The victory over Wales was the ideal game going into a quarter-final against Sweden. The Lionesses have had two really tough games, then you could just see them enjoying their football – and it was a good chance for Sarina Wiegman to make subs.
In past tournaments, Sarina’s stuck with her starting XI a lot and had the same subs, whereas this tournament we’ve already seen different line-ups and subs come on and make an impact.
For a sub to come and score goals as Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones did, that’s so key for keeping their momentum. It’s not easy being on the bench at a major tournament and if you come on and score, it just keeps that morale with the bench.
You saw Aggie and Beth go and celebrate with the bench, that just gives everyone that strength to show they can come on and help the team.
Off the bench and on the scoresheet!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 13, 2025
Great feet from Beth Meadpic.twitter.com/2HAJBZqDHI
Sarina’s normally quite clear on where she thinks you stand in the team. Things can change but to be dropped after that first game, as Beth Mead was, is a tough one because anyone could have been dropped.
It’s just unfortunate because if it’s you and then the team go out and play well, Sarina’s probably going to stick with the same team again.
That’s always really tough and it’s the pressure of playing international football.
When you have an off day, you can lose your shirt, especially with the Lionesses because the strength in depth is so strong.
You do feel for players. It’s never easy playing and then being dropped, it’s tough to then get back in the team but it just shows the strength of players like Beth that come on and score.
It’s not just about the starting XI, people always look at the main players in teams but it definitely is down to the whole team, bench players, staff working together to win the Euros.
The Arsenal star England have to watch out for
With Sweden in the quarters next, England have to face Stina Blackstenius, my old Arsenal teammate.
She’s one of the best players in the world at running in behind. Some strikers come to feet and they turn on the ball, but with Stina she’s turning the team, she’s turning defenders
This tournament she’s caused loads of problems. It will be key that the Lionesses in defence don’t switch off because Stina’s the type of player that will run off your shoulder. Her first goal against Germany, that’s exactly what she did, made a run and then finishes it. England’s back four are always going to be checking their shoulder for where she is.
England’s underrated defence
Defenders like to go under the radar, they want to have good games but if they’re not having to do much it’s the perfect scenario.
When you’ve got players like Alessia Russo and Ella Toone pressing, it puts your defence a little bit more at ease because they’re already directing play up front.
In the last few games Keira Walsh has got a lot more joy going forward and Alex Greenwood has come narrower into the middle of the pitch. It’s key having that security in front of the back four.
You don’t want to allow it to become 1v1, you’ll always want that extra overload, but it’s cat and mouse with teams like Sweden. You want to push their team back and make them defend but not get caught on the counter.
There hasn’t been a set left-back for the Lionesses for a while. By putting Alex Greenwood at left-back for the last two games, with Jess Carter at centre-back, Sarina has kept experience in the back line.
Alex has over 100 caps, Jess is very experienced as well so she’s kept them on the pitch.
Jess has done really well – to have a bit of stick in the first game and then show exactly why she’s on the pitch the last two, it’s all credit to her.
She probably prefers to play centre-half – that’s probably where she’s more comfortable. It’s never easy getting put as a left-back when you’re right-footed.
Jess has shown with her mentality it doesn’t matter about the first game – it’s about the games after that.
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