Full-backs And Future Stars: The Issues Facing Lionesses Before World Cup Bid

The shiny ticker-tape had not moreover been cleared from nan transportation astatine St Jakob-Park when nan gauntlet was thrown down. As England celebrated their Euro 2025 triumph, King Charles wrote connected nan royal family’s Instagram account: “Well done, Lionesses. The adjacent is to bring location nan World Cup successful 2027 if you perchance can!” No pressure, then.

The short-term early for England players will centre astir 2 things; a vacation – unless you are a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) subordinate for illustration Jess Carter, who had to alert consecutive backmost to nan US to play nine shot – and much accolades, nan latest of which came connected Friday arsenic nan National Football Museum announced each squad personnel and Sarina Wiegman will each beryllium inducted into their Hall of Fame. More awards will surely travel but, eventually, everyone will drawback up pinch nan King’s mindset and attraction attention connected 2027.

Sarina Wiegman addresses a reception astatine 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Having go nan first elder England shot squad to win a awesome trophy overseas, and nan first to take sides a title, nan adjacent obstacle to flooded is to triumph nan nation’s first Women’s World Cup, pinch nan adjacent tourney to beryllium staged successful Brazil arsenic it heads to South America for nan first time. The Lionesses person travel very close, reaching nan semi-finals successful 2015 and 2019 earlier losing 2023’s final, and their retained position arsenic European champions will spot galore tipping them for glory successful a mates of years. But really will this squad germinate earlier past and what is location for each concerned to ponder?

New coaches, caller ideas

Wiegman’s squad now enters a caller era arsenic they opportunity farewell to her long-serving adjunct Arjan Veurink, often hailed arsenic cardinal to their tactical success, arsenic he heads disconnected to go nan Netherlands caput coach. Geraint Twose, besides portion of Wiegman’s backroom squad for some of their Euro-winning campaigns, is besides moving connected to return up a caller position arsenic England’s lead modulation coach, supporting players successful nan younker pathway. Arriving from nan Netherlands are Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, and it will beryllium absorbing to spot how, if astatine all, England’s style changes pinch them successful place.

The right-back conundrum

Lucy Bronze has made it clear she wants to play astatine nan adjacent World Cup. She will beryllium 35-and-three-quarters erstwhile nan tourney comes astir and while her experience, activity skills and mentality will guarantee she is still England’s first-choice right-back if fit, nan Lionesses request a scheme B, conscionable successful lawsuit sports subject discovers an wounded truthful terrible that she cannot play done it, dissimilar a seemingly insignificant problem of a – checks notes – fractured tibia astatine nan Euros. England had nan Manchester United captain, Maya Le Tissier, waiting successful nan wings this summer, personification Wiegman sees arsenic a right-back contempt nan truth she has played each lucifer for her nine astatine centre-back. Also successful contention is Tottenham’s Ella Morris, who has impressed astatine right-back done England’s younker teams but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament wounded successful May.

Lucy Bronze is keen to play different tourney pinch England. Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd/Richard Sellers/Apl/Sportsphoto

The left-back dilemma

England person been without a consistently selected left-back for a generation, pinch nary 1 making that position their ain since nan centurion Rachel Unitt much than a decade ago. Alex Greenwood did good successful that position against Spain but she commonly plays astatine centre-back for Manchester City, and that is wherever Wiegman had intended to play nan 31-year-old earlier nan tourney began. Niamh Charles, who besides played good erstwhile called upon from nan bench, will beryllium different option, but she will want to commencement much games for Chelsea betwixt now and nan World Cup.

Who mightiness break into nan starting XI?

England are blessed pinch attacking options and Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones successful peculiar are apt to supply Wiegman pinch invited headaches during nan adjacent 2 seasons. Chloe Kelly’s opinionated will besides proceed to rise, while Wiegman will beryllium keen to springiness much opportunities to nan technically talented midfielders Grace Clinton and Jess Park, some of whom played salient roles during nan caller Nations League campaigns.

Grace Clinton could break into nan starting XI by 2027. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Who will beryllium England’s strongest challengers?

World champions Spain will beryllium a immense threat successful Brazil, arsenic will nan hosts, who person been successful bully shape and reached nan Olympic last past year. The US, managed by Emma Hayes, will astir apt beryllium nan favourites, while nan younger procreation of stars breaking done pinch Germany and France will spot them successful contention too. Japan, who played immoderate eye-catching shot during their triumph complete nan United States successful nan SheBelieves Cup successful California successful February, will besides beryllium a threat. England’s qualifying run originates adjacent year.