Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang rescued England — keep them on bench

Times

20-07-2025

Just as it appeared that Sarina Wiegman had found her best XI, last Thursday's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden has thrust the head coach's line-up back into flux.
That game was transformed once Wiegman made four substitutions in the closing stages, helping the Lionesses to recover from 2-0 down before winning on penalties. By the second half of extra time, England had six substitutes on the pitch.
So England should start Tuesday's semi-final against Italy with the same XI that finished the quarter-final, right?
Of course, it's not that simple. Implementing wholesale changes could result in an unfamiliar style that England cannot execute, and may fail to recognise how Italy pose a different challenge to Sweden. Furthermore, England's substitutes — the self-proclaimed 'positive clicks' — seem relatively content in their impact roles.
But after starting so poorly last Thursday, Wiegman surely has to make adjustments. What should change, and where must she preserve the status quo?
Defence: the Carter dilemma and persisting with Greenwood
Jess Carter struggled against Sweden's pace and power. She and Leah Williamson swapped centre-back positions to take Carter away from Sweden's dangerous right-sided attackers, before the Gotham FC defender was substituted in the 70th minute. Carter also floundered at left back in England's tournament-opener defeat by France, and Italy may pinpoint her as a weakness.
Yet Carter's on-pitch capabilities are merely part of Wiegman's dilemma. The 27-year-old revealed on Sunday that she had been subjected to racist abuse on social media, and England will stop taking a knee before matches as a result. Wiegman must deduce whether any improvements to the team from dropping Carter outweigh the potential psychological ramifications of the decision.
Esme Morgan would be a solid replacement. The Washington Spirit defender, 24, is taller and more mobile than Carter, meaning she is better at dealing with one-on-one situations and passes over the top. Carter is better on the ball but Italy's press is among the most conservative in the tournament, so Morgan's limitations in this area should be mitigated.
By the end of the Sweden game, Niamh Charles was playing left back and, given she has been derided for defensive mishaps this year, played well. However, whether she has 90 (or 120) minutes of good defending in her is uncertain.
Consequently, Alex Greenwood should continue at left back. Greenwood's aerial presence — she plays centre back for Manchester City — could neutralise Italy's penchant for long, diagonal passes.
The big caveat is Williamson's ankle injury, even though Morgan said England were 'very optimistic' that the captain would recover for Tuesday. If this verdict proves misleading, then the most in-form back four would be Lucy Bronze, Morgan, Greenwood, Charles.
Midfield: not the time for panic
England's starting midfield was also poor during the Sweden game, but the trio of Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone clicked nicely in the previous two matches against Wales and the Netherlands.
Sticking with this midfield feels prudent, partly because the alternatives are not hugely appealing. That there are no natural replacements for Walsh or Stanway is a long-term concern for Wiegman, but not one to be addressed in the final week of a major tournament. Further forward, removing Toone and restoring Lauren James in a free-roaming No10 role would risk resurrecting the midfield troubles of the France game.
Switching to a back three could also leave the midfield overwhelmed, as it was against France. With the exception of a friendly featuring a heavily rotated XI against Switzerland last December, England have not used this system since the 2023 World Cup.
A midfield of Walsh and James helped England come back last Thursday, but the frantic state of the game created unique circumstances. For Tuesday, the more balanced midfield of Walsh, Stanway and Toone makes sense.
Attack: keep holding back the game-changers
While Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were pivotal against Sweden, both may profit from staying on the bench for now.
Kelly is an ideal impact substitute. As she displayed on Thursday, in contributing two assists before scoring a penalty in the shoot-out, she has the direct style to beat tiring defenders and relishes the role of England's saviour. Her forceful out-of-possession work is useful from the start when the opponent has control of the game, but England should have more of the ball than Italy.
Meanwhile, starting Agyemang would probably mean playing alongside Alessia Russo, and both forwards are keen to drift away from the No9 position and play with their back to goal.
Russo and Agyemang as a striker duo is a fascinating concept but, considering they are not natural foils for one another, perhaps best left as an experiment after the Euros. The 19-year-old Agyemang, like Kelly, is a brilliant option off the bench.
If England are to make a change up front, perhaps Beth Mead for Lauren Hemp is the choice. Mead possesses the subtle passing and movement to break down a stubborn Italy, and Hemp had an uncharacteristically quiet game against Sweden.