With England having secured their place at Women’s Euro 2025, what could the defending champions’ preferred lineup look like in 12 months’ time?
Tellingly, Sarina Wiegman put faith in the same XI for both challenging away fixtures this summer, in France and Sweden, and their return of four points, enough to secure automatic qualification, seemingly vindicated her selections.
There is one major caveat, which is that Lauren James has been absent with injury but, that aside, we saw in Gothenburg on Tuesday a major indicator of what Wiegman feels is her strongest side.
Seven England players – if they stay fit and continue to perform for their clubs – can consider themselves very likely to be part of Wiegman’s first-choice team next July: the right-back Lucy Bronze, the centre-back pairing of Millie Bright and Leah Williamson, the central midfielders Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, the left winger Lauren Hemp and the central striker Alessia Russo.
Nobody’s place is guaranteed – that was proved when the long‑term No 1 goalkeeper Mary Earps was left out again on Tuesday – but those seven have, when match fit, nearly always been deployed for the big games in the 23 months since the Euro 2022 triumph and Ellen White’s retirement.
That would suggest four starting places are in the balance: goalkeeper, left-back, No 10 and a right-sided forward, and the quality of options for Wiegman will be enviable to other head coaches around Europe.
Goalkeeper: Hampton or Earps?
Earps has been a stalwart of Wiegman’s tenure but Hannah Hampton now appears to have a slight edge, having started England’s past three matches and kept a valuable clean sheet on Tuesday. Earps offers the far greater experience, but Hampton is maturing and developing fast.
Earps, who has signed for Paris Saint-Germain, partly to play Champions League football, will hope to win back her place with strong performances for her new club, whereas we will have to wait to see whether the new Chelsea manager, Sonia Bompastor, will start Hampton ahead of Sweden’s first‑choice keeper, Zecira Musovic. The battle for the England No 1 jersey is too close to call.
Left-back: Greenwood, Carter or Charles?
Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood was undoubtedly one of England’s top performers at the 2023 World Cup and was then in most pundits’ Women’s Super League team of the year at the end of last season, but she appears to be Wiegman’s second-choice left‑sided centre-back for the Lionesses. Greenwood is adept at left-back too, but it was Jess Carter who started there in Gothenburg. Niamh Charles had an excellent season for Chelsea.
In regards to left-back, it is possible Wiegman will make her selection on a match‑by‑match basis, perhaps deploying Charles against weaker sides, when the Lionesses will be expected to dominate, because of her experience playing on the wing as a youngster. It also should not be forgotten that Wiegman threw a curveball and played five at the back at the World Cup, meaning that at least two of this trio could be accommodated in the same team.
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N0 10: James, Toone, Clinton, Park or Kirby?
The race for this position feels wide open and perhaps the single largest factor will be where Wiegman decides is the most effective position to use James, who is – in many people’s eyes – the most naturally talented in the squad, someone who can win a game in a single moment with her individual brilliance. If James is part of the front three, then the No 10 role becomes a conundrum for Wiegman. Manchester United’s Ella Toone has more experience than Grace Clinton and Jess Park, who both had strong seasons. There is very little between the trio. Then there is Fran Kirby, who has never let England down and who has made the move to Brighton from Chelsea in order to play first-team football. If Kirby can rediscover her best form there are few better in her position in the world.
Right-sided forward: James, Mead or Kelly?
With James sidelined, Arsenal’s Beth Mead has been starting for the Lionesses this summer and she caught the eye with her fantastic, deft assist for Russo’s opening goal against the Republic of Ireland on Friday. Waiting in the wings is Chloe Kelly, scorer of the winning goal at the previous European Championship, whose pace offers a different threat. Based purely on a relative lack of recent international minutes, Kelly is third in this race. Pleasingly for Wiegman, all three can thrive on the left flank if Hemp was unavailable for any reason and they have experience playing through the middle, too.
Predicted England XI for the start of Euro 2025
Mary Earps; Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood; Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Ella Toone; Lauren James, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp.
Source: theguardian.com
