Unleashing the Lionesses: Sarina Wiegman's Quest for Ferocious Domination

In the aftermath of England's 1-0 win over Haiti, there has been one word used more than any other to describe the performance.

Ruthlessness - and the lack of it from the Lionesses in front of goal.

England's head coach, Sarina Wiegman, expressed prior to the tournament that she was not inclined to maintain the same lineup for every game, implying she will heed her own statement. The question now arises: how resolute will she be in making changes to her starting team for tomorrow's match against Denmark in Sydney?

"That I am more inclined to make alterations is not related to that. I desire to make changes," she stated during her press conference preceding Friday's showdown.

We analyze each game beforehand to determine the fitness and availability of our players. Based on this assessment, we make decisions on our starting lineup. We consider whether to maintain the same 11 players or introduce some changes. Wiegman may be inclined to make adjustments instead of sticking to the usual approach. The head coach emphasizes the need for improvements in the final third, such as better connections, well-timed crosses, and being in the right place at the right time.

Wiegman mentioned that all of those have been worked on once again for a few days and today they appeared to be in great shape, which has generated a lot of excitement for tomorrow. The team announcement, set to be revealed an hour or so before the match begins, will be particularly intriguing after a long while.

Could Wiegman be strategically playing poker, providing last week's starters another opportunity to impress, while also issuing a clear warning? Alternatively, might we witness the dynamic introduction of Lauren James in the No 10 position, unleashing chaos from the start? The demand for the Chelsea player to be included in the lineup is resounding, reaching as far as England and Sydney, following her remarkable performance against Haiti in the previous week.

Opening games of major tournaments are often challenging and full of surprises. Last summer, England narrowly clinched a victory against Austria in the Euro's first match. The lone goal scored at Old Trafford was sufficient, and Lucy Bronze remarked that if that is the way England needs to secure a win, they will continue to do so. Despite having a total of 21 shots, 11 of which were on target, against Haiti, the Lionesses only managed to score their winning goal from a Georgia Stanway penalty. As a result, England's goal tally from open play has remained stagnant for four consecutive games.

"Winning every game is crucial," Bronze emphasized. "We focus on winning the games that hold significance for us. It's not necessarily about scoring numerous goals; one can secure a World Cup victory consistently with a narrow 1-0 margin or by drawing and triumphing through penalties.

"While individual and collective performances hold significance to us, the ultimate priority lies in the results. We witness commendable performances from both individuals and the team as a whole - the key is to exhibit greater ruthlessness and precision in front of the goal. If we achieve that, discussions comparing performances to results would diminish significantly."

After Austria's victory in the Euros, England triumphed over Norway with an impressive 8-0 scoreline. If Wiegman's team manages to replicate that performance against Denmark, the Barcelona defender's statements could indeed hold true. Denmark has also been voicing their opinions today, as mind games are an essential part of the World Cup. However, Denmark manager Lars Sondergaard may need more than the simplistic "underdogs" versus "superpower" narrative to surprise Wiegman.

She was fully prepared and completely in accord. "I concur, yes, I agree with that. He aims to place us in that predicament, we consistently remain the team to surpass and I genuinely believe we will maintain more ball possession, so let's observe the outcome." The England head coach showed no interest in adding fuel to that controversy.

Although much attention has been directed towards England's offensive capabilities and their shortcomings in the forward position, there were moments in the inaugural match where England supporters may have felt apprehensive about their defense.

Millie Bright completed her first full match since March without any major issues, despite making some initial mistakes. Both Bright and Bronze, who has also had limited playing time following her knee surgery earlier this year, are expected to improve and develop better chemistry after this match.

It will also be intriguing to see what Wiegman chooses to do with Alex Greenwood. Gareth Taylor, Greenwood's manager at Manchester City, expressed his belief that England doesn't utilize Greenwood effectively as a full-back. He would prefer to see her partnered with Bright in the center, while Jess Carter takes the left position.

Regardless of how those four line up against Denmark, they are fully aware that the biggest threat will be posed by Pernille Harder, the former Chelsea player.

Wiegman, on the other hand, asserts that there are no specific strategies being prepared exclusively for one player. Denmark is highly organized, possessing a clear game plan both on and off the ball, with Harder playing a crucial role in that. The objective is to control the ball, play our own game, and maintain dominance.

Bronze is well aware of what to expect from the Danish captain. "Harder excels in dribbling during attacks and is a dedicated player, which is why she plays in a more advanced position. Her ball skills are exceptional and she possesses a level of quality that only a few players in the world have. She is a top player, but we also have many talented players on our team."

With that, England's talking came to an end - and speaking of determination, the entire press conference concluded in just 12 minutes. England, after all, has a game to win and securing a victory in their first World Cup encounter against Denmark would give them control of the group and a significant advantage towards progressing to the knockout stages.