In the end, it was impossible for Sarina Wiegman to overlook Beth England.
The Tottenham striker was named in the Lionesses’ World Cup squad on Wednesday after finishing the season with 12 goals in as many games.
It is the first time since September that England has been called up and she is one of three central strikers in Wiegman’s squad, alongside Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly.
Russo is expected to lead the line in the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, but players off the bench will have a key role. That was a major part of the Lionesses’ march to Euro 2022 glory last summer, where seven of their 22 goals were scored by substitutes.
Players such as Chloe Kelly, Ella Toone and Russo have developed into starters, leaving a void for others to become super subs for Wiegman.
England has the potential to be a potent weapon off the bench and Wiegman should be praised for her selection.
The Lionesses’ head coach could have easily picked another defender, but instead she left Maya Le Tissier on standby and called up England as an extra attacker.
It feels the correct call for tournament football. An extra defender is unlikely to win you a game, but a striker off the bench could make the difference.
Wiegman confessed she could not ignore England, given the way she finished the season.
The 28-year-old has been the most in-form striker in the Women’s Super League, almost single-handedly keeping Spurs up. She scored 12 of their 31 goals this season, despite only joining at the start of the year.
If it was a bold call by Wiegman to pick England, it was equally so of the striker to leave Chelsea in January.
England had been there since 2016, winning four WSL titles, but had slipped behind Sam Kerr in the pecking order. Hungry for minutes on the pitch, England pushed for a move and joined Spurs for a British record fee of £250,000. In doing so, she swapped the top of the League for the bottom, but if anything that only makes her form more impressive.
England was part of the squad who won Euro 2022, but did not play a minute. It should be a different story Down Under, where the Lionesses open their campaign against Haiti on July 22.
