Lionesses Face Potential Shift in Squad Dynamics as Friendlies Approach
England’s Lionesses are preparing for a series of friendlies against Brazil, presenting head coach Sarina Wiegman with an possibility to assess emerging talent and potentially reshape the squad following their recent Euro 2025 campaign. A key change sees Chelsea defender Millie Radiant having withdrawn from selection, citing a need to focus on her mental and physical well-being, despite consistently starting for Chelsea in the WSL this season.
the upcoming friendlies offer a chance for Wiegman to experiment with her lineup,particularly with Bright unavailable. This could pave the way for a first senior call-up for Arsenal’s 19-year-old defender Katie Reid, who has impressed this season, displacing Lotte Wubben-Moy in the Arsenal starting eleven. Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier is also in contention for a role at center-back, despite previously being favored at full-back by Wiegman.
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed close collaboration with Wiegman, stating, “We have a lot of conversations with sarina and she knows exactly where my players are at. We always make decisions together on the England players.”
Further up the pitch, Wiegman faces decisions regarding her attacking options.Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones, with four goals in six games, could challenge Arsenal’s Russo for a starting position, while teenage sensation Agyemang, who made a notable impact at euro 2025, is also in the mix.
Brighton manager Dario Vidosic, currently working with Agyemang on loan from Arsenal, emphasized the importance of managing expectations for the young player: “She’s currently leading the line for us and there’s an expectation to score goals…It’s a lot for a young player to take on but we’re just trying to get her to focus on her football…It shouldn’t be a burden [to play for your contry] and definitely not for a 19-year-old.”
With all four of England’s remaining matches in 2025 being friendlies against Brazil – currently ranked within FIFA’s top 10 – Wiegman has a valuable window to integrate new players and build experience ahead of future competitions.
