England fans enjoyed a spectacular football evening at Wembley Stadium, but one major question lingers: how much did Sarina Wiegman truly gain from this friendly?
Despite the occasion being part of England’s Euro 2025 victory celebration tour, the 8-0 thrashing of China revealed very little about the team’s depth or future direction.
A Dominant Win, But Not a Real Test
England delivered a ruthless and polished attacking performance, led by Georgia Stanway’s hat-trick, controlling 70% possession and sealing the match before half-time.
China, however, did not provide the level of challenge England would have hoped for.
Wiegman acknowledged the impressive quality of play but admitted that the opposition’s struggle shaped much of the match.
“We always learn something from every game, but we had more time on the ball than expected,”
said Wiegman.
“Once we settled, you could see our quality.”
England were already 5-0 up by the break, leaving little competitive value for Wiegman to assess new talent.
Missed Chance to Rotate and Experiment?
Many fans and pundits questioned whether this was a wasted opportunity to give more minutes to young or fringe players.
A BBC Sport viewer summed it up bluntly:
“What is the point of this match? It felt like a waste of time.”
Former England keeper Karen Bardsley echoed similar sentiments.
“It was comfortable early on. This could’ve been the perfect moment to hand more debuts,”
said Bardsley.
Although Lucia Kendall came on as a substitute and Anna Moorhouse made her debut in goal, several rising talents barely got minutes—or none at all.
Freya Godfrey didn’t feature, Taylor Hinds played only 15 minutes, and the experienced core stayed on far longer than expected for a low-pressure friendly.
Ian Wright also noted the missed developmental opportunity with the 2027 World Cup cycle approaching.
Looking Ahead: Tougher Challenges Coming
England’s upcoming schedule includes World Cup qualifiers starting in March and a daunting double-header against world champions Spain in 2026.
These friendlies are the exact moment for Wiegman to experiment, but the manager defended her conservative approach.
“We take every game seriously,”
Wiegman said.
“Some players are new, some are fighting for spots. I didn’t think it was the moment to change many more.”
But with Euro celebrations ending soon, the real tests are on the horizon—tests where squad depth, adaptability, and new talent will be crucial.
Mead Shines Again as England Dominate
Despite the lack of competition, several standout performances thrilled the 74,000+ crowd—none more than Beth Mead.
The Arsenal winger, once the face of England’s Euro 2022 triumph, proved she remains indispensable.
Her link-up play with Lucy Bronze and Georgia Stanway created relentless pressure down the right flank, leading to two goals and multiple chances.
Mead reflected on their chemistry:
“We’ve played together for years—our rotations and understanding felt natural,”
Mead said.
Wiegman praised Mead’s continued evolution:
“She’s always been smart, but now she’s more fluid in her positions. She keeps getting better.”
Final Thoughts: Stunning Football, Limited Takeaways
England delivered entertainment, goals, and a celebration worthy of champions.
But from a strategic perspective, Wiegman may look back at the night as a chance missed.
With tougher opponents ahead and a World Cup cycle already in motion, these friendlies could have offered more insight into England’s long-term squad depth.
Still, for the fans at Wembley, it was a night of pure joy—one they will not forget anytime soon.
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