Sarina Wiegman will be without defensive duo Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood for England’s clash with Japan on Friday evening.
The Lionesses meet the 2011 World Champions in Murcia, Spain, in the first of an international double-header before taking on Norway on Tuesday. The FA confirmed that Greenwood sustained a minor injury in Manchester City ’s win at Reading and won’t be available against Japan.
Bronze meanwhile has tested positive for Covid-19 and although she will remain in Spain, the Barcelona defender will only return to the squad when she returns a negative result. It means Wiegman will have to name a fresh-looking defence as part of her team, with usual captain and centre-half Leah Williamson already absent.
With Bronze and Greenwood now joining her on the injury list, it is likely at least one of Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles or Maya Le Tissier will be given an opportunity to impress the England boss.
“It gives other players the opportunity to play and be part of the team”, said Wiegman. “And, for us, an opportunity to see where they’re at and how they compete with the players that have been in the team for a long time.
“Some players are knocking on the door.
“It gives us lots of information, these two games - where players are at, players who haven't played that much yet or haven't been with the squad, which is good ahead of the World Cup.”
Japan did beat England back at the 2015 World Cup. But the Lionesses are currently on a 24-game unbeaten run under Wiegman - extended after beating world champions the United States at Wembley and drawing with the Czech Republic in October.
But midfielder Georgia Stanway is expecting a tough challenge against the 2018 Asian Cup winners. Stanway, who will be up against Bayern Munich teammate Saki Kumagai, feels the game could follow a similar pattern to the Lionesses’ Euros quarter-final with Spain.
“Japan are technically unbelievable," she said. “They're almost like Spain in the way they pop the ball around, and they way they move it.
“Potentially, we might have the upper hand physically. It's going to be a very exciting game - another tough opposition.”
Predicted England XI to face Japan (4-2-3-1) ; Earps, Morgan, Bright, Wubben-Moy, Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Kelly, Mead, James, Russo.
