If this is Sarina Wiegman’s probable XI to start against France, she’s made a couple of interesting calls:Jess Carteris picked ahead of Niamh Charles at left-back andBeth Meadis preferred to Chloe Kelly as the right-sided forward. For all the problems England have had that’s a strong XI, which includes six of the players who started the Euro 2022 final and three more who came off the bench.
England (4-3-3)Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood, Carter; Stanway, Walsh, Toone; Mead, Russo, Hemp.Substitutes: Charles, James, Le Tissier, Moorhouse, Clinton, Morgan, Agyemang, Kelly, Beever-Jones, Park, Keating, Wubben-Moy.
Tom Garry on the return of Lauren James, who is a helluva card for England to play from the bench as she recovers from injury
Reality doesn’t always bite. Sometimes a gentle nuzzle is enough to make us aware that things are about to get real. England’s meeting with Jamaica at the King Power Stadium today should be a gentle nuzzle of a football match, their first and last warm-up game for Euro 2025.
And then reality will plunge its molars into at least one of England, France and the Netherlands. Those three join Wales in this year’s group of death, with England playing France in a scarily important opening game on Saturday evening.
In some cultures England’s situation would be described as sub-optimal, especially given the recent insecurity caused the retirement or withdrawal of Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby. But their first XI remains extremely strong, capable of giving any team a game, and if their morale is healthy they have a decent chance of winning Euro 2025.
As well as being the last pitstop before things get real, today’s game should give us a decent idea of the collective morale. In modern sport there are lies, damned lies and press conferences. But the truth always emerges on the field.
Kick off5pm.