An 8-0 demolition of China PR certainly served the fans, but did the Lionesses learn anything new?
England dismantled China PR 8-0 this evening in their biggest ever Wembley win. A fantastic occasion for the almost 75,000 fans in attendance, and a great way to mark your homecoming to the national stadium as European champions. However, when a pair of international camps are laid out in front of you, with the pick of opponents to choose from ahead of a World Cup qualifying year. Does an 8-0 win actually teach you anything?
A dominant performance with a hat-trick for Georgia Stanway, a brace for Beth Mead and goals for Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses their eight goals.
But was this just a spectacle for the fans? Or did England learn something from it?
You could argue that no Lioness put a foot wrong under the arch tonight. The forwards linked up effortlessly, the transitions were smooth down both wings, and the defence blocked and distributed well throughout.
But the names on England’s scoresheet were all too familiar. Every single one having been in the squad that won the Euros in 2022.
Surely, when you go three goals up inside the opening 16 minutes, and have a 5-0 lead at half-time, a chance to rotate, experiment or learn new combinations presents itself.
Lionesses still ‘finding their feet’ despite eight-goal rout says Wiegman
Wiegman was quick to defend her decision to only make three subs at half-time, none of which were the young players that fans might have hoped to see handed minutes.
“We take every game seriously, and when we sub three players at half-time, I think that’s enough,” Wiegman explained after the match. “We have a squad of 25, and there’s many players that are really knocking on the door. Everyone wants to play.
“Some players are finding their feet, and other players have played for us and do a really good job, and they’re competing for starting positions, and that’s how I look at the game.”
The three-time Euros winner also reassured the media that there’s a lesson in every game.
“You always learn something from the game. We got a little bit more time on the ball, and then you saw how good we are. We really connected and created chances, and I thought we scored some really good goals.”
England certainly did score some good goals, capitalising on China’s mistakes when playing out from the back, or creating their own brilliant passages of attack. There was even a penalty. But it feels obvious that England could have won this game whilst discovering new combinations on the pitch or giving young players more of a chance.
Did England miss a perfect change for experimentation?
The centre-back partnership of Maya Le Tissier, who everyone is pleased to see playing in her true position, and Esme Morgan, who seems to grow in confidence each minute she plays for her country, was a positive decision from Wiegman.
Le Tissier and Morgan played together at the last camp, but it’s fantastic to see their relationship strengthening and them being given the nod in the absence of Alex Greenwood and Leah Williamson. Sometimes injuries open the door for new players to establish themselves, and it feels like these two have really taken their chance.
However, the midfield and the forwards lined up in a very predictable manner. Many would have experienced déjà vu when the team news was announced, and it begs the question of what could have been?
Aggie Beever-Jones has had a good start to her club season and came on for a short spell this evening, but this could have been a great match for her to do more. Her agility and the way she weaves around the defence would have been effective against China’s style and allowed England to practice with a newer-looking forward line.
Grace Clinton, who was unused, could have had a run out in the middle, and equally, her Manchester City teammate, Laura Blinkilde Brown, sat on the bench.
England fans always cry out for Wiegman to rotate her squads more, and it’s difficult to see why that didn’t happen tonight, particularly with such a huge scoreline at the half.
On the week that England have submitted a joint bid to host the 2035 World Cup, it felt that the team could be looking forward more than they did.
But how do you solve a problem like a team stacked full of talent? That’s the question Wiegman and her staff will have to solve in the next few camps.
It’s fantastic to see England’s familiar faces still performing so well, and it’s hard to see a world where they don’t start. But heading into a big year, players must gain experience so that they’re not brought in from the cold in the case of injuries.
England have one more chance to test out their squad with no consequences when they travel to Southampton on Tuesday to take on Ghana. No doubt Ghana will present another style for the Lionesses to overcome, and many will hope a chance for some of the up-and-coming players to shine.
