How England Can Still Survive the Group of Death at the Women’s Euros

Let’s jump straight into the math and strategy of England’s Women’s Euro 2025 campaign—and how they can realistically still qualify from what’s become the Group of Death.

The Situation:

France looks dominant and is likely to win all their group games, making it near impossible for England to finish first. Wales beating France? That would be lovely, but highly unlikely. England’s route to the quarter-finals lies in goal difference and clean execution.

What England Needs to Do:

1. Beat the Dutch—and Not Narrowly
   • England must beat the Netherlands with a solid goal margin. A 1–0 won't cut it.
   • Why? Because if France beat Wales as expected, there will be a goal difference race for second place.
2. Then Beat Wales Decisively
   • Assuming France beat the Dutch, England must follow up with a dominant win over Wales.
   • This scenario puts England into second—just enough to escape the group.

Tactical Fixes England Must Make:

🛡 Defensive Concentration & Structure

• England’s backline switched off too often. France exposed huge gaps.
• Fix: Improve communication, awareness during transitions, and cover second balls better.

🌀 Responding to High Press

• England played themselves into trouble by inviting France’s press.
• Fix: Mix up the tempo. Go long when necessary. Don’t play short into danger.

💡 Final Third Creativity

• Outside of Lauren James, England lacked attacking imagination.
• Fix: Push full-backs higher. Support attackers with overlapping runs and aggressive midfield surges.

🧠 Mental Resilience

• The disallowed Russo goal crushed momentum. England didn’t recover.
• Fix: Build stronger leadership on the pitch. Adapt mid-game. Channel setbacks into motivation.

🏃‍♀️ Midfield Control & Ball Recovery

• France recovered 47 balls—England only managed about 30.
• Fix: Add physicality in midfield. Keira Walsh needs pressing help and second-ball support.

🔁 Substitution Strategy

• Wiegman’s changes worked, but they came too late.
• Fix: Be proactive. Agyemang, Kelly, Clinton—even Beever-Jones—could change games earlier if trusted with time.

What Sarina Wiegman Must Do:

She knows this Dutch side inside-out. This is where her intel matters. England may even benefit from Lotte Wubben-Moy’s fluency in Dutch—to help guide in-game tactical adjustments.

Remember: It’s Been Done Before

Spain lost a World Cup group stage game last year... and won the tournament. A setback doesn’t mean the end—it’s how you respond.

Final Word:

For fans at the England-Wales match, expect a double-screen experience: one eye on the pitch, the other on France vs Netherlands. The Lionesses need belief, ruthless execution, and smarter game management.

They’ve still got a shot. But it’s narrow. And the margin for error is zero.