MY ACCOUNT
England are searching for a striker to lead the line at the Women’s World Cup this summer.
The Lionesses’ all-time top goalscorer Ellen White hung up her boots after the Euro 2022 triumph, having scored 52 goals in 113 appearances.
That created a vacancy for a centre forward, with Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly now the main candidates to spearhead Sarina Wiegman’s attack in Australia and New Zealand.
Ahead of England’s Finalissima clash with South American champions Brazil at Wembley tonight, we take a look at Wiegman’s options.
Alessia Russo
After her performances at Euro 2022, Russo seemed to be the obvious heir apparent to White.
The Manchester United striker came on as a sub in all six matches at the European Championship and scored four goals, including a spectacular back-heel in the semi-finals against Sweden.
That strike was named goal of the tournament by UEFA and nominated for the 2022 FIFA Puskas Award. It very much looked like England had the perfect replacement when White retired in August 2022.
Sure enough, Russo led the line in the first game after the Euros, scoring in a 2-0 victory against Austria.
Yet since then she has only scored twice, grabbing one of the 10 goals against Luxembourg and then netting in the recent Arnold Clark Cup victory against South Korea.
The 24-year-old has scored eight goals in 15 Women’s Super League appearances for table-topping United this season — but that figure has been dwarfed by the goalscoring exploits of an England colleague.
Rachel Daly
Daly started every game for England at Euro 2022 as the left-back in Wiegman’s victorious team.
The versatile player made her name as a striker for Houston Dash in the NWSL but England recognition in that position was hard to come by, with White blocking her path.
It was at full-back that chances came as Phil Neville gave Daly games as understudy to Lucy Bronze before Wiegman utilised her attacking talents on the left last summer.
In August, the 31-year-old signed for Aston Villa. The Midlands club have used her exclusively as a striker and she has proven exactly what she can do in the position, notching 13 league strikes at a rate of one every 116 minutes.
Only Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw has scored more and Daly is finally getting the opportunities as an international striker that her talent deserves.
She has scored five goals for England since Euro 2022, including a brace in February’s 2-1 win over Italy. It is hard to argue with the fact Daly is the most in-form striker available to Wiegman.
Other options
Barring injury, it seems certain that Russo and Daly will be in England’s World Cup squad. If another striker is needed, there are some quality options.
Lauren Hemp was used in that position in last October’s friendlies against USA and Czech Republic. Normally a wide forward, she scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win against the Americans.
Tottenham striker Beth England was last selected for September’s World Cup qualifiers, scoring twice against Luxembourg. She has 11 international goals from 21 games and has been on target regularly for Spurs.
Ebony Salmon replaced Daly late on in the Italy game but the Houston Dash forward has not made the current squad.
As good as the back-ups are, a straight battle between Russo and Daly seems likely, with the former representing England’s future and the latter being the in-form choice.
