England used to be a team always at a touch from a silver accessory, but never managed to get over the line.
Remember their extraordinary running in the 2019 World Cup, where they reached the semifinals just to be painfully short against the United States. This changed when Sarina Wiegman took responsibility in September 2021, less than a year before it was delayed European Championship.
It’s just in that tournament Lava Indeed, they were established among the world elite, the storm is celebrated on home soil. In the quarterfinals, they broke through in Spain, dismantled Sweden 4-0 in the semi-finals, and then in the finals they achieved a historic victory in more time over Germany.
That team, which is now immortal, carried its momentum forward, extending their undefeated running to 30 games before the strike defeat for Australia in Pre-World Cup Friendly 2023. Despite some signs of vulnerability, England reached the World Cup finals and went on to touch the distance from the abolition of the biggest football award.
But Spain had the last word, winning 1-0 in Sydney and announced itself as a new dominant force in Europe. From that moment on, the dynamics of power moved.
Spain won the UEFA Nations inaugural league last year, while Barcelona’s dominance at the club level only enhanced the overall status of the country at the top. England, on the other hand, struggled to maintain its advantage.
Wiegman’s side failed to progress from the group stage of the League of Nations, as a result of the leakage of the Olympic qualifications. Their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign was far from smooth, finished second behind France – enough to book their place in Switzerland next summer, but a barely dominant statement they would like to make as ruling champions.
The truth is, England looked vulnerable to the World Cup. Perhaps their immersion in shape began before, masked by the surprisingly deep running in Australia.
The recent defeat of 4-3 Germany in Wembley in October was a great example of their fight. The defensive fragile saw them fall 3-0 after 30 minutes, and although Georgia Stanway Bracfire Brace renewed some hope, England never really looked like a game win.
A 0-0 draw followed with the United States in November and showed defense improvements, but the Emma Hayes Olympic champions seemed more capable of reaching the result. To agree, Wiegman has the main dilemmas of selections to be resolved on the eve of the euro.
The goalkeeper’s situation remains uncertain, and Mary Earps is not the same force. Alexa Greenwood recovery time of long -term injury leaves a questionnaire in the central defense. In the middle of the terrain, Georgia Stanway is also a huge doubt about the tournament after undergoing surgery on the lateral injury of the collateral ligament, leaving a large hole in the engine room.
The attack also looks less terrible than he used to do. Ellen White withdrew after the last euro, Beth Mead is still returning to the top of the ACL injury, and also suffered a huge personal trauma of 2022, and England has no depth as number nine.
Alessia Russo remains a focal point, but beyond it the option are limited. Rachel Dalya withdrawn from international football, Bethany England never completely knocked a place, and Wiegman seems to be hesitant to trust a young talent like ChelseaAggie Bever-Jones on the biggest stage. Restation on emerging stars such as Grace Clinton and Jess Park to make an impact – much like Russo and Ella Toone 2022 – a cube, not security.
Meanwhile, Spanish’s own inconsistency at the Olympic Games last summer and unconvincing results in recent international interruptions suggest that they are not untouchable either. This summer, the euros could be the most concise so far, and Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden everyone is watching the crown.
But the fact remains – England is no longer a fear team. The gap that closed briefly, and the aura invincibility they once had under Wiegman faded it.
Because of this, the upcoming hubs of the League of League are so key. With Portugal and Spanish on the immediate horizon this month, England have the perfect opportunity to remind their rivals why they once considered them a dominant force.
Strong results could be an incentive they need on the eve of the euro, pretending doubt about belief. Otherwise, they risk going in the summer as just another candidate, not a team that will win.
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