Lionesses need gold standard without Bronze
SARINA WIEGMAN has challenged her new-look defence to step up after Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood were ruled out of England’s clash with Japan tonight.
The Lionesses meet the 2011 world champions in Murcia, Spain, in the first of an international friendly double-header before taking on Norway on Tuesday.
Wiegman has had to shuffle her pack with Leah Williamson already absent, Greenwood picking up a knock and Bronze suffering with Covid.
But despite the defensive headache, the England boss is viewing tonight’s clash as an opportunity to run the rule over potential candidates for selection for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“It gives other players the opportunity to play and be part of the team,” said Wiegman.
“And for us an opportunity to see where they’re at.
“It gives us lots of information, these two games, where players are at, players who haven’t played that much yet or haven’t been with the squad, which is good ahead of the World Cup.”
Midfielder Georgia Stanway is expecting a tough challenge.
Stanway, who will be up against Bayern Munich team-mate Saki Kumagai, said: “Japan are technically unbelievable.
“They’re almost like Spain in the way they pop the ball around and the way they move it. We might have the upper hand physically. It’s going to be a very exciting game.”
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