Why England must evolve under Sarina Wiegman?

Recruitment headaches across the entire squad

Wiegman is a manager who does not do things just to do them.

Team selection does not happen on a whim, but rather a multitude of things are taken into consideration.

But she will rarely abandon a formula that works – that was evident when she guided the Lionesses to back-to-back major tournament finals.

Despite facing criticism for his team selection when England were beaten by Germany in a seven-goal thriller on Friday (October 25), he reaffirmed why he selected the team as it is.

“We played against Germany, they are a team of absolute level,” he said at the end of the game.

“(There are) players knocking on the door, competing for minutes, (but) I’m not going to make changes just because.

“The decision is based on the balance between possession, lack of possession, defending, heading – I chose based on all those things.”

Naming a starting XI is not easy, given the selection headaches at various positions across the pitch.

In the goal, for example, Mary Earps’22/23’s form made her unstoppable for club and country, playing a pivotal role in the final two years of Wiegman’s tenure in charge. Now Hannah Hampton seems to be fighting for the number one spot, leaving his coach with a big decision to make.

Defensively, Alex Greenwood entered the baseline without problems when the captain Lea Williamson He tore his ACL last year. The latter has since returned, but naturally is still not in his pre-injury form.

Ella Toone and Alessia Russian (a cog in the midfield and in the attack respectively) were the coach’s secret weapon in Euro 22, coming off the bench to deliver.

Now both are called up as starters, and even if the club’s form suffers, they seem to be guaranteed starters, especially in those big moments.

Each of those positions now features several different players performing for their respective clubs, guaranteeing an opportunity for the national team.

jess park, Grace Clintonand Aggie Beever-Jones to name a few, everyone may find it difficult not to get regular minutes for their country.

So there is someone like Maya Le Tissierthat he is a true centre-back for the club but, instead of focusing on those strengths, Wiegman considers him more of a full-back.

A team that possesses so much talent, not only in the current roster but also in the next generation, cannot afford to sit back in sentimentality.

Seven of the players who started that winning final two years ago lined up in their chaotic display against the Germans in October.

It was almost the same team, but a far cry from the determined performances on which they built their success.

Sarina will undoubtedly use the friendlies between now and Euro 2025 as an opportunity to evaluate what options she has for the respective positions and make personnel changes if she deems them necessary, but it must come sooner rather than later.