The Chelsea skipper joins Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter, Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier in a stacked area of Sarina Wiegman's squad
For the first time since February last year, the Lionesses have both Leah Williamson and Millie Bright in the same squad again. England's dependable duo in the heart of defence during the European Championship triumph of 2022, the pair can each lay claim to being among the best in their position – and their recent returns to fitness certainly give Sarina Wiegman a thing or two to think about.
That's because the Dutchwoman can also call upon Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter, Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier in her squad for this double-header against France as qualifying for the 2025 Euros continues. That's six centre-backs, even if Wiegman sees Le Tissier more as a right-back, and that's with Arsenal's Player of the Season Lotte Wubben-Moy to come back in after she recovers from a foot problem, plus Esme Morgan, also in the squad, often getting her chances for the Lionesses in the middle of the back four.
Wiegman has enough players in the position to lay the foundation for at least three different starting XIs. So what on earth does she do with them all as the build-up to next summer's tournament continues?
GettyTitle-winning partnership
When England became champions of Europe in 2022, Williamson and Bright were outstanding. They make an excellent pair, Williamson as a wonderful ball-playing centre-back and Bright as a dominant aerial force whose bread and butter defending is among the best in the Women's Super League. The Chelsea star is not bad on the ball herself either, while her team-mate also has a reading of the game that makes her a fantastic defender. They complemented each other well and that was key to the Lionesses' triumph at Wembley.
But Wiegman had a centre-back dilemma at that time, too. In the build-up to the tournament, Williamson had been playing in midfield and Greenwood, another wonderfully technical option, had partnered Bright. It was only at the last minute that everything changed and Greenwood suddenly found herself on the bench. The Manchester City star had been in fine form and so it was a rather cruel change of circumstances because she deserved a bigger role, but one couldn't fault how Bright and Williamson played throughout that tournament.
AdvertisementGettyStepping up
However, due to injuries, those two have only started together twice since the Euros ended almost two years ago – in the 2-0 win in Austria that followed it, in World Cup qualifying, and in a friendly against Belgium in February of last year. In that time, others have come to the fore, namely Greenwood and Carter.
Greenwood and Bright renewed the partnership that was so fruitful before the Euros when Williamson missed two camps at the end of 2023, and Carter then stepped up to perform in the build-up to the 2023 Women's World Cup when Bright was recovering from an injury. Carter was unlucky to drop to the bench when Wiegman made changes to her team in the group stage of that tournament, but a switch to a back three just days later brought her back in and she shone from there, building on that summer by playing a vital role for Chelsea this past season, especially with Bright missing most of it.
GettyPlenty to choose from
And they are not the only ones to have performed well for club and country. Wubben-Moy stepped up for Arsenal while Williamson, and others, were sidelined this past year and she earned some rare opportunities with England as a result, ones she took well. Wiegman also elected to give Turner a first cap in February after some strong form at Manchester United and she continues to appreciate the versatility that Morgan, who is set to join the Washington Spirit this summer after struggling for minutes at Man City, brings to the table. Le Tissier, who scooped up awards at the Red Devils' end of season ceremony, is also in the picture, albeit seemingly as a right-back rather than in the centre-back role she plays for club.
It's always a problem when a team lacks depth in certain areas, but to have so many options can also be a problem, especially in a position like centre-back. To have a plethora of wingers is great because there are different combinations that suit playing against different opposition and you can bring a couple of them on from the bench to make an impact, too. With centre-backs, making substitutions is less likely because you want to build relationships and have stability throughout games. So how does Wiegman make the most out of having this many options?
GettyWho plays?
Perhaps the biggest question is whether the coach will revert back to the partnership of Bright and Williamson. Two years ago, they were her title-winning duo, but a lot has changed in that time and there are a lot of players who have stepped up and proved their worth. That's why the fortunes of Greenwood and Carter in this next year, in the build-up to Euro 2025, are most interesting. The pair have been great for club and country in the last year and to drop one, never mind both, would be harsh.
We could see them change positions, then. Greenwood was a left-back in this team for many years and that is a position England lack options in, with Niamh Charles, a converted forward, first-choice. Charles has pulled out of this squad due to injury and, as such, it could present an opportunity for Wiegman to get Greenwood back out there. It's a position the Man City star has played a few times for England in the Dutchwoman's tenure, due to the options in the heart of defence.
Carter is also versatile, capable of playing on the left or the right, so could have a similar fate. She, too, has played left-back under Wiegman. However, it must be noted that both are certainly at their best in centre-back roles.
