Women's World Cup: Sarina Wiegman and England Face Key Concerns as Tournament Looms

England will head to the World Cup without a loss in their last warm-up game for the first time, as they settle for a draw instead of a defeat against Portugal. However, the goalless draw raises some unanswered questions for the European champions. As England's campaign starts in three weeks, they will have one last opportunity to fine-tune their performance in a behind-closed-doors match against Canada held in Australia.

Who starts up front?

The goalless draw at Stadium MK has given rise to various selection concerns and doubts regarding the team's overall performance. Consequently, much debate is expected to take place before the group stage opener against Haiti.

After the break, there was a shift in atmosphere when Alessia Russo took over for Daly. Although she displayed energy and posed challenges, the final touch was once again lacking as the forward, who is set to join Arsenal, missed several promising opportunities.

Beth England is also in contention for the center position and with the imminent arrival of the World Cup, it appears that the spot is highly contested.

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England's Alessia Russo had multiple opportunities to score against Portugal. Wiegman stated in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live that the final decisions regarding the team lineup have not been made yet, but there is intense competition among players such as Rachel Daly, Alessia Russo, and Beth England.

Russo acknowledged feeling frustrated over her missed opportunities, but she adopts a positive perspective on the competition for a starting position.

"It's been really impressive to see Rach [Daly] and Beth (England) excel this season," she shared with ITV. "Having the opportunity to train alongside them has been invaluable for me, and I appreciate learning from their wisdom and experience, considering they are both older than me."

Defensive decisions to make

England's attacking mix was enhanced in the second half with the introduction of Lauren James in the No10 role. This move sparked excitement for the team, as seen when she skillfully set up Russo for a one-on-one opportunity at the hour-mark. The impressive performance by Esme Morgan, who looked composed and assured alongside Jess Carter in central defense, allowed England to comfortably handle the absence of Millie Bright. We News reporter Gail Davis, present at Stadium MK, praised this defensive partnership.

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Millie Bright was absent from the Portugal game, but she is guaranteed to be in the starting lineup for the World Cup. The decision to shift Carter to center defense and have the more attacking Alex Greenwood play at left-back also displayed potential.

"I believe that went smoothly," remarked Wiegman. "I had contemplated placing a left-footed player at left back and also, do we dominate possession? Are they known for their speed? As you witnessed with Jess and Esme's pace, it contributed greatly. Additionally, I believe they remained composed and performed admirably in possession."

Captain Bright's presence in the World Cup is undoubtedly assured - however, the discussions will revolve around who joins her and the offensive approach Wiegman intends to adopt in the full-back positions.

Peaking to perfection?

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England were unable to sign off with a win but will still be confident of clicking at the right time at the World Cup

Although it would have been uplifting to conclude their time on these shores with a resounding victory, the truth is that England's players are still in the middle of their World Cup preparations, with a month to go before they must be in top form. Saturday's display clearly had areas that could be enhanced, but there is ample time to make progress. This was the sentiment expressed by the England players after the match.

"I believe the focus should be on capitalizing on this strong performance," mentioned Chloe Kelly to BBC Radio 5 Live. "Having trained together for two weeks and with a significant amount of time before the tournament commences on 22nd July, our aim is to be fully prepared by then.

"Having some relaxation time after the season and then reconnecting with the team, enjoying the camaraderie on camp, is crucial. Today's opportunity to log minutes on the field is highly valuable for us in terms of building fitness and momentum."

"We need to improve our connection within the penalty area, and as we continue to progress, we will achieve that. This is precisely our plan for the upcoming weeks.

"We have accomplished one task by getting valuable minutes under our belt, and now we will move ahead and gain momentum."

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Sarina Wiegman has some big decisions to make before the World Cup

Outlining the team's schedule, Wiegman also struck a confident tone.

"This marks our first game since we had last seen one another, which was back in April," she mentioned. "It was a positive experience, and now we are preparing to travel on Wednesday. Adapting in Australia may require a bit of time.

"After that, we have one more opportunity to play, and then we should be fully prepared."

What's next?

In the lead up to the World Cup, there will be ongoing questions and debates surrounding England's preparations.

When and where is the 2023 Women's World Cup?

The upcoming tournament, set to take place in Australia and New Zealand, marks a significant milestone in the history of the Women's World Cup as it becomes the first-ever co-hosted edition.

Scheduled to commence on July 20, the highly-anticipated event will culminate with its grand finale on August 20. The thrilling conclusion will unfold at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

The USA, being the defending champions, aim to make history by becoming the first team to win the tournament three times consecutively.

What is the World Cup schedule?

Commencing on July 20, the group stage will span over a period of two weeks, culminating on August 3. The top teams from each group, as well as the runners-up, will advance to the round of 16, scheduled between August 5 and August 8.

The quarter-finals are set to take place on August 11 and 12 in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney. Following the quarter-finals, the first semi-final will be held on August 15 in Auckland, while the second semi-final will be played on August 16 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final match will also be held at Accor Stadium on August 20.

A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.