Rachel Yankey column: Lionesses' teamwork can help tame Spain

I’m finding it hard to pick out individuals to praise from England’s impressive Women’s Euro 2022 group campaign because it’s been a real squad effort so far. 

Sarina Wiegman has started with the same XI in all three games but if she did want to switch it up, those ‘back-up’ players wouldn’t let her down.

The Dutchwoman has always made substitutions in the second half and the performance level has always stayed strong. So that’s a real positive.

Just look at Alessia Russo’s impact off the bench. The two headers in each game are fantastic but the touch and finish for her second against Northern Ireland, anyone would be proud of that. It was a great goal.

She is a confident player who can come on and be a supersub. It really shows our strength in depth.

I would still start with Ellen White against Spain but it’s a team game and England have really good starters and finishers.

You could quite easily play Russo over White and she would do a fantastic job. Equally, I know Beth England hasn’t played a minute yet but she could quite easily come into this team.

She’s really suited to our style of play with the way that the wingers get crosses in. I hope she gets an opportunity to get on the pitch and prove how good she is.

Tests to come

The only worry for me at the moment is the fact that England haven’t really been tested at the back. 

Northern Ireland have probably done that the most and certainly had some opportunities. They broke away and found gaps in England’s defence.

Against Spain, who are a team who love to play in between those gaps in defence and midfield, England need to make sure they are totally switched on — not that they haven’t been so far!

Spain are a bit like England in that they’ve got strength in depth. Whoever they have on the field, they are going to do a similar job and play a similar way. 

I watched them against Denmark and they always have a lot of the ball and create opportunities.

A lot like I said about England after their first game against Austria though, I think Spain have lacked that clinical edge so far. I don’t think they are the biggest threat in front of goal.

It’s probably mainly due to the fact Jennifer Hermoso isn’t there. She’s a fantastic goalscorer. Alexia Putellas is also out and I think it has hurt the way Spain play.

If England are on their A-game, they can keep another clean sheet.

Let's start fast

I'd love to see England start off on the front foot against Spain. Against Norway, while it was an amazing result and performance eventually, they took a bit of time to get going and it was quite cagey.

Sometimes in games it takes an individual player to change a team’s momentum and how the game is going and I thought the one who did that was Georgia Stanway.

She really took hold of the contest and was making driving runs at Norway’s backline. She was breaking into gaps in their midfield and picking up the ball.

She just looked so up for it. She lifted everyone else and got them in the mood to take the game to Norway.

If they start in that manner from the off against Spain, I’d be quite confident that our forward line can get some joy up against their defence.

England seem a lot stronger when they are free-flowing and forcing the issue.

I think they are quite well drilled in their understanding of each other’s roles, so hopefully they will deal with the threat from Spain’s quick, clever play and movement. 

They are looking strong and in confident mood, so why not take the game to Spain?

The need for Mead

Throughout every single game, Beth Mead’s performances have been top notch. She really has continued the fine form she’s been in for Arsenal. She looks confident.

I was worried in the Northern Ireland game that she was getting quite a few knocks early on. People were going in with some high challenges on her. 

But she rode those challenges and she’s really looking good. Once you’re in a place where you’re confident then it’s great for the whole team.

I know people will talk about her and the Golden Boot, but I hope that doesn’t become a pressure which weighs her down and she just keeps playing the way she has been. 

I'm not surprised she is a contender for the award because she’s a great finisher. But whatever her mindset was going into the tournament, I hope that doesn’t change because it’s been refreshing to see so far.

Sometimes you can get distracted when people talk about breaking records and awards and it can put too much pressure on a player's shoulders.

I just want to see her play and keep performing because she looks like she’s having fun out there, which can only be a positive for England!

Rachel Yankey was speaking to Cian Cheesbrough