07:27 PM
Sarina Weigmann speaks to ITV…
On starting Alessia Russo…
“I think Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo are both very good so they are competing for the position. Of course we all know Alessia is an incredibly talented player so we wanted to see that today. The competition in the team is very high and that is good for us.”
On her strongest XI…
“We don’t have to know our best 11 yet. We want to try out a couple of things this week, see lots of players and see their connection and manage loads. Of course we are going to play to win this game but we don’t have to decide the starting line-up for July yet.”
On the form of Lauren James…
“You can tell Lauren James is in good form and enjoying herself. She is a very talented player and has been for years. Now she is fit she gets some consistency at Chelsea and that does her good and does us good as well.”
On the aim tonight…
“Of course we want to retain this cup and that is how we approach this and every game, to win it. Of course when there is a cup to win we want to win it.”
07:22 PM
How they line up
ENGLAND XI TO FACE BELGIUM: Earps, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Greenwood, Walsh, Stanway, Toone, James, Kelly, Russo.
There are nine changes from the side who beat Italy in their last game. Alessia Russo is preferred to two-goal hero Rachel Daly. The only two players to keep their places are midfielder Keira Walsh and defender Alex Greenwood.
BELGIUM XI TO FACE ENGLAND: Evrard, Cayman, De Caigny, Biesmans, Vangheluwe, Vanhaevermaet, Missipo, Detruyer, Wijnants, Wullaert, Janssens.
Former Man City striker Tessa Wullaert starts for Belgium. She, along with Rachel Daly, heads the goalscoring charts for the tournament.
07:19 PM
England seek to extend unbeaten run
By Tom Ward
England and Belgium lock horns at Ashton Gate this evening with the Arnold Clark Cup on the line.
England, who sit atop the standings, are defending champions and know that a draw will be good enough for them to defend their title. For the Belgians, it’s a win that’s required.
The Lionesses took their unbeaten run under Sarina Weigman to 28 games on Sunday after a much-changed starting XI defeated Italy 2-0.
Two goals from Rachel Daly were enough for Weigman’s side, who blasted South Korea 4-0 in the opening match of the tournament.
With a World Cup later this year now firmly on the horizon, England will be keen to maintain their winning habit, starting with securing a third straight Arnold Clark Cup victory.
Belgium will feel both buoyed and immensely frustrated by their performance in the tournament so far.
On the one hand, they have exhibited the quality in their squad with wins over both Italy and South Korea. On the other, they will surely be kicking themselves that they failed to qualify for the World Cup.
They sit level on points with the Lionesses but an inferior goal difference means this evening is a win-at-all-costs clash for the Belgians.
Weigman is expected to revert to a more familiar line-up this evening, with superstar Alessia Russo likely to start up front with Kiera Walsh expected to retain her place after missing the opening game against South Korea.
As for Belgium, head coach Ives Serneels will surely get Hoffenheim’s Tine De Caigny back into the starting XI after she popped up with the winning goal against South Korea on Sunday.
Striker Tessa Wullaert is also set to start and stretched her goalscoring run to five goals in her last six matches for her country after netting in both of their games in this tournament.
Source
mypresscity
