Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Key Events
Live updates from Leuven:
As the sun sets on a perfect spring evening in Leuven, players from both teams are warming up against a backdrop of popular Belgian dance tracks. The atmosphere is vibrant in this student city, setting the stage for an exciting clash.
In terms of the England team, manager Sarina Wiegman faced crucial roster decisions due to injuries impacting key players. With Alessia Russo sidelined, the question of who would lead the attacks emerged, along with decisions on the left wing, where Lauren James is absent, and in goal, where the debate between Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton continues. Hampton is favored tonight, marking her third consecutive start, suggesting a shift in the goalkeeper hierarchy.
Wiegman has opted for veteran striker Nikita Parris alongside Chelsea’s young talent Aggie Beever-Jones. Additionally, Jess Park takes over the No. 10 position from Ella Toone. For Belgium, there’s a significant boost with the return of captain Tessa Wullaert, who had missed the previous match due to an injury. Wullaert is expected to be a potent threat for the hosts. England must remain vigilant, especially after a disappointing 3-2 defeat at this venue 18 months ago, where a counter-attack saw them caught off guard, contributing to a rough outing overall.
Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir, Belgium’s head coach, expressed her hope for more energy and belief from her squad, emphasizing the need for them to maintain faith in their game plan throughout the match.
While waiting for kickoff, a brief recap of England’s recent commanding performance against Belgium in Bristol highlights their strong form in the tournament.
Game Update: In another Group A3 match, Spain leads Portugal 4-0 within just 30 minutes of play, dominating the game with numerous opportunities.
The Teams!
Line-ups for the match:
Belgium: Lichtfus, Cayman, Tysiak, Deloose, Janssens, Philtjens, Vanhaevermaet, Teulings, Detruyer, Wullaert, Eurlings. Subs: Evrard, Bastiaen, Elyn, Delacauw, Missipo, Van Kerkhoven, De Caigny, Dhont, Wijnants, Blom, Toloba, Mathys.
England: Hampton, Bronze, Charles, Williamson, Bright, Walsh, Clinton, Park, Parris, Mead, Beever-Jones. Subs: Earps, Moorhouse, Turner, Carter, Morgan, Le Tissier, Parker, Kirby, Toone, Symonds, Naz, Agyemang.
Referee: Maria Caputi (Italy).
Hello World!
As the Nations League group-stage progresses, England finds itself in a favorable position at the top of Group A3, having secured victories against both Spain and Belgium, alongside a draw in Portugal. Belgium, however, is still seeking its first point after experiencing a near miss earlier against Spain where they led before suffering a late collapse.
Sarina Wiegman acknowledges previous challenges, noting that team performance was affected during a post-World Cup transition. “We aim to redeem ourselves,” she stated, highlighting their desire for improved performance compared to the last encounter against Belgium.
England faces several absences, including notable players like Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway, and Alex Greenwood due to injuries. Both Lauren James and Alessia Russo have also withdrawn, creating opportunities for younger players like Michelle Agyemang, who could potentially step into the spotlight tonight.
As the match approaches, fans eagerly await what promises to be an engaging spectacle, highlighting both teams’ development and aspirations in the competition.
Source
www.theguardian.com