England Women’s World Cup Preparations: Questions Remain Ahead of Australia Trip
With just four days until the Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia, England manager Sarina Wiegman has plenty of questions to answer ahead of the tournament. Team selection, a preferred system and whether injured players will return to fitness in time for the competition, are all issues that need to be addressed before England’s opener against Haiti on 22 July.
A goalless draw with Portugal in their final send-off game on home soil did little to help Wiegman’s cause, with the Lionesses’ performance lacking fluidity and goals. But with several key places still up for grabs, is Wiegman any closer to knowing her starting XI?
Have England Found Their Number Nine Yet?
One of the biggest talking points heading into the tournament is who will be England’s number nine. Following the retirement of Ellen White, Alessia Russo was the obvious successor as England’s leading centre-forward. However, Russo has lacked consistency since last summer and finished below Golden Boot winner Rachel Daly and Tottenham striker Bethany England in the Women’s Super League scoring charts this season.
Daly was given her opportunity against Portugal, but failed to take it, squandering several chances in the first half, before Russo made an impact in the second half following her introduction. With both strikers failing to find the net against a Portugal side ranked 17 places lower than England, is Wiegman any closer to knowing her preferred number nine?
Is James Better Suited As a Number 10?
Another decision facing Wiegman is how to get the best out of Chelsea’s talented winger Lauren James. There is stiff competition in wide forward positions with Manchester City duo Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp proving their worth on plenty of occasions previously. James was dangerous against Portugal, linking up nicely with Lucy Bronze in the first half, but failed to produce the final ball when it mattered.
However, a switch at half-time from Wiegman, dropping James into a deeper number 10 position, seemed to get the best out of her as she often combined with Russo and winger Kelly. The best chance of the match came via James when she slid it through to Russo to round the keeper – the striker denied only by the brilliance of a goalline block by Ana Borges. So what system will Wiegman use at the World Cup and is James’ role perhaps more effective in the middle than out wide?
Are England Ready for the World Cup?
England’s form has dipped slightly since their successful Euro 2022 campaign. Their 30-game unbeaten run ended with defeat by Australia prior to their draw with Portugal at Stadium MK. There are suitable explanations for this including injury and rustiness following a month without a competitive match since the end of the WSL season. But are England better prepared now than they were last summer?
The remaining question marks around key centre-back Millie Bright’s fitness is also a concern. With several players already missing through injury – captain Leah Williamson, forward Beth Mead and midfielder Fran Kirby – it only adds to Wiegman’s conundrums.
Conclusion
England travel to Australia in four days’ time for the Women’s World Cup, but there remain key questions that Sarina Wiegman needs to answer before their opener against Haiti on 22 July. Have England found their number nine yet? Is James better suited as a number 10? And are England ready for the World Cup? Only time will tell if Wiegman has made the right decisions ahead of the tournament.