England was once a team always a short distance from silver boats, but they could never beat the line.
Consider their remarkable worldwide glass in 2019, where they reached the semifinals only to fall painfully against the United States. This changed when Sarina Wiegman took over in September 2021, less than a year before the reprogramming European Championship.
It was in that tournament that the Lions They really settled in the world elite, storming glory on the floor. They went over Spain to the quarterfinals, dismantled Sweden 4-0 in the semis, and then they won an extra-time victory over Germany in the final.
That team, now immortalized, advanced its impulse, extending its unbeaten career to 30 games before a shock defeat in AustraliaWorld Cup Friendly by 2023. Despite some signs of vulnerability, England reached the World Cup final and reached a short distance to raise the largest football prize.
But it was Spain who had the final definition, winning 1-0 in Sydney and was firmly announced as the new dominant force in Europe. Since then, the power dynamics have changed.
Spain won the inaugural league of the UEFA Nations last year, while the dominion of Barcelona at the club level has only strengthened the global state of the country at the top. England, on the other hand, has struggled to keep his edge.
The Wiegman side could not advance since its group stage of the League of Nations, which lost its Olympic qualification. His Euro 2025 rating campaign was far from soft, ending behind France, enough to reserve his place in Switzerland next summer, but barely the dominant statement they would have wanted to do as reigning champions.
The truth is that England has seemed vulnerable from the World Cup. Perhaps his immersion in shape began even earlier, masked by that surprisingly deep career in Australia.
The recent 4-3 defeat in Germany in Wembley in October was a brilliant example of his struggles. The defensive fragility saw them dropped 3-0 behind the 30 minutes, and although Georgia Stanway’s fast bruise restored some hope, England never seemed to win the game.
A 0-0 draw followed by the United States in November and showed defensive improvements, but the Olympic champions of Emma Hayes seemed more capable of setting a result. To complicate matters, Wiegman has great selection dilemmas to resolve euros.
The goal situation is still uncertain, and Mary Earps was not the same force as it was. Long -term Alex Greenwood Recovery Calendar leaves a question sign to central defense. In the middle of the field, Georgia Stanway is also a great doubt for the tournament after undergoing a surgery in a lateral ligament injury, leaving an important hole in the engine room.
The attack also seems less formidable than he did. Ellen White retired after the last euros, Beth Mead continues to work on his way back to the maximum form after his ACL injury, after having suffered a huge personal trauma since 2022 and England has no depth on paper number New.
Alessia Russo is still the focal point, but beyond it, the options are limited. Rachel Daly has retired from international football, Bethany England has never nailed a place and Wiegman seems hesitant to trust young talents like ChelseaAggie Bever-Jones on the biggest stage. The confidence in emerging stars like Grace Clinton and Jess Park to have an impact, just as Russo and she Toone, in 2022, is a bet more than a certainty.
In the meantime, Spain’s own inconsistency at last summer’s Olympic Games and unconvincing results in the last international breaks suggest that they are not untouchable. The euros this summer could be the most competitive, with Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden watching the crown.
But the fact is: England is no longer the team to be afraid. The lag that was briefly closed and the aura of invincibility that had previously under Wiegman has faded.
That is why the next games of the League of Nations are so crucial. With Portugal and Spain on this month’s immediate horizon, England has the perfect opportunity to remind his rivals why they were seen as the dominant force.
The strong results could be the impulse they need ahead of euros, making doubt the belief. Otherwise, they risk running in summer as another contestant instead of the team to overcome.
