the team to bring home major silverware for the first time since 1966. And with that hope and expectation comes huge amounts of pressure, something past England teams have wilted under.
This is England’s best ever chance to win an international trophy. A team brimming with talent and depth, backed by sell-out home crowds, and managed by one of the finest managers in the women’s game at present, Sarina Wiegman. Her start at the helm has been near perfect, with 14 games unbeaten (12 wins, 2 draws), and these final 3 warm up games were won in a comprehensive manner that has now become the norm. However, to thrash the European Champions in a friendly is one thing, to transfer that form into the tournament itself is another. What, therefore, will Sarina have learnt from England’s dress rehearsal? And what insight will we have glimpsed into how Sarina will likely line England up in their opening game against Austria.
The Lionesses are in safe hands
At the back, it’s been made abundantly clear that Mary Earps has become England’s first choice keeper, starting all three matches. She has very much been the outside runner to the coveted Number 1 jersey, to the extent that she almost gave up on her international aspirations. However, with Bardsley retiring, Telford no longer in the England set up and Roebuck missing most of the season with injury, Earps has found herself the prime choice to stand between the sticks at the tournament.
It’s a mantle deserved, as she has been a consistent presence at the back for Man United over the past few seasons. However, she was not overly worked during England’s warm-ups, so there remains an element of the unknown surrounding her competency at this level. Against Belgium and Switzerland, she faced a combined total of 6 shots and only one on target. The Netherlands provided the sternest test, her most notable moment was a good reaction save to Beerensteyn’s snapshot in the first half. England’s only moment of concern across all the friendlies came when Martens scored the opener from a near-post flick, where Earps footwork came into question. And against Switzerland, she looked vulnerable from aerial deliveries from the flanks. This is not unique to Earps mind, as Roebuck too has been exposed from the high ball this season, notably in both the Conti Cup and FA Cup finals.
Should Earps err at the tournament, it will be Roebuck and Hampton waiting in the wings to potentially step in. Roebuck will almost certainly be the main understudy, she has more tournament experience than Hampton, having played for Team GB at the Olympics and long earmarked as Karen Bardsley’s natural successor. But Hampton will fancy her chances, having had a strong game against Spain in the Arnold Clark Cup.
Earps will almost certainly start against Austria, but unlike previous competitions, it is not sure thing for the duration of the Euros. Earps will need to remain at a consistently high level for the entirety of the tournament.
Strong at the back
Defence has probably been the area of greatest uncertainty under Sarina. The long-standing centre back partnership of Steph Houghton and Millie Bright has was brought to a close when Wiegman rightly axed Houghton from the final squad, failing to fully recover from the injury that had kept her out for most of the season. It’s a pairing that never looked secure at both the 2019 World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics.
Millie Bright remains the player most certain of her selection, but the other places across the backline are up for debate. Greenwood has been experimented as both a centre back and a fullback. Daly done well since taking up the ‘McCabe’ role of a forward re-purposed as an attacking fullback. Bronze had her best game for England against the Netherlands, providing the Lionesses with a great attacking outlet from the flanks, capped off with her equalising goal. Stokes represents a safe, steady option, but will likely be an option from the bench. Lotte Wubben-Moy had a decent game against Belgium, whilst her Arsenal teammate Leah Williamson also excelled when restored to her natural position against Switzerland.
The debate as to whether the England captain should play with Walsh as a midfield double-pivot, or as Millie Bright’s defensive partner, will continue to playout throughout the Euros. Sarina’s preference appears to be to utilise her in the centre of the park, but against the Netherlands, she didn’t look comfortable in that role. England were often overrun by the Dutch high press, only being able to overcome it when Leah shifted back to defence as Sarina ran the changes in the second half to devastating effect. It may well be that against Austria, Sarina reverts back to the Williamson/Walsh pivot, but in the bigger games, such as England’s second match against Norway, she will likely opt to move her into the defence.
Heart of the midfield
Midfield will be a key area for England, one where in the past they have found themselves exposed. Losing Jill Scott for the Euro 2017 Semi Final pretty much holed England beneath the waterline, and they were never able to cater for her absence. Jill Scott will be at Euro 2022, which is huge credit to a player who has been in the England setup since 2007. With so many of the team playing in their first ever international tournament, Jill’s experience and knowledge will be vital, especially as someone who has played in a home tournament before, at the London Olympics. She was able to come off the bench to good effect against Switzerland with a goal right at the death, much to the joy of her teammates.
Ms Reliable ⭐️
Jill Scott gets in on the act and added England's fourth goal just before FT 👏 pic.twitter.com/1OSCGXcD8P
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2022
With Jill now an experienced replacement, her first team role has now been inherited by Keira Walsh, who, like Bright and Earps, was consistently picked by Sarina to start last month. Walsh under-performed at the 2019 World Cup, but now looks more settled at the heart of the England midfield, with her excellent ball distribution and switch of plays key to exploiting spaces behind the opposition defence to allow England’s pacey forwards to run into.
As mentioned earlier, Sarina’s preference appears to be to pair her with Leah Williamson, a player who also has the capacity to move the ball in a manner on par with Walsh. However, Walsh has often played as a lone pivot, rather than as part of a double, for Manchester City, which gives Sarina the flexibility to also pair her with a more attacking midfielder, such as Toone or Stanway, without the fear of exposing England defensively. With Walsh a nailed-on starter, not just for against Austria, but for the remainder of the tournament, the question now becomes how England build their attack and the creativity in front of her.
Attacking strength in depth
The Attack is arguably the most exciting part of this England squad, with Sarina having a vast array of options to pick from, both to start and to come off the bench. Depth has always been something England have lacked, with the first XI usually consistent throughout the entirety of England’s stay. Not so much here. There is also the quirk in how England’s attacking players are utilised. Ordinarily, it is those who start the matches that have the greatest impact, with those coming off the bench either being used to rest key players for the next game or being required to save a game that is threatening to escape them.
Over the last 3 games however, England have leaned far more towards the latter, to devasting effect. Against Belgium and Switzerland, England found themselves struggling to break down a stubborn, defensive rear guard, until the likes of Chloe Kelly and Beth England entered the fray and help get England off the mark. Against the Netherlands, the arrival of the cavalry completely swung the momentum England’s way, annihilating a Dutch side that until then had looked more than a match for them. That time, it was Beth Mead and Ella Toone who would being the Mark Parson’s undoing. Sarina’s attacking depth is some of the best in the tournament and being able to tap into it at any point is a valuable to weapon to have in one’s arsenal.
Whilst the bench has been England’s strength; their weakness has been those who have started. In her sole outing up front against Belgium, Ellen White looked very rusty, her usually reliable finishing absent. Testing positive for COVID robbed her of another opportunity to fight for her place, with Sarina giving Beth England and Alessia Russo chances to spearhead England’s attack. England struggled against the Netherlands, whilst Russo managed to open the scoring against Switzerland in the second half. Russo looks to be the better option to start the opening game, and will know Old Trafford well, having played and scored twice in Man United’s 3-1 against Everton this season. However, Ellen White has plenty of tournament experience, and was electric in England’s last two tournament outings (France and Tokyo).
Your England Player of the Match, connected by @EE!
Congrats, @alessiarusso7 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Euxe9srwUp
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 30, 2022
Another who failed to live up to the hype was Fran Kirby. A key cog in the engine room of Chelsea’s devasting attack, she has yet to transfer her talent and creativity to the international stage. She missed an easy chance against Switzerland early on, before disappearing from the game altogether, ultimately being swapped for Ella Toone on 61 minutes. There is no doubt a talent exists within her but having suffered with fatigue issues wince the start of the year, one wonders if she is match fit yet, and whether there is any worth in gambling on her finally coming good at a major tournament. Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone have both offered more in the heart of England’s attack. Out of the two, Georgia has the greater experience, but is also erratic, particularly when attempting to press and operate defensively, giving away needless freekicks, often in dangerous positions. Toone has been an ever-presence since Sarina took to the helm, scoring the first goal of her regime against North Macedonia. Like Russo, she too has experienced playing at Old Trafford last season, and that might well be what sways Sarina’s thinking.
✨ 🏴 Past and present 🏴 ✨ pic.twitter.com/6d1qstPClj
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 4, 2022
One player who is an absolute dead cert to start is Lauren Hemp. Winner of PFA’s Young Player of the Year, the Manchester City winger is the most exciting player within this England side, and the player the team’s hopes rest upon. Electric pace, great strength, she has made the left flank her own, and was consistently England’s best player across all 3 matches, capped off with a superb looping volley against the Netherlands.
Hemp’s one weakness, however, is her age. At just 21 years old, she is still raw, and her decision making in the final third can often be her downfall, failing to deliver the right ball after generating the space, or opting to shoot when better players are position. Despite this, when she gets it right, she is up there with the best in the game. Against the Netherlands, her run and brilliant cross made Beth Mead’s first goal, showcasing that, with more consistency and further development of her game, she will become the star of this England team.
Time for the main event
Three games, three wins, plenty of goals, and plenty of hype built. England are almost set for the biggest part of their lifetime. The games were fun, though not without their question marks. Whilst Belgium and Switzerland failed to lay a glove on England, they did have moments of threat where England did not look comfortable. For 50 minutes against the Netherlands, England were second best, the game turning on a missed penalty from Spitse, an immediate response by Mead, and the arrival of England’s ‘finishers’, destroying a Dutch team that admittedly were not at the same level of tournament preparation as England were up to that point. Based on that first half, there are concerns how England will fair against stronger opposition, particularly if they are able to go deep into the tournament. But there is plenty of grounds for optimism also. England’s attack is one of the best in Europe. If they can get it to function right from the off, rather than after 60 minutes, they will be an even more dangerous prospect.
Sarina knows how to win this competition, and how to do so despite the pressures of hosting, having done so in 2017 with the Netherlands. And of course, England have the greatest weapon of all: the fans. England will open to a sell-out crowd at Old Trafford, with a capacity crowd at Wembley the reward should they go all the way. They will have a level of support unlike anything they will have experienced before. It will be up to help them during the rough and cheer them on during the smooth. This is an opportunity like no other of the Lionesses, and one that may not come around again for quite some time. England expects. It is now up to Sarina, and her team, to deliver.
Written by Adam Salter
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