England announces starting XI – Toone benched
England’s last game in the group stages of the 2023 Women’s World Cup sees them take on China. England only need a draw to progress but the Lionesses will surely be hunting all three points and aiming for another clean sheet.
It’s been a slow start for England, but they have won both group matches so far and held clean sheets. Key player Keira Walsh has been ruled out for today’s game due to injury (confirmed not ACL).
England starting XI
England’s starting XI without the injured Keira Walsh is a very different one to what we have been used to.
Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly are on the bench as Manchester United captain Katie Zelem and Chelsea defender Jess Carter come in.
It looks like Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo may be playing up front together in a 4-4-2 formation, though England could go three at the back.
England XI: Earps, Bronze, Greenwood, Bright, Carter, Stanway, Zelem, Hemp, Russo, James, Daly.
Subs: Hampton, Roebuck, Charles, Toone, Nobbs, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Coombs, Kelly, England, Robinson.
China starting XI
Just the one change for China and a forced one as Zhang Rui is suspended after being sent off against Haiti and she is replaced by Wang Shuang. Celtic’s Shen Mengyu is among the subs.
China XI: Zhu, Li, Shuang Wang, Wei Yao, Shanshan Wang, Yang, Lou, Chen, Lingwei Yao, Wu, Linyan Zhang.
Subs: Xu, Pan, Dou, Linlin Wang, Wu, Xin Zhang, Shen, Tang, Xiao, Gu, Gao.
Sarina Weigman – ‘We’ve made changes’
England boss Sarina Wiegman speaking to ITV: “We start with our style of play, then we have a plan, then we put the players in place and come up with a starting line up. Every partnership in the team is important, but we all know Katie [Zelem] can connect defence to attack.
On different roles for Lauren James and Rachel Daly: “You’ll see when we start, but we made a couple of changes. We look at ourselves, then the opponent, then we look at the plan tactically.
On facing China: “They have an organised team and have done well. They can go direct but want a possession game high up the pitch. We are wary, but they should be for us too.”