UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
The 2022 European champions England are yet to impress during the group stage. Still, their rock-solid backline and excellent goalkeeper saw them stumbling to consecutive 1-0 wins. Despite, the maximum points the Lionesses are still not qualified and they must avoid defeat in their last match. Many of the English players still remember the group stage meeting vs China during the 2015 World Cup when the Asians won 2-1. Now let’s look at our predictions for England women vs China lineups.
The game is scheduled for Tuesday, August 01st. It will be played at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, Australia. The kick-off time is 11:00 am GMT.
England predicted lineup: Keeping clean sheets becomes a habit?
England boss Sarina Wiegman wasn’t very happy with the team’s display yet again against Denmark. She said: “We can’t keep riding our luck. We must be much more assertive when in control.”
England edged Denmark 1-0 thanks to the wonder goal from James on her first-ever World Cup start. The Lionesses didn’t create much after scoring and late on needed the help of the woodwork and some vital saves from their busy goalie Earps to claim the win. England also lost another key player through injury in that match.
On all their struggles to create chances, the Lionesses had been very solid defensively. All of their last 6 international wins have been accompanied by clean sheets too.
The atmosphere in the Lionesses den, for this tournament this is the 4-star Crowne Plaza Hotel on the Gold Coast, remains positive despite the injury troubles:
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 24, 2023
Team news
The team’s main ball handler and key playmaker Keira Walsh was taken off injured during the last match and she is now unavailable.
The Barcelona midfielder has been crucial for the stability of the entire team and now Laura Coombs will have some big shoes to fill. Considering, that England’s 2 other main inner midfielders sustained serious injuries before the tournament and are not in Australia the Lionesses are starting to look very thin in this area.
James should start again as part of the front 3. Bronze will also start at left-back and she will be pumped up for this match as despite her goal in 2015 England lost vs China.
England Predicted Lineups (4-3-3):
Earps – Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Daly – Coombs, Stanway, Toone – Kelly, James, Russo
China predicted lineup: Can Shuang Wang do it again?
China showed great character and determination in their second game of the group. The last-gasp 0-1 loss vs Denmark left the Chinese in need of a win vs Haiti. They got down to ten men though. Despite that, a late penalty converted by veteran Shuang Wang saw China winning 1-0.
So far, the Chinese have been very solid defensively in both games they played. The main issues were going forward with their only goal in these 2 games scored from the penalty spot. Shuang Wang will be pumped up now though and she’s a dangerous beast against the Lionesses. Wang scored both goals during China’s 2-1 win vs England in the 2015 World Cup.
Team news
The suspended Zhang Rui opens a place for Zhang Xin in the middle of the park. After her winning goal vs Haiti, Shuang Wang could start up front too. She’s the one the English defenders would want to keep a close eye on after what happened back in 2015.
China Predicted Lineups (4-2-3-1):
Yu – Mengwen, Shanshan, Wei, Qiaozhu – Lingwei, Lina – Chengshu, Xi, Linyan – Wang
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
