The shiny ticker-tape had not even been cleared from the pitch at St Jakob-Park when the gauntlet was thrown down. As England celebrated their Euro 2025 triumph, King Charles wrote on the royal household's Instagram account: “Effectively performed, Lionesses. The subsequent is to carry residence the World Cup in 2027 for those who presumably can!” No stress, then.
The short-term future for England gamers will centre round two issues; a vacation – except you're a Nationwide Girls's Soccer League (NWSL) participant like Jess Carter, who needed to fly straight again to the US to play membership soccer – and extra accolades, the newest of which got here on Friday because the Nationwide Soccer Museum introduced each squad member and Sarina Wiegman will all be inducted into their Corridor of Fame. Extra awards will certainly observe however, ultimately, everybody will meet up with the King's mindset and focus consideration on 2027.
Having develop into the primary senior England soccer workforce to win a significant trophy abroad, and the primary to defend a title, the subsequent impediment to beat is to win the nation's first Girls's World Cup, with the subsequent event to be staged in Brazil because it heads to South America for the primary time. The Lionesses have come very shut, reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019 earlier than shedding 2023's ultimate, and their retained standing as European champions will see many tipping them for glory in a few years. However how will this workforce evolve earlier than then and what's there for all involved to ponder?
New coaches, new concepts
Wiegman's workforce now enters a brand new period as they are saying farewell to her long-serving assistant Arjan Veurink, usually hailed as key to their tactical success, as he heads off to develop into the Netherlands head coach. Geraint Twose, additionally a part of Wiegman's backroom workforce for each of their Euro-winning campaigns, can be shifting on to take up a brand new place as England's lead transition coach, supporting gamers within the youth pathway. Arriving from the Netherlands are Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how, if in any respect, England's type adjustments with them in place.
The suitable-back conundrum
Lucy Bronze has made it clear she needs to play on the subsequent World Cup. She will likely be 35-and-three-quarters when the event comes round and whereas her expertise, management abilities and mentality will guarantee she remains to be England's first-choice right-back if match, the Lionesses want a plan B, simply in case sports activities science discovers an harm so extreme that she can not play by means of it, not like a seemingly minor drawback of a – checks notes – fractured tibia on the Euros. England had the Manchester United captain, Maya Le Tissier, ready within the wings this summer season, somebody Wiegman sees as a right-back regardless of the actual fact she has performed each match for her membership at centre-back. Additionally in competition is Tottenham's Ella Morris, who has impressed at right-back by means of England's youth groups however suffered an anterior cruciate ligament harm in Might.
The left-back dilemma
England have been with no persistently chosen left-back for a era, with nobody making that place their very own for the reason that centurion Rachel Unitt greater than a decade in the past. Alex Greenwood did nicely in that place towards Spain however she generally performs at centre-back for Manchester Metropolis, and that's the place Wiegman had meant to play the 31-year-old earlier than the event started. Niamh Charles, who additionally performed nicely when referred to as upon from the bench, will likely be another choice, however she is going to need to begin extra video games for Chelsea between now and the World Cup.
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Who would possibly break into the beginning XI?
England are blessed with attacking choices and Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones particularly are probably to offer Wiegman with welcome complications throughout the subsequent two seasons. Chloe Kelly's standing may even proceed to rise, whereas Wiegman will likely be eager to offer extra alternatives to the technically gifted midfielders Grace Clinton and Jess Park, each of whom performed distinguished roles throughout the current Nations League campaigns.
Who will likely be England's strongest challengers?
World champions Spain will likely be an enormous menace in Brazil, as will the hosts, who've been in good type and reached the Olympic ultimate final 12 months. The US, managed by Emma Hayes, will most likely be the favourites, whereas the youthful era of stars breaking by means of with Germany and France will see them in competition too. Japan, who performed some eye-catching soccer throughout their victory over the USA within the SheBelieves Cup in California in February, may even be a menace. England's qualifying marketing campaign begins subsequent 12 months.
