Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
England Women team news: Predicted 4-2-3-1 line up vs Sweden – Phil Neville rings changes
PHIL NEVILLE could be tempted to heavily rotate his starting XI when England Women face Sweden in the World Cup third-place play-off this afternoon (4pm).
England fell agonisingly short of booking their spot in the World Cup final, losing 2-1 to the USA on Tuesday.
Christen Press opened the scoring for the US in Lyon but Ellen White equalised with a tidy finish after Beth Mead’s through-ball.
Alex Morgan restored the defending champions’ advantage while White had another strike ruled out for offside before captain Steph Houghton missed a late penalty and Millie Bright was sent off for a reckless lunge.
Next up for the Lionesses is a third-place play-off against Sweden, and manager Neville could heavily rotate his squad in order to provide fringe players with vital World Cup experience.
Speaking after the defeat, the England boss said: “No words can make the players feel better but the way they played filled me with pride and joy.
“I wanted to see smiles not tears. But we now have to produce a performance in Nice – I’ve moved on already and I’m already looking forward to Saturday’s game.
“Losing tonight is football, it’s sport, we’ll pick ourselves up, go again and win the bronze medal. My players won’t let me down because they never have done.”
Neville himself has spoken of his pain at being omitted from World Cup squads and could use today’s match as an opportunity to give his fringe players a taste of the action.
Reserve goalkeeper Mary Earps will hope to get the nod between the posts in place of Carly Telford, particularly with Karen Bardsley ruled out of the US match due to injury.
The versatile Rachel Daly may fill-in at right-back if Lucy Bronze is moved further forward into a holding midfield role while Leah Williamson or Abbie McManus are most likely to line-up alongside Houghton in central defence.
Alex Greenwood should come in for Demi Stokes at left-back while Kiera Walsh may be rested in favour of Jade Moore in front of the back four.
Jill Scott may also start on the bench, having hinted that today could be her final World Cup appearance after racking up her record 20th outing on Tuesday.
Fran Kirby was dropped last time out but should return if Nikita Parris makes way while Lucy Staniforth and Georgia Stanway will both hope to get some game time under their belts.
Toni Duggan and Beth Mead would be the unlucky players to miss out while Karen Carney is set to make her final England appearance after announcing she will retire after the World Cup.
Ellen White will start in attack as she continues to challenge for the Golden Boot, with the Manchester City striker currently one goal behind leader Morgan in the standings.
Jodie Taylor will have to once again be content with a spot on the bench, although Neville is sure to freshen things up as England bring their World Cup campaign to a close.
England Women predicted line-up vs Sweden – World Cup third-place play-off
(4-2-3-1): Earps; Daly; Houghton, Williamson, Greenwood; Bronze, Moore; Staniforth, Kirby, Stanway; White