Three big decisions Sarina Wiegman has to make for England's Euro 2025 semifinal
The journey to the last-four has been very nervy, after they lost their opening game to France, finished second in their group, and staged a stunning comeback against Sweden in the quarter-finals.
A shockingly bad first-half saw the Lionesses go into the break 2-0 down but a quick-fire double from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang levelled the game before Hannah Hampton's heroics helped them advance on penalties.
Sarina Wiegman now has a number of difficult decisions to make before the semi-final in Geneva, including whether to drop several underperforming stars and switch up the tactics against an impressive Italy side.
We take a look at what changes the Lionesses manager could make for England's huge clash tonight:
Having named the same starting XI for the last three games, Wiegman is unlikely to make sweeping changes to her team, even after several disaster-classes against Sweden.
The defence was error-prone with Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood and Keira Walsh enduring a torrid time, while Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Lauren James failed to make much of an impact.
There are also question marks over the fitness of captain Leah Williamson after she injured her ankle in the last match, though the centre-back did return to training on Monday.
'Everyone is fit,' Wiegman said in her pre-match press conference. 'Leah really wants to play, she did everything to recover as good as possible, and she has. If she recovers well she can play.'
If a change at the back is needed, Esme Morgan is more than capable of stepping up to the plate, while there is much clamour for Maya Le Tissier to get a run out.
Wiegman prefers to use the term 'finishers' rather than 'substitutes' and those who have come off the bench this tournament have looked sharp, especially newcomer Michelle Agyemang.
The 19-year-old scored the equaliser against Sweden and now has two goals in just three caps. She's raw but maybe that's what the Lionesses need right now.
And of course there's Chloe Kelly, who came off the bench to score the winner in the Euro 2022 final and is still being used as an impact sub (sorry, finisher). Maybe it's time the forward is given a chance from the start.
If the personnel won't change, perhaps the formation will.
The 4-3-3 shape hasn't looked all that convincing, with the opposition knowing that if they can target and pressurise midfield anchor Walsh, they have a way through to goal.
A switch to 3-5-2, as seen at the 2023 World Cup, may help remedy that, with an extra body at the back relieving the pressure on Walsh and the back-line.
It should also allow quarter-final hero Lucy Bronze more opportunity to maraud forward and create chances for herself and others.
The change would likely require sacrificing either Lauren Hemp, James or even Toone for left-wingback Niamh Charles, but it would also see England match up against Italy who notably play with a back-three formation.
The penalty shootout between England and Sweden was exhaustingly nerve-wracking for supporters. For the neutral, it was utterly hilarious and not in a good way.
14 penalties taken, five found the back of the net. Some credit must be given to goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and Jennifer Falk, but it speaks to a larger trend at Euro 2025. More Trending
Just 24 of the 41 spot-kicks at the tournament have been scored, a conversion rate of only 58.5 per cent.
Safe to say, Wiegman needs to have scheduled some extra penalty drills in training, especially as Falk dived the right way for five of England's seven spot-kicks.
And with the experienced James, Mead and Greenwood all having their efforts saved, a shake-up of the order may also be required.
Alternatively, just win the game in 90 minutes and save everyone a lot of stress. Easier said than done of course…
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: I stayed in one of Europe's grandest hotels — a time warp of Old World glamour
MORE: Sarina Wiegman drops hint on major Jess Carter decision and slams racist trolls
MORE: Pubs can stay open until 1am for England vs Italy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Lionel Messi hit with MLS ban as Inter Miami star reminded of rules he must follow
Lionel Messi skipped the recent MLS All-Star Game - as did Jordi Alba - and rules state that the Inter Miami star will have to face a one-match ban this weekend Lionel Messi has been hit with a ban from the MLS and will be suspended for Inter Miami 's clash against Cincinnati this weekend. The World Cup winner has copped his punishment for missing the MLS All-Star Game. The Argentine skipped the exhibition clash and, at the time, no reason was given for the league's biggest name not taking part. Since then Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano claimed he was fatigued. MLS rules state than anyone who skips the All-Star Game without an injury has to accept a one-match ban. Mascherano, when addressing the situation around Messi said he "showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing. Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days." Messi's team-mate Jordi Alba, who was with him at Barcelona back when Pep Guardiola was in charge, is being subjected to the same ban after also bypassing the game. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended for skipping the All-Star Game in 2018. Miami played nine games in a 35-day span between the FIFA Club World Cup and MLS regular season - during that period Messi played every minute. MLS commissioner Don Garber said earlier this week: 'We do have rules, and we have to manage through that as well. We would have loved to have Leo here. We'd love to have every player that was selected for the All-Star team here. After this All-Star Game, we'll figure out what needs to happen. "I was told this morning that neither Jordi nor Messi practiced today (Wednesday). Jordi came off with an injury in last game, and we'll have to manage through what Miami is going to say about that.' Despite being without Messi and Alba the MLS squad secured a 3-1 win against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas. The 38-year-old, an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, has scored 18 goals in as many appearances for Inter Miami in the MLS. Since making the move to Florida Messi has helped his team, co-owned by David Beckham, win the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the following year they landed the Supporters' Shield. Inter Miami currently sit seventh overall in the MLS but are fifth in their Conference.
South Wales Argus
19 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Ella Toone: Back-to-back European Championships would be a 'dream'
The 25-year-old scored the opener in the Lionesses' 2-1 victory at Wembley in 2022 as they won their first major tournament trophy, and they could repeat the feat just three years later. They face a rematch of their World Cup final defeat in 2023 as they lost 1-0 to Spain in Australia, and now they are aiming to avenge that with victory at St. Jakob Park. '[Back-to-back champions] is the dream. That's the aim. You want to come into a tournament, and you want to put on performances,' said Toone. 'You want to make the country proud, and you want to inspire a generation and those were our aims for the tournament. 'We've got all this way, so we want to go out into the game and give it everything. No one wants to lose a football match, especially a final, so we'll do everything we can to put on a performance. 'We'll fight, we'll believe in ourselves, we'll have that togetherness like we always do, so we will hopefully get over the line." England's route to the final has been far from straightforward with their quarter-finals and semi-finals both requiring extra time, and in the former, penalties, to decide them. It has led to tense viewing for fans and family of the Lionesses alike. Against Sweden, Michelle Agyemang's late equaliser saw England recover from a two-goal deficit to take the game to penalties. Then in Geneva against Italy, Agyemang once more popped up to take the game to extra-time where Chloe Kelly struck the winner to send England to the final. 'It's mad. I'm not all for the drama but we've definitely made it dramatic this tournament. Sometimes football's not always how you want it to be,' said Toone. 'It would be lovely to win in 90 minutes, but the teams we've been playing against have been really tough and we've right until the very end. 'We've never given up and we like to add that little bit of drama. I know the fans at home we've probably given a heart attack. 'You can see the fight from the team that we want to win whatever game we play in.' That fight has emerged from what the Lionesses are dubbing a 'proper English mentality'. It has come to sum up their approach to the positions they have found themselves in, seemingly escaping from scenarios they seemed destined to go out. 'We spoke a lot about a 'proper English performance' at this camp. We have it in us all individually and as a team that we want to fight, and we want to not stop running,' added Toone. 'You've seen that in games where it's 90 minutes and it might look like we're down and out, and then someone comes on and we have one moment, and we take that moment. 'That's what it's all about. It's squad depth and players having that belief that they can come on and really change the game. 'But it's all in us individually that we're competitive and we want to win and we know what it takes to win in tournaments. That's what we've managed to do and that's what has got us to a third consecutive final.' The Lionesses will face their toughest test yet in Basel as they meet the reigning world champions to defend their European crown. Having faced each other twice already this year, the teams have one win each from their recent meetings, but Spain are yet to lose at Euro 2025 with a perfect record in their group. They boast a midfield three of Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati who play together at Barcelona and have looked unbeatable at times this tournament. It will likely be Toone, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh who come face-to-face with the trio, but they are under no illusion about their own strengths, too. 'In football, games can be won and lost in the midfield. We know that we have to be on our game,' said Toone. 'We have so much respect for [Patri, Putellas and Bonmati]. All three of them are world class players and are very talented. 'But we know what we're capable of. Whoever plays in the midfield will do an important job. No matter what, we'll go into that game, we'll give 100% and we'll fight like we always do.'
ITV News
19 minutes ago
- ITV News
Sarina Wiegman hints she won't start the Lioness' match-winning substitutes for the Euros final
England Manager Sarina Wiegman has told ITV News she believes certain players are 'best to come from the bench," as she prepares for the Euros final.
