How do Lionesses solve full-back succession problem?

"You've probably been thinking 'hey, what's this full-back problem?' And that's the same as we have been thinking a little bit over time. It's not something that is new to us. When I stepped into [my under-19s head coach] role, the conversation was happening about how we could maybe think differently or look differently for players in the pathway. That work has been going on a long time. You are starting to see the fruits of it."

"I can fill in in different positions and I think that's something that over my career has allowed me to get a lot more minutes than I might now have otherwise done if I was just rigid in one position."

England's Lionesses confront a significant full-back shortage ahead of the Women's World Cup. Right-back Lucy Bronze, at 34 years old, has been the team's primary starter for nearly a decade, but her age raises questions about longevity. The left-back position presents even greater uncertainty, with multiple centre-backs rotating through the role and striker Rachel Daly previously filling it during England's 2022 European Championship victory. The Football Association has recognized this challenge and developed a succession plan spanning over 18 months. Manager Sarina Wiegman has experimented with different players in recent friendlies, testing Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan as potential replacements. Morgan's versatility across multiple defensive positions offers additional tactical flexibility for the team.

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