'We are building nicely' - reaction as England beat Wales to reach Euro 2025 quarter-finals

What are the key decisions for Wiegman ahead of Sweden? England 6-1 Wales

Emma Sanders

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There is plenty for Wiegman to think about going into the quarter-finals.

She was criticised for her set-up in the opening defeat, when Lauren James started in the number 10 role and England's midfield was carved apart.

Jess Carter was heavily tested at left-back and Stanway struggled to have an impact on the ball in midfield.

But she reacted and got it spot on against the Dutch, moving James out wide, bringing Toone into the starting XI and swapping Alex Greenwood and Carter's positions in the back four.

It was so successful that she named the same starting XI against Wales.

Asked what the key to England's midfield evolution was, Kiera Walsh said: "I think massive credit to Ella Toone. She's come in and done an incredible job.

"People speak about her offensively, but the defensive work she does for me and Georgia [Stanway] when she's in there is incredible.

"She covers a lot of spaces that we can't. That's probably been the main thing that's stopped other teams from playing as well."

Whether Wiegman sticks or twists again is yet to be seen but clearly she has found a winning formula, and she is a manager who likes continuity, having won Euro 2022 with the same starting line-up for all six matches.

She has also learned about her squad depth with Aggie Beever-Jones coming off the bench to score against Wales, while teenager Michelle Agyemang had a presence in her short cameo against France.

Click here to read article