It feels like only a matter of minutes since Millie Bright and Alexia Putellas were posing together with a golden boot in the cold at February’s Arnold Clark Cup, but suddenly it’s June, the sun’s out and Euro 2022 is hurtling towards us at a quite frankly alarming rate.
England have two final pre-tournament friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland before they kick off their Euro 2022 campaign against Austria on July 6.
Sarina Wiegman has been pretty consistent with her personnel and formation since taking the Lionesses hot seat in September. What’s left to still figure out prior to the tournament opener at Old Trafford in less than two weeks’ time?
What will England’s midfield shape be?
Wiegman has almost exclusively played a 4-3-3 formation throughout her tenure, occasionally experimenting with a back three. A 4-3-3 looks the likely formation that England will line up with throughout the tournament, with the only question mark about the shape of the midfield.
During World Cup qualifiers, the Lionesses have lined up with one sitting midfielder – usually Leah Williamson or Keira Walsh – at the base of the midfield triangle, plus two more advanced players. But against Canada and Germany in the Arnold Clark Cup, a double pivot of Walsh and Williamson was put in place at the base of the midfield, with one attacking midfielder sitting ahead of the pair – and this was very effective.
This was also how the Lionesses lined up against Belgium in their first pre-Euro 2022 qualifier, suggesting it could be the favoured formation against stronger opposition and during major tournament football, in comparison to the lower-ranked nations that England tend to rack up convincing victories over in World Cup qualifiers.
However, against Spain in the Arnold Clark Cup, England reverted back to one sitting midfielder in the shape of the traditionally more attack-minded Georgia Stanway. Stanway, alongside Jill Scott and Jordan Nobbs, utilised their energy to disrupt Spain’s usually fluid midfield, demonstrating how changeable Wiegman’s midfield could be at Euro 2022 depending on the opposition.
Who will get the nod in the number 10 role?
England have a few options in the number 10 role who can each offer something a little bit different.
Ella Toone has been used frequently by Wiegman throughout World Cup qualifying and has chalked up a quite ridiculous goal scoring record, netting nine times and providing four assists in just eight…
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