da pixbet： The forward netted just her second goal for the Lionesses since September in Sarina Wiegman's new system. Are we now going to see the best of her?

da dobrowin： When the England team to face China in their final group match of the 2023 Women's World Cup was announced on Tuesday, to say it raised a few eyebrows would be an understatement. The Lionesses have always played 4-3-3 under head coach Sarina Wiegman and the personnel has not changed much, either. But not only did the 11 names on this team sheet contain a few surprises, they also didn’t fit into the system that everyone is so used to seeing England deploy.

For the first time in this job, Wiegman went to three at the back, playing a 3-5-2 system that saw Lucy Bronze and Rachel Daly act as wing-backs, Lauren James operate in the No.10 role and Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp pair up to lead the line. No one saw that coming.

But despite it being a total curveball and never previously executed publicly, it worked to a tee as the Lionesses thrashed the Asian champions 6-1.

The three centre-backs helped bring more defensive solidity after a shaky start, and the double pivot of Georgia Stanway and Katie Zelem – making her first England start and World Cup debut – helped to make up for Keira Walsh’s injury absence.

Going forward, Bronze and Daly got into the box a lot, which particularly suited the strengths of the latter considering she scored 22 goals in 22 league games for Aston Villa this past season. James ran the show, picking up pockets of space and then carving open the China defence in them.

But one of the most significant ways this formation maximised the team was in the impact it had on Russo, who netted just her second goal for her country since September to break the deadlock. Has Wiegman figured out how to get the best out of her starting centre-forward?

GettyUnder pressure

Going into this tournament, there was a lot of pressure on Russo to keep her place in the team.

The 24-year-old’s only goal for her country in the last 10 months came in a comfortable 4-0 win over South Korea in February, while the 10 she scored in the league for Manchester United in the 2022-23 season was fewer than Daly’s 22 and the 12 that Bethany England netted in as many games after joining Spurs in January.

After being a really impactful sub during the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph, would it make more sense to return Russo to the bench and start Daly, Wiegman’s most in-form option? Or would the coach keep the faith? Whatever her choice, would it pay off?

Russo did indeed keep her place, starting the 1-0 wins over Haiti and Denmark, but she didn’t star. Her tendency to roam and get involved in the build-up play meant she wasn’t always in the position needed for crosses or defence-splitting passes, and when she did get on the end of chances, she wasn’t clinical.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMaximising her qualities

But it was a different story against China. With Hemp beside her, Russo thrived.

The forward, who signed for Arsenal before the tournament, was able to roam from her position and get involved in the build-up without it being detrimental to her team when they were looking for the final pass, as Hemp was able to occupy those positions in the box – as were Bronze and Daly from their wing-back roles.

Russo was also able to then get into the box in her own time and pick up spaces without being tracked by defenders, allowing her to get on the end of second balls. That’s exactly what her goal came from. It was her first for her country since February and only her second since September.

“I liked it,” Russo told reporters after the game, asked about the new system. “You have closer connections to players which is nice because you have LJ [Lauren James] under you and Hempo right by your side.

“I'll do whatever for the team, doing what's needed. If that's making a channel run then when you play as a two you can make that run because you've got another striker in the box. If that's needed, I'm happy to do it.”

Getty ImagesLoading the attack

But Russo wasn’t the only player who thrived in this system, either. Lauren James ran the show, Hemp looked as good as she has in an England shirt all year and Daly was able to get into the box and cause problems, too.

With both Daly and Russo on the pitch, it also means that Beth England is on the bench and able to come on and make an impact as a sub if needed.

It means England’s attack is suddenly much more dangerous, with several attacking players able to thrive and score goals. We certainly saw that in the 6-1 result.

“Everyone really believed in [the formation] straight away and you could see that on the pitch,” Wiegman said after the game. “They were really excited about it. We want to use the qualities of the squad as optimal as possible. The team showed they were really adaptable.”

Getty ImagesNo doubt about quality

Despite not being so prolific in the past year, there is no doubt that Russo is a brilliant player. There's a reason why Arsenal attempted to make her the most expensive player in the women's game earlier this year, after all.

She’s an intelligent forward who links up well with team-mates as a result, reading play and boasting a great footballing brain. Technically, she’s fantastic and the experience she picked up while playing in the college system in the U.S., where the women’s game is much more physical and transitional, is an asset, too. She’s quick, she’s strong and she can play in different ways. It’s just been about unlocking her potential as a starter for England.

After starring as a super sub at the Euros last summer, Russo moved into the line-up as the No.9 following Ellen White’s retirement. She got off to a flying start, scoring in both of the Lionesses’ games in September, but things became a little stale after that.

This new system, though, has given her a new look – more support up front and alleviated some of the pressure on her to be the focal point.