2 weeks Ago
Boss Sarina Wiegman has fewer than eight months to make some big decisions regarding her starting line-up as England look to defend their European Championship crown. There are still more questions than answers for the Lionesses heading into Euro 2025 - with competition for places all over the pitch. So who is set to feature prominently - and who might miss out on the starting line-up? BBC Sport pundits Steph Houghton and Fara Williams, both former England internationals, give their assessment.
Mary Earps had cemented her place as Sarina Wiegman's number one goalkeeper, playing every game as England won Euro 2022, and doing so again a year later in their run to the World Cup final. England have played 10 matches since losing to Spain in that final, with Earps starting eight and Hannah Hampton two. So is Earps a a guaranteed starter for England heading into the Euros? Steph Houghton: At this moment, I don't think she is guaranteed.
Prior to the Germany game at Wembley in October, there were a lot more people swaying towards Hampton. In that game, there were some goals that she could potentially have stopped. That might be the difference between Mary and Hannah.
Mary in general is probably the better overall goalkeeper, but with Hannah and her feet, she is probably above Mary. Fara Williams: It is so important you have a goalkeeper who has that presence. I think Mary has more of that.
When you have a keeper confident in themselves and not relying on other people to give them that confidence, it just put you at ease. I think Mary has that. I think it will come down to the wire.
It's not a decision Sarina will make now. It will be close. If it was me, I would have Mary Earps.
The most competitive position in England's backline is at centre-back. Alex Greenwood is having a stellar season for Manchester City, as is Millie Bright for Women's Super League leaders Chelsea. Arsenal's Leah Williamson, who has found form after a tricky start to the season, is Wiegman's captain and has started England's past two games.
So which pair should start? Or should Wiegman find a way to play all three defenders? Fara Williams: Sarina likes to play Millie Bright. She is a no-nonsense centre-half, and brings far greater physicality than Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood. She can play with the ball, but doesn't risk the ball in areas where she shouldn't.
That is why you have to play her with somebody different. With Leah Williamson being captain, it makes her in my opinion a dead cert in that position. Steph Houghton: We are always surprised when Alex is on the bench and rightly so because she stands out every single week.
You have three really good centre-halves. Do you change the formation to fit all three in to allow the wingers or Lucy Bronze to bomb on? England are blessed by an abundance of talent in the middle of the pitch, with a combination of experience and exciting young players looking to force their way into the side. Who is nailed on to start in midfield? And who should Wiegman turn to to make an impact from the bench? Fara Williams: Keira Walsh has got years ahead of her, but when you don't have competition it is very easy to get complacent.
I think we need to find the next Keira, who is going to compete with her, make her better and push her. If you look just ahead of her, I think Stanway's position is nailed on. What she brings to the England team is a little bit different.
Then there is that debate of who plays alongside her. Fran Kirby has come to form with Brighton and seems to be playing with confidence. Grace Clinton, with Manchester United, is continuing in the form she had at Tottenham.
Steph Houghton: When you are in these competitions and playing every three or four days, physicality is a big thing. What I see from Grace Clinton is that ability to get back and defend and be a presence in the box, but now she is adding goals to her game. She hasn't had that experience but for me, over these next six months it is so crucial that Sarina gives her that opportunity to nail down that position.
For me it's Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Grace Clinton. Jess Park is a fantastic player in that position - she can run in behind defences but also create and score goals. Fara Williams: Then you have Ella Toone, who is probably on the outskirts of that.
I’m not sure if she is playing at the levels she has reached at in recent seasons. For me, she is not a starter yet. Lauren Hemp is ruled out of England's games against the United States on Saturday and Switzerland next Tuesday as she recovers from knee surgery, giving other players the opportunity to show Wiegman what they can do.
But with Lauren James and Chloe Kelly struggling for minutes, is Hemp the only forward guaranteed a place in the starting XI when fit? Fara Williams: I think there are two. There is not another number nine challenging Alessia Russo. They are trying to force Jess Naz into being a number nine.
I'm not sure she is that player. I don't think she has got the qualities to be at the level yet to be pushing Russo. Steph Houghton: If Russo doesn't start as a nine, you can either play Lauren James on the left and potentially Beth Mead on the right.
Lauren James is the difference in terms of what she can do with the ball. I've not seen that many players that can do that. Fara Williams: It’s about where you play her and where you are going to get the best out of her.
Her qualities are unquestionable. Is it on the wing? I'm not sure. Steph Houghton: There is something about Aggie Beever-Jones that I really like.
She is clinical when she gets chances and has been used a lot this season for Chelsea above some other great players. She is young, looks enthusiastic and that would be quite a good balance. Steph Houghton: Chloe Kelly knows her role with England.
Of course you always want to be starting but in terms of what she can do off the bench, she knows she can make that impact. It's going to be a tough period for Chloe with not playing as much as she wants to, but trying to compete at the very best for the next six months is probably the main target for her..
