England 2-1 Italy (Daly, 32′, 71′ | Cantore, 62′)
Sarina Wigman is great in her versatility. She called up 20-year-old Maya Le Tissier to her Arnold Clark Cup team, in part because she can play as a right-back, central midfielder, or centre-back. Against South Korea, she surprised us all by bringing Leah Williamson back into midfield, the midfielder who turned her into a centre-back. After this victory, Wigman reinforced the same moment.
“You want players to be exceptional in the position they play,” Wigman said somewhat obviously. “But if they can play in more positions, we will have more opportunities in the team. It helps us when we need to make substitutions and we have the opportunity to be really strong when there are changes on the field or when players are substituted.
The message is clear: show me that you can be multifunctional by maintaining a high position, and I will treasure you as my property.
So everything Wigman touches becomes a goal, and England makes that versatility their thing. The England manager has specialized strikers and reliable scorers. She has now turned her starting European defender Aston Villa’s Rachel Daley into a striker, scoring both goals in a win over Italy. At various times during her tenure, Wigman appeared to have cheat codes. In fact, that’s exactly the secret of good management: take risks and make them look like bankers because you’ve done the groundwork. The rest of us only saw the output.
In Daley’s case, of course, this reinvents the wheel. Daly played for a long time at club level as a striker. Wigman used her as a left back during the European Championship as the manager believed that England could create a double threat on the left flank, which could help them break up teams that were in the low block. When doubts surrounded her defense, Daley was always eager to run, proving her ability to hold her own against at least an attacking opponent, if not dispossessed (and she often did both).
Then, as Ellen White retires from the limelight and begins her post-English career, a place opens elsewhere. Alex Greenwood is a good left-back (she captained England against Italy) and Daly impressed Aston Villa on her return to England. She may lack White’s physical presence, but the double-headed goals suggest that all the other necessary attributes are in place.
Daly celebrated every header in the 2-1 win – one header into each corner of Laura Giuliani’s goal, like a snooker pro would slice the ball neatly into the center pocket – with a rage that suggests she knows how little games are still in Brisbane. . There is competition between Beth Mead (recovery permitting), Beth England and Alessia Russo for white spots to become World Cup scorer and England linesman. Daley moved up at least one position.
If this mini-tournament is a useful indicator for Wigman, it also marks the final stage of the Euro 2022 international winners’ round. Their games in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Bristol will take them to places where grown men never go. The area around the CBS Arena was filled with food stalls, music and, most importantly, fans more than two hours before kick off. Attendance was the highest ever for any sporting match at the stadium that Coventry City and the Wasps called home.
Now this is more important than ever. If winning the European Championship means more than her own sporting significance, she is an inspiration to young girls across England. If you don’t see it, as they say, you’re much less likely to do it. With the World Cup taking place as far away as possible from the home of the European champions, these are valuable months to make England a joyful living experience.
They saw a dominant England (little else today) but also sleazy and extravagant. Daly himself conceded two more headers, and England conceded only the third time after that gloriously exciting day at Wembley against Germany. If the lack of technique on the goal line brings an assist, Wigman will be annoyed by the previous sloppiness.
But that is why we are here. Last year’s Arnold Clark Cup should prove to the Lionesses that they can compete with the best; we don’t need any more proof. In 2023, England entered into preparation mode for the World Cup. That means smoothing out wrinkles, finding easy answers against tight low-block defense, and figuring out which of this group of versatile, all-around footballers are best suited for which role. Find a country that has more than Wigman and you’ve probably spotted the next world champion.