England Women team news: Wiegman won’t shake up XI that was once asked for autographs by Northern Ireland

Sarina Wiegman has warned it will be close to England’s strongest XI that faces Northern Ireland at St Mary’s on Friday night – despite the Lionesses having qualified for the quarter-finals with a game to spare.

Wiegman’s side are guaranteed a place in the last eight as group winners after the 1-0 win over Austria and the 8-0 victory over Norway, Wiegman having named an unchanged side for their record-breaking tally at the Amex.

That means Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly – all of whom had to make do with minutes off the bench in the first two games – could be among the substitutes once again.

“I believe in rhythm,” Wiegman said. “I think when you have nine days in between the Norwegian game and the quarter-final, that’s too long. We need rhythm, keep the focus, and keep playing so I don’t expect lots of rotation. During the game, probably, but not before.”

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Four outfield players – Jess Carter, Demi Stokes, Nikita Parris and Beth England – have not yet played a single minute of Euro 2022, with Stokes ruled out of the final group match with a minor knee injury. The defender is expected to be fit for next Wednesday.

“Yes, of course some players will be disappointed,” Wiegman added. “If you wouldn’t be eager to play then the player wouldn’t be in the squad.”

For Northern Ireland, this is the end of the road after losing their first two games, though this Championship will be remembered for their first goal at a major tournament – scored by Julie Nelson against Norway – and for some robust challenges despite those defeats.

Even so, Wiegman is not concerned about her senior players suffering injuries in a dead-rubber tie. “Always things can happen at the level we play,” she said. “You always look for the edge and another player will be ready. Of course we don’t hope that, but the priority is to keep rhythm.”

Wiegman answered the eternal question of whether England had been practising penalties ahead of the knockouts with a yes – and a laugh – but was coy on whether the likes of Russo, Toone and Kelly can force their way into the starting XI for the quarter-final, but stressed “we’re always competing”.

“We’ve been lucky that we came out of matches fit and it’s nice to have all the choices that I have to make, because those are hard choices.”

Shiels, on the other hand, suggested he could hand some of Northern Ireland’s younger players an opportunity “to learn from the experience”. But the Northern Ireland manager’s main request from his players is that they are not overawed by the Lionesses, as they were in a friendly at St George’s Park 18 months ago when he found his players queuing up asking their England counterparts for autographs.

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“It shows how esteemed England are,” Shiels said. “The girls did admit afterwards they were overawed by that occasion. But it helped us because it helped us go to Ukraine, it was great preparation because it was such a tough game.”

While England are through, Ellen White has a particular incentive to follow up on her brace against Norway as it put her within one goal of equalling Wayne Rooney’s record (53) as the country’s leading goalscorer – and team-mate Mary Earps batted away critics who have contended that White’s achievement is less significant because she plays for England Women.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman, if you’re great, you’re great,” Earps said. “The success she’s had over a long period of time tells you everything you need to now. She’s been fantastic for England for a very long time.”

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