"When England welcome China to a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the sixth meeting between two nations who have been on different trajectories in recent years. The marketing has focused on the clash of continental champions England as the holders of the European Championship and China as the winners of the 2022 Asian Cup but there has since been a change in fortunes between the two. The widening gap was evident the last time they met, at the 2023 Women's World Cup, when England put six past the Steel Roses to progress to the last 16."
"It caught the eye not only because of the score but because of a bold tactical change from Sarina Wiegman a switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 to deal with the absence of Keira Walsh. It kicked the Lionesses' campaign into life and they made the final, while China exited, registering their worst finish at the tournament. Much has changed since that day in Adelaide for both."
England host China at Wembley in a sixth meeting between teams on divergent trajectories. Marketing frames the match as continental champions: England European holders, China 2022 Asian Cup winners. England defeated China 6-0 at the 2023 World Cup after a tactical shift to 3-5-2 to cover Keira Walsh's absence, a move that propelled England to the final while China suffered their worst World Cup exit. England reverted to a 4-3-3 and won a second consecutive European title. Keira Walsh is central to England's system, will captain in Leah Williamson's absence, and leads through play and consistency.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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