How England should line up for crucial Euro 2025 clash vs Netherlands: Beth Mead must be sacrificed to facilitate Lionesses' formation change

The 2022 winners would be the first holders in European Championship history to crash out in the group stage if they lose to the Dutch on Wednesday

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• Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the past
• Features classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

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• Inspired by retro sportswear and Lioness kits of the past
• Features classic English colours in a modern and energetic execution
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

From

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• Celebrates the squad's impact on future generations of female athletes
• Features bursts of bright colours accenting a fearless black
• Available in S, M, L, XL and 2XL

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England have it all to do at the European Championship after suffering a shocking defeat to France in their opening game. The Lionesses were lucky to only lose 2-1 to Les Bleues, having been incredibly poor defensively throughout the game, and now they need to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday in order to keep their destiny in their own hands. A draw would see Sarina Wiegman's side avoid elimination for now, though it would leave them relying on a result to go their way when France meet the Dutch on matchday three.

So, how should Sarina Wiegman approach this crucial meeting with her home country? The England boss must be thinking a lot about what to do in the left-back position in particular, as that continues to be a serious weakness in her XI. The Lionesses do not have any natural options to play the role, with centre-back Jess Carter exposed badly by an in-form Delphine Cascarino on Saturday.

That's not the only decision Wiegman will be pondering, though, as GOAL takes a look at how the European champions line up in Zurich…

• Getty Images
  

  GK: Hannah Hampton

  Whatever changes Wiegman makes, there will not be one in between the sticks. Hampton remains England's only capped goalkeeper and she did little wrong on Saturday to shake the faith in her.

  Yes, there was a heart-in-mouth moment when the Chelsea shot-stopper spilled an effort from Grace Geyoro and it nearly trickled in, but she was otherwise blameless in a poor team performance.

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• AFP
  

  CB: Jess Carter

  Despite the formation helping England to reach the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Wiegman has only deployed her team in a 3-5-2 set-up once since September of that year, in a friendly against Switzerland at the end of 2024. It was a very experimental line-up that night in Sheffield, with debuts handed out to Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown, but it still felt significant that Wiegman chose to change to a shape she seemed to have completely discarded as an option.

  Given what England endured on Saturday, could Wiegman be tempted to bring that system back? For several reasons, it would certainly make sense to throw in such a curveball, though one of the biggest is because it would improve the situation at left-back. Carter has been playing well there in recent games, but was exposed dramatically on Saturday, and she's much better in her natural centre-back role. Her performances at the World Cup showed how much the back three suits her, too.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  CB: Leah Williamson

  As one of the best ball-playing defenders in this England team, Williamson would make sense as the central figure in a back three.

  It does stop the captain from being able to drive out and break lines with her passes as she is so good at, which is perhaps a reason to argue for her to play on the right instead, but she has ability to adapt and still be influential in possession here, while also being a reliable last line of defence.

• AFP
  

  CB: Alex Greenwood

  Like Carter, Greenwood thrived in a back three at the World Cup two years ago, and can do so again if Wiegman switches to that shape in Switzerland.

  She'd be able to step forward more to influence the attack with her excellent passing and even get up the pitch to support the wing-back regularly, something she's particularly good at given her history as an orthodox full-back.