6 takeaways from England’s last international break ahead of Euro 2025

England’s last international break of the year gave head coach Sarina Wiegman an opportunity to experiment with her side ahead of Euro 2025, and the outcome was certainly a positive one.

They managed a 0-0 draw under the arch of Wembley Stadium against the USA on 30 November, putting on an improved defensive performance, but left much to be desired up front in the absence of Lauren Hemp and Lauren James.

The side then battled it out against Switzerland at Sheffield United’s Bramwall Lane on 3 December, earning themselves a 1-0 victory. Wiegman was keen to experiment, putting out a heavily rotated starting eleven as they get ready to defend their title as European champions next summer.

Here’s eScored’s breakdown of how England performed during their last international break of the year…

Lionesses far more defensively sound

The October international break saw the Lionesses struggle in the defensive third, as woeful mistakes meant the team conceded five goals across the two games. Leah Williamson was particularly lacklustre, and Wiegman’s decision to leave Alex Greenwood out of the lineup to face Germany was heavily criticised.

This time around however, the defensive showings reflected the England of old. After a turbulent run of injuries that has seen her in and out of the Arsenal team, Williamson has certainly regained her groove at centre-back. The defender worked well next to Jess Carter, with both Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood putting on impressive displays in full back.

Wiegman has delightful depth in defence, with players like Esme Morgan, Maya Le Tissier, Gabby George, Millie Turner and Lotte Wubben-Moy among the names all competing for a starting spot. It’s a positive problem to have, and a very welcomed headache for the England head coach as she looks to make future squad selections.

Grace Clinton shines again

The next generation of England talent is starting to arrive, and Clinton is steering the ship. The Manchester United midfielder started for England against Switzerland, and it took her just eight minutes to make an impact.

The 21-year-old made an instinctive run to tap in Millie Turner’s deflected header, putting the Lionesses ahead at Bramall Lane. The finish may have been light work, but the positioning was clever. Clinton plays with maturity far beyond her years, controlling the England midfield with poise. Her instincitive ball carrying makes her impossible to defend, somehow always managing to break free of a challenge with the ball firmly glued to her feet.

England fans will be licking their lips at the talent awaiting this young team, after a solid showing saw Clinton combine well with Jess Park and Laura Blindkilde Brown in the centre of the park.

Experimental Lionesses deserve more time

After recent criticism surrounding Wiegman’s lack of rotation, the manager deployed a completely new eleven to face Switzerland.

Both Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown got their first senior England caps, with Millie Turner and Aggie Beever-Jones earning their first starts for the team. Gabby George made her return to the starting eleven, with Maya Le Tissier and Jess Park among the other young stars named.

The performance was far from astounding, but that is to be expected when a team is so heavily rotated. Things aren’t going to click straight away, and the younger talents need more time spent together in order to develop chemistry on the field.

Wiegman was particularly clear on this after the match when asked about the “lack of creativity” in the England side.

“You can tell that for some players, for the first time they have to get through these moments, become more comfortable and everyone’s different so some were maybe a little bit more anxious than others- but that’s okay,” she said.

Competition needed in midfield

Keira Walsh has always been known as England’s midfield maestro- and for all of the right reasons. The midfielder put on a generational showing when the Lionesses won Euro 2022, earning herself the Player of the Tournament honour.

As she waves in and out of the Barcelona side in the Liga F, Walsh has seemed to slightly lose her rhythm, and the game against the USA showed that. Sam Coffey dictated the central third, leaving Walsh in the dust. This isn’t a call for her head, but rather a close questioning of whether she has enough competition to bring out the best in her.

England don’t have another ready-made option to play the defensive midfield role. Williamson can play there, but it’s almost certain that Wiegman wouldn’t go down that road. Ruby Mace is an up and coming talent, but the 21-year-old still has plenty of work to do.

Young stars debut in Bramall Lane victory

Both Leicester City’s Ruby Mace and Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown earned their first cap in England’s victory over Switzerland.

Mace has had a shining start to the 2024/25 season with the Foxes, and received the well-deserved recognition from Wiegman for her efforts. Blindkilde-Brown has been learning from some of the finest global footballers over at Man City, earning herself a first call up and first appearance for the Lionesses as a result.

Both showed glimpses of what they are made of against the Swiss, playing through the obvious nerves. The midfield pairing will need more time within the senior set up to ensure they are up to scratch with the levels demanded of them, but Tuesday night was a promising curtain raiser of what is to come.

Wiegman’s selection headache

If this international break taught us anything, it’s that Wiegman has an incredible selection headache ahead of Euro 2025. The rotation over these two friendlies alone have proved that England are rich in talent across nearly every area of the pitch.

If the youth pool gives us anything to go by, it means some of England’s up and coming stars may be forced to wait a little longer for a major tournament debut.

The likes of Beever-Jones, Mace and Blindkilde Brown were all given an opportunity to star this international break, but that didn’t come without a cost. Injuries kept James, Hemp and Ella Toone all out of the England squad this time around, and it’s hard to imagine that they won’t be on the plane to Switzerland next summer.

Wiegman will be limited to just 23 players next summer, three of which must be goalkeepers. With an abundance of players proving themselves to be deserving of a ticket to Euro 2025, we sure aren’t envious of Wiegman’s task ahead.

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