SYDNEY – At the beginning of the World Cup, it did not feel altogether convincing when comparisons were drawn with the start of England‘s European Championship-winning campaign.
By the end of last summer, the Lionesses were indisputably the best team in Europe – but few would have predicted that on the opening night as they staggered past Austria.
That has provided some comfort in Australia. No matter how Sarina Wiegman’s side have played, they have leant on the wisdom that sometimes “just good enough” is plenty. Whether it is staggering past Nigeria on penalties, falling behind to Colombia, or narrowly beating Haiti they have insisted they should be judged on results alone.
When did England learn the artform of simply finding a way to win? Arguably, against Spain, their opponents in Sunday’s World Cup final, whom they overcame 2-1 in extra time in the Euro 2022 quarter-final.
The tie became so tense that Spanish defender Irene Paredes suggested afterwards that referee Stephanie Frappart had only allowed a contentious Ella Toone goal to stand because the match was taking place on English soil.
If that is anything to go by, Sunday’s showpiece will not only be a severe test – it could be venomous. All England have to do is make sure they are the ones with the antidote.
James or Toone?
For Lauren James, it all comes down to this. With the uncertainty over her position, she is still paying the heaviest of prices for a moment of madness against Nigeria. The 21-year-old was arguably fortunate to avoid a three-game ban for her stamp on Michelle Alozie, dealt two instead by Fifa, but with Toone rising to the occasion in the semi-final England are no longer baying for James’ return in quite the same way.
“It seems to be I like the big stage in tournaments,” said Toone, who also scored England’s first goal in last summer’s European Championship final. “When big moments fall to me in tournaments I’ve taken them.”
James would have been undroppable after her performances against Denmark and China, with three goals and three assists. Instead, she may become England’s deadliest weapon from the bench.
It is not about punishing James for her error in judgment. In the past Emma Hayes, her Chelsea manager, has called upon her to finesse her decision-making and positioning before starting matches regularly. There is also a lesson to be had from Australia: In spite of one of her most remarkable goals yet, the Matildas were left to regret starting an unfit Sam Kerr, leaving them with no game-changers for the last half hour.
Does Bonmati run the show – with or without Putellas?
In the mutiny against Jorge Vilda, Spain might have been lacking a figurehead were it not for the leadership of Aitana Bonmati. Paredes, Jenni Hermoso and Patri Guijarro are the official captains but it is Bonmati who has inspired their surprise run to the final.
A total of 15 players made themselves unavailable for selection in September 2022 and asked the federation to remove Vilda. None of his decisions are ever universally popular, but the one dilemma which is particularly complex is what to do with Alexia Putellas, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner who has made three starts and has been taken off twice at this tournament. The midfielder tore her ACL on the eve of Euro 2022 and only returned on 30 April, just making it into the World Cup squad.
Barcelona teammates Putellas and Bonmati have an unrivalled chemistry but in the former’s absence, Teresa Abelleira has become the surprise glue of this midfield. Spain have had to reinvent themselves without Putellas and it now down to Vilda to decide whether she has to step aside again.
How does Walsh escape Spain’s press?
What has become the textbook “take England down” strategy, to cut off the supply of Keira Walsh, may not be so easy this time around.
The evolution of Georgia Stanway means England are far more compact in midfield and though Haiti enjoyed some success by targeting Walsh – as did Australia when they beat England in an April friendly – that was before Wiegman’s switch to a 3-5-2.
Spain are likely to press her – particularly Bonmati and Putellas, who she knows so well from training – but her passing under pressure has largely been sound under the new system.
Can Bronze and Daly roam free?
Would England have made it all the way to the final had they not shifted to the new formation? Since the 6-1 win over China, the reboot has had its hiccups – notably against Nigeria, when it did not work – but the concerns that Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly would be given too much freedom as wing-backs have largely proven unfounded.
Daly started this tournament on the bench. She finishes it having cemented her reputation as England’s best left-back, before she returns to Aston Villa to challenge for another Golden Boot in attack. The creativity she offers on the left, where England caused Australia countless problems in the last four, could be tempered by Spain.
Caitlin Foord was not able to pin Bronze back as she would have liked – in fact the England right-back chuckled as she pushed her to the ground. Spain’s wide forwards will be even more of a challenge but in Lauren Hemp, England should have enough width to keep the wing-backs in check if needed.
What will Paralluelo’s role be?
Even the freshest faces of England’s young Lionesses cannot compete with the teenage dreams of Salma Paralluelo. The 19-year-old is a former sprinter who has taken part in Spanish Championships and European Athletics Championships, but never an occasion quite like this. Even if it is not guaranteed she will start, she will surely play some part.
Having guided La Roja past the Netherlands with her late winner, it is her pace which could land her a start but the nominee for the 2022 Puskas award is a goal threat on her own too.
Paralluelo’s stepovers may embody the glitz of Spain but in Hemp – and potentially Chloe Kelly and James off the bench – England have their own runners and movers. They have spent a tournament building themselves up for the fight; now they are the more physical, direct opponents hoping to rely on a collective spirit – coaches included – that Spain simply have not had.
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