Talking points ahead of England’s two Nations League games against Belgium
A double header against Belgium awaits the Lionesses in this international break and these are some of the talking points ahead of these two UEFA Women’s Nations League games.
We are in the midst of another international break and for the Lionesses over these next few days it will be a double header against Belgium in the UEFA Women’s Nations League in League A Group 3.
England are unbeaten after their first two games in the competition after drawing 1-1 with Portugal where the performance came into question. Then they pulled off a 1-0 win against the World Champions Spain in the next game at Wembley.
These games are also providing good tests ahead of this summer’s Women’s European Championships, which as we know England are the defending champions heading into it and will be in a tough group with France, Netherlands and Wales come July’s tournament.
For Sarina Wiegman, it will be another two games as well where she gets to look at the players who perhaps are not yet guaranteed their place in the Lionesses’ Euros squad, which might only be a small number of players who you would think are still playing for a place on the plane. With these games against Belgium, there are bound to be a few of them looking to impress if given the chance.
Who’s going to start?
It usually can be quite straightforward in predicting England’s starting XI under Sarina Wiegman given the options in each area and who is favoured under the Dutch manager. It feels interesting this time because of having to prepare to face the same team twice over a few days, but of course in saying that tactics can be tweaked for the second encounter if things need changing after the first one.
Let’s start with the goalkeepers first because it is a talking point going into any international break at the moment for the Lionesses and whether one of Hannah Hampton or Mary Earps will be the number one now in goal. This battle is sure to continue even right before the Euros as Wiegman still doesn’t want to commit to one or the other just yet, opening the door for both to continue to impress and show why they deserve the starting place.
Personally, I do feel this might be Hannah Hampton’s time for the Lionesses, but it isn’t that simple right now because I’m sure it is a hard decision to say to somebody like Mary Earps, who has been nothing but reliable for England and even been the best goalkeeper in the world while playing for the Lionesses in all of their biggest moments in the last few years that you’ll have to be back-up.
There was a recall as well for Khiara Keating who awaits that first start in the senior side just like Anna Moorhouse, who has regularly been the third option for a while now and has not yet started ever for the Lionesses either.
In terms of the guaranteed starters in defence, you would look at Lucy Bronze at right-back, Millie Bright and Leah Williamson as the centre-back pairing probably and Niamh Charles feels like the option at left-back although we often have seen Jess Carter play there given her versatility across the defence. The other options such as Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Millie Turner and Lucy Parker will all be there if needed to be called upon.
I’ll touch more on the midfield further down, but you would expect it to be a three of Keira Walsh, Grace Clinton and Ella Toone if the last international break was anything to go by. So onto the forwards and this is where it could be an interesting one to wait and see who Sarina Wiegman goes with because of the form that some of the players in the squad have been on for their clubs recently.
Lauren James is getting back to performing at the level we know she can and has proven to be good on the defensive side of things as well recently showing an improvement in that side of her game too. Jess Park started out wide back in February’s international games and played very well so there is that option too for Sarina Wiegman.
Eyes though will be on Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead due to their good form at Arsenal where both have impressed a lot with Mead having scored twice recently in the WSL against Crystal Palace and Chloe Kelly creating a lot of crossing opportunities, getting assists and seemingly playing with confidence turning around her season. The only thing with Kelly though is that she has been ruled out of the first tie tomorrow due to an injury that Sarina Wiegman described in her press conference as a ‘little niggle’. The same goes also for Fran Kirby.
England are so stacked in forward areas that we haven’t even touched on Nikita Parris or Aggie Beever-Jones who you would expect to be amongst the substitutes for the two games barring a decision to make major changes by the manager, but both are good enough to affect games if they were to be brought on.
England’s midfield choices
Options in midfield right now for England are where there are questions and the last international break possibly answered some of those when we saw Grace Clinton start as the ‘number eight’ usually operated by Georgia Stanway who is still out recovering from injury. There still isn’t much known yet about her timetable for returning and whether she will be fit for the Euros.
Injuries to other players as well such as Leicester City’s Ruby Mace who suffered a knee ligament injury at the early end of March and Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown who has an ankle problem which has ruled her out of the rest of the season means that the depth in those positions is a talking point again.
Grace Clinton performed well in the usual role taken up by Stanway in the February international break having shown good quality in the attacking moments against Spain in what was a mature performance from her. More and more it feels like she is beginning to establish herself as an England player and somebody who can be reliable when called upon by Sarina Wiegman, perhaps even being worthy of starting more regularly.
Elsewhere in the midfield, Keira Walsh at the base of it and Ella Toone as more of a ‘number ten’ do tend to be the regulars under Sarina Wiegman and it wouldn’t be surprising to see those two play again as I mentioned above. There is the opportunity there though for others and given the recall for somebody like Fran Kirby, who has performed well now since returning from injury and put in some good displays with Brighton & Hove Albion, does she put herself back into the mix if a change is made, obviously in that second game with her out for the first one. Elsewhere with other midfield positions, one new call-up might be looking to take her chance if given to her.
An opportunity for Maisie Symonds
Maisie Symonds of Brighton & Hove Albion received her first-ever call-up to the senior team for these games against Belgium having impressed at the under-23s level. She has made nineteen appearances for Brighton this season in all competitions and performed well with Brighton boss having praised her before for how well she has progressed this season.
Her addition to the team will bolster the options that England have in the midfield. However, it would be fair to suggest that game time for Symonds could be minimal based on the fact it is her maiden call-up. But it’s not out of the question that she won’t feature at all if previous experience has shown anything.
It would be a nice thing to see Maisie Symonds get some minutes to show what she is capable of and put herself in contention for a place in the squad amongst the rest of the competition she might have if those recovering from injuries do make it back in time for the Euros in July.
For her as well it has been quite the journey having gone from being a fan watching the Lionesses become European champions at Wembley back in 2022 to now getting the chance to train and play alongside some of those same players.
The 22-year-old has risen up the ranks at all levels for England and done so after many difficult moments including being hospitalised after reporting for pre-season training camp with Brighton not far after the Euros final. She had suffered from glandular fever and hepatitis, which was a combination that ended up leading to a ruptured spleen.
She didn’t return to training for several months and then when she eventually did, she ruptured an ankle ligament which set her back further and meant she didn’t return until April 2023. Since that time though, she first appeared with the under-23s in December 2023 and been a regular before this first senior call-up.
Opposition Preview - Belgium
It’s a big test coming up for Belgium coached by Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir following on from their last two Nations League matches where they were beaten by Spain and Portugal. Gunnarsdóttir is taking charge of her third and fourth games in charge of the Red Flames since she was appointed in January this year after replacing Ives Surneels, who had been in charge of the Belgian women’s national team for 14 years before his departure.
Despite losing against Spain and not having the game largely in their control, Belgium did almost pull off a surprise victory in Gunnarsdóttir’s first game in charge. They were 2-0 up in the 77th minute but conceded three goals including two in stoppage time. The second tie against Portugal was a bit more balanced from them but once again they were beaten when a Carole Costa penalty was converted.
Belgium might have some belief in them heading into this clash with England if we recall how the last encounter went between the two teams back in October 2023. Two goals from their star forward Tessa Wullaert and one from a brilliant free-kick by Laura de Neve won it for the Red Flames.
Wullaert is their player to watch having always been a key figure for them with five goals across her last five international appearances. She is also doing well with her club Inter in Italy where the 32-year-old has eight goals and four assists in 19 league games for them.
With her having been able to frustrate England defenders before, she is going to be looking to cause problems again. Interestingly as well, Tessa Wullaert has scored 11 goals for her national team since the start of 2024, a number only bettered by Germany’s Lea Schüller who has 13 goals.
The 2035 Women’s World Cup ‘likely’ to be in the UK
A sidenote from these upcoming games is the news today after FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke at a UEFA congress in Belgrade. With the UK being the only sole ‘valid bidder for the tournament it does make it a clear path for the four countries to host it in 2035, meaning games in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It would also mean it will be the first World Cup hosted in England since the men’s tournament in 1966.
Obviously the decision is not yet officially confirmed that the tournament will be hosted over here in 2035, that is something we will have to wait for more towards the end of this year as long as no other ‘valid’ bidders emerge, but it is a significant moment and one that we can all definitely look forward to in ten years time.
Dates and times for both England-Belgium games:
England vs Belgium - Aston Gate | Friday 4th April | 8pm BST
Belgium vs England - King Power at Den Dreef Stadion | Tuesday 8th April | 19:30 BST