Lionesses Deliver Wiegman's 'clear Win' To Make World Cup Statement

It was a new-look England arsenic Wiegman is managing nan return of respective cardinal players from injury, while rewarding those successful form.

Manchester City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was handed a uncommon start, while London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson made her debut successful nan 2nd half.

The backmost 4 successful nan starting XI had less than 100 caps mixed - pinch skipper Leah Williamson earning 65 of them - arsenic Maya Le Tissier was astatine right-back complete Lucy Bronze, while Taylor Hinds started her 3rd crippled successful 4 matches astatine left-back.

In-form Jess Park was playing retired wide, arsenic she has done for Manchester United truthful impressively this season, alternatively than successful midfield wherever Wiegman has often utilized her.

It was uncharacteristically experimental from Wiegman considering this was their first competitory fixture since Euro 2025 and it took clip to return shape.

England had 40 touches successful nan guidance container and 85% of nan possession successful nan first half, but grounded to people from their 15 efforts connected goal.

The tempo had dropped, Ukraine were defending good and England's hopes of flying retired of nan blocks had not materialised.

"They didn't rather fig it retired successful nan first half. They were a small spot stunned astir what to do," ex-England midfielder Fran Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live Extra.

"Ukraine defended really well. They were really tight betwixt nan lines and they made it very difficult for England.

"They needed to person a small spot much composure successful nan container alternatively of crossing it for nan liking of crossing it.

"The 2nd half showed that they learned from nan first half successful position of what wasn't working."

With a broadside stacked afloat of quality, nan two-time European champions responded successful nan 2nd half.

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo netted 2 goals successful 4 minutes to put England successful control, earlier a double from Georgia Stanway took them retired of Ukraine's reach.

Wiegman's "clear win" was confirmed erstwhile Park besides scored doubly later on.

"I deliberation it took america nan first half to break them down. We were still very bully successful nan first half. They were defensively solid," said Russo afterwards.

"When nan spaces opened, we took our chances. I wouldn't opportunity it was alleviation [when we scored]. We knew we had nan value successful america and it was conscionable executing it.

"It was uncovering nan last moment, nan last walk and nan last shot. You saw that successful nan 2nd half."