Unleashing Georgia Stanway: How England's rising star can dominate against China

This is the week that Sarina Wiegman needs to demonstrate to the world why she is hailed as one of the top coaches in women's soccer.

Renowned for her meticulous planning, Wiegman hardly ever appears rattled, but even the typically composed England head coach must have experienced some uncertainty this week as she ponders the task of keeping her team's World Cup aspirations alive in the absence of their key midfielder, Keira Walsh.

"Losing players is never pleasant," Wiegman stated. "It's unfortunate for both the individuals and the team. However, it's an inevitable aspect of sports that we must accept and overcome. We will introduce players onto the field whom we believe can secure victory. This is our constant approach."

Rather than discussing Walsh's injury or her potential involvement in future World Cup matches if England advances to the knockout stages, Wiegman chose to focus solely on the present situation.

But how can the enormous gap left by the women's game's most expensive player be filled? Basic economics suggest that finding a replacement with the same abilities as Walsh is almost impossible.

After their victory over Denmark in Sydney, England will swiftly head to Adelaide for their last group match, leaving them with limited preparation time. Wiegman is expected to rely on Georgia Stanway, who previously stepped in as a defensive midfielder against Denmark, to not only fill the vacant position but also take on a leadership role.

Reining in her combative style to avoid a second booking of the tournament, which would rule her out of England's next game, shouldn't be a problem for the mature version of Stanway, as she candidly acknowledges.

Image:

Georgia Stanway scored England's winner in their World Cup opener against Haiti

"I've logged 45 minutes in the first game and a full 90 minutes in the last game," she revealed. "So, yeah, my goal is to increase my playing time even further without getting another injury." Regarding her role in the deeper position, Stanway explained, "For me, it's about bringing discipline to the game. It's not just about attacking relentlessly. It's about understanding that I have to protect the back four."

"I find this position advantageous because I've had some experience playing it at the club level, and playing alongside Keira has been a valuable, although unintentional, lesson. The key is effective communication between us in the midfield. The synergy between me, Keira, and Tooney [Ella Toone] has been seamless and natural. However, tomorrow's match (Tuesday) will present a new challenge."

Stanway's pre-sleep routine on Sunday remains uncertain, but it undoubtedly worked like magic.

"When I woke up this morning, I felt a significant surge in maturity," she remarked. "I believe I have established myself as somewhat of a leader through my style of play. My confidence in my own abilities has greatly strengthened."

After the Euros, I have maintained a consistent performance and I am determined to continue with the same momentum. Through my playing style, I am able to demonstrate my leadership qualities, showcasing my ability to lead by example. I am unafraid to communicate and I am willing to take on additional responsibilities, even undertaking multiple roles simultaneously.

Image:

Sarina Wiegman is looking to guide England past China into the last-16 of the World Cup

The debate of who will play alongside the Bayern Munich midfielder will be intriguing in the lead-up to the game. Last week, Laura Coombs stepped in for Walsh and her impressive story of making her World Cup debut at the age of 32 after eight years away from international play would have captured all the attention under normal circumstances.

Wiegman has shown her trust in those who have stepped up as replacements and she knows she can rely on the abilities of the Manchester City player to get the job done. If England manages to advance from their group, which is not guaranteed in a World Cup that has already seen major upsets, the England head coach will have a week to restructure her team. Players like the Manchester United captain Katie Zelem or Aston Villa's Jordan Nobbs may come into consideration, as well as a possible reconsideration of the established formation.

The England team is filled with uneasiness before a crucial game that they absolutely cannot afford to lose. The team's numerous injuries and struggles in scoring goals may eventually become significant factors.

However, it is important to remember that England has already secured two victories out of two matches, and their qualification fate is entirely within their control. Amidst all the cautious and diplomatic statements made by Wiegman, there was a surprising moment of openness and a touch of humor from one of the team's midfielders when asked about having her family accompany her in Australia.

"We practically all have families here, including Sarina," Stanway commented. "We appreciate the opportunity to unwind and focus on our loved ones, rather than football."

When asked to elaborate on his remark about Sarina, Stanway explained: "It's easy to forget that our head coach is a real person too. It's heartwarming to see her family here, proudly donning England shirts in support of her."

Potentially, additional valuable perspectives on Wiegman's motivations may surface in the future. However, at present, England must address pressing and significant queries raised by China to ensure the continuation of their Australian expedition.

Catch the live broadcast of The Hundred on We Cricket starting from Tuesday. Stream The Hundred and more using NOW.