ZURICH – Sarina Wiegman said before the Lionesses’ 4-0 victory over the Netherlands that she doesn’t read the papers. It was not an isolated point but part of England’s mantra: block out the noise after the horrorshow against France and get back to doing the basics right.
It would have been easy for doubt to creep in, the set-up eviscerated following an opening defeat that left them on the brink of going home with their tails between their legs.
Suddenly, England look like world-beaters again. Four days is a long time in tournament football but Wiegman knew she had to intervene to change the system, rather than the personnel.
Toone splayed out on the pitch in a quasi-Klinsmann dive after her goal was not necessarily the highlight of her performance. The Manchester United midfielder’s discipline is criminally underrated – she is so well known for her moments of inspiration that it can often be overlooked how capable she is of sitting tight and protecting Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway.
Toone celebrates England’s fourth (Photo: Getty)Take the moment Lauren Hemp was dispossessed early on. Walsh was immediately on hand to recover the ball, free in space, to spray a pass up the field. That is the cover Toone provides to stop teams targeting Walsh and taking her out of the game – which has become tactics 101 for England’s opponents. Grace Clinton offered a layer of physicality when she came on too.
Greenwood at left-back
Jess Carter had a much more settled evening at centre-back after what she herself described as a “mare” against France.
Wiegman could have left Alex Greenwood in the heart of defence alongside Leah Williamson and utilised Niamh Charles at left-back, but that could have left Charles equally vulnerable. The decision to keep the back four the same but swap Carter and Greenwood round was more effective.
After seeing his side obliterated by her pace, Netherlands boss Andries Jonker said James’ move from No 10 to the right-hand side did not decide the game because “she’s dangerous wherever she plays”.
“The physical power, opponents have to accept she has more physical power than anybody else,” he said.
“The moment she gets the ball and starts her dribble, it’s very difficult for women to get her off the ball, so wherever she plays but obviously she did well.”
Against France James’ free role worked for 20 minutes but when England lost momentum, so did she. It was a natural move to put her on the wing and replace Beth Mead, who struggled in the first game. James teamed up well with the roaming Lucy Bronze down that side and had a much clearer remit – and we saw the results.
In just five starts at major tournaments, she now has a record of five goals and three assists.
… And taking her off again
There must have been a temptation to keep the Chelsea forward on to see what other magic she could conjure. Instead she came off after 69 minutes, replaced by Chloe Kelly.
Nursing James will be essential to the rest of the tournament if England are to go as far as they believe they can. She only made nine WSL starts last season and did not play between April and the end of June.
James put in a dazzling performance (Photo: Getty)Injuries have been a constant plague on her career and ordinarily, Wiegman might be reluctant to build a team around her. James, however, has to be an exception to the rule, so long as she is managed carefully. She could be used sparingly against Wales in the final group game.
It is the ultimate compliment that Hannah Hampton’s clean sheet felt almost irrelevant, her distribution once again vindicating the decision to make her England No 1 even if it cost the national side Mary Earps, who refused to be a back-up and retired.
The pass for James’ opener to Alessia Russo all the way from Hampton in goal was proof that Earps may be a national treasure, but Wiegman has made the right decision.
Sticking with Stanway – and Hemp
One of the biggest criticisms of Wiegman after the France game was that she remained loyal to four players whose seasons were decimated by injury – Greenwood, Hemp, Stanway and James.
Stanway was much sharper and got stuck in, while Hemp was a constant threat and caused her Manchester City teammate Kerstin Casparij no end of problems.
Wiegman admitted she felt “tense” before the game knowing England’s Euros was on the line. It was her decisions that saved them.
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