With the 2022 Euros over, players have returned to their clubs ahead of a new season starting next month for most European leagues, and the bigger focus shifts to the World Cup next year, which will be staged in Australia and New Zealand.
In the last World Cup, seven of the eight quarterfinalists were from Europe — the lone exception being the ultimate winner, the U.S. women’s national team — and as such, this summer’s Euros gave us the best-possible sneak peek at who might be contenders next summer.
England, the new European champs, are obvious favourites, but even they have questions ahead of the 2023 World Cup — questions that the upcoming Women’s Super League season may not be able to answer. So, with that, ESPN writers Tom Hamilton, Sophie Lawson and Julien Laurens take a closer look at the top performers at the 2022 Euros and assess what they each need to address before the World Cup.
England: Navigate a looming generational shift
A mischievous banner in Wembley after England clinched the 2022 Euro trophy read, “Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch Magician. Fancy the FIFA 2022 World Cup?”
While Wiegman will be a keen spectator when the English men look to end their wait for a major trophy later this year, moments after the final whistle for the Women’s Euro you can imagine amidst the celebrations the brilliant Dutch manager would already be thinking about the future and the global gathering next year. Wiegman was asked post-match about whether she was confident England would build on their euros triumph and go again next year, but her answer was typically pragmatic.
“It’s not easy to win this tournament and this is the same in the World Cup,” she said. First up for Wiegman is a camper van holiday, but then comes planning for next year. The England team she’ll take to Australia and New Zealand will be different. You feel some of the veterans of the team…
Source : espn
