da aviator aposta： Whether due to injuries or competition in certain areas, there are some big decisions to be made regarding the European champions' line-up…

da bet7： England will take on Portugal on Saturday in their 2023 Women’s World Cup send-off friendly, which acts as an alarm for just how close the tournament is now. Twelve months ago, when the Lionesses took on Switzerland in their last match before the 2022 Women’s European Championship, it felt like the starting line-up was quite easy to predict. This time around, things are different.

Some of that is because of injuries to key players, with Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby all key members of the XI from last summer that will not be heading to Australia. Another reason, though is the emergence of a lot of young talent that has made certain areas of the team more competitive than ever.

Sarina Wiegman has had a few months since the Lionesses’ last games, in April, to think about her line-up for that opening World Cup game versus Haiti, and this weekend’s fixture will be the most telling look yet that those outside of the England camp will get at her plans.

So, what are the big selection dilemmas the coach has had to ponder? GOAL takes a look…

GettyReplacing Leah Williamson

One of the most interesting areas of Wiegman’s XI on Saturday will be in the heart of defence. Not only does she need to replace Leah Williamson, her captain, in there after an ACL injury in April, but also Millie Bright. The Chelsea star is in the World Cup squad but will not be fit for this fixture as she continues to rehab after knee surgery. It means there will be another opportunity handed out to someone at centre-back in Milton Keynes, then.

It’s largely expected that Alex Greenwood will partner with Bright for the World Cup. The duo had an excellent partnership in the build-up to last summer’s Euros until Williamson was moved back from midfield to play alongside Bright as the tournament neared. There’s clear confidence within the camp that the two can pick up that strong link again this summer.

But should Bright, set to skipper England in Australia in Williamson’s absence, not be fit enough to start the World Cup campaign, who would step in for her? It’s not clear what the pecking order looks like beyond Bright and Greenwood, but it’s likely a few hints will be given by Saturday’s team selection.

AdvertisementGettyThe left-back problem

The biggest head-scratcher for Wiegman across her entire tenure as England boss has concerned the left-back spot. There’s a real lack of options in this position in the Lionesses’ player pool.

It looked like she had cracked it in February. Greenwood used to play on the left side of defence in years gone by, and Wiegman started her in the role again for two of England’s Arnold Clark Cup matches. However, the injury to Williamson means the Manchester City defender is now needed centrally instead, reopening the dilemma.

Rachel Daly played at left-back during the Euros campaign, but she has just scored 22 goals in 22 league games for Aston Villa as a striker, earning her more opportunities up top for her country as a result.

Jess Carter, Niamh Charles and Esme Morgan are all versatile players who can assume the role, with Charles operating in it a lot for Chelsea this past season, while Carter was Wiegman’s choice there for both of England’s games in April.

Despite openly talking about how difficult it is to play in the position for England because it's not one she plays often for club, it does look like Carter will be Wiegman’s choice at left-back. Saturday will give the biggest indicator yet of whether that will indeed be the case.

Getty ImagesLauren James' role

One of the most competitive areas of England’s team is out wide. On the right, it feels like Lauren James and Chloe Kelly are competing for a starting berth, with Katie Robinson, the 20-year-old Brighton forward, likely to assume a super-sub role.

Kelly was tasked with the latter at the Euros last summer, and she would emerge as the hero in the final, scoring the extra-time winner at Wembley as England defeated Germany to lift the title. A year on, with Mead’s absence factored in, she’s edged more and more towards a starting role. She goes into the World Cup with momentum, too, having ended the season in flying form.

James, meanwhile, started her second season with Chelsea with a bang, hardly putting a foot wrong after spending her first campaign at the club getting on top of niggling injuries. It was form she also took into the international windows, making a strong case to be a starter with her performances in November and February, in particular.

However, her minutes were managed a little more as the season came to its end. Whether for tactical reasons or just to ensure she didn’t pick up any injuries after a much more demanding season, the 21-year-old was on the bench for both legs of Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, for example.

While extremely talented, it was a reminder that James is still new to the highest level. She’s still only got 10 caps for her country and only made her debut last September. It will be interesting, then, to see whether she becomes another option off the bench this summer. She’ll certainly be a dangerous one if so.

GettyWill Alessia Russo keep the No.9 shirt?

Without a doubt the biggest question surrounding Wiegman’s first choice XI regards the centre-forward role. Having been an impact player at the Euros, scoring four goals in six appearances from the bench, Alessia Russo has been the main striker for England since Ellen White’s retirement last summer.

However, that position has been under threat in recent months. While Russo ended the WSL season with 10 goals to her name, Daly scored an incredible 22 in 22 outings, earning herself a shot as the Lionesses’ No.9 in the November and February camps as a result – scoring on both occasions.

There has also been recent competition from Beth England, who scored 12 goals in 12 games after joining Tottenham in January. That form allowed her to sneak into the World Cup squad at the last moment, having not been called up since September.

Can Wiegman possibly overlook Daly in her form? Or will she stick with Russo?