\n<\/p>\n
It was a new-look England as Wiegman is managing the return of several key players from injury, while rewarding those in form.<\/p>\n
Manchester City’s Laura Blindkilde Brown was handed a rare start, while London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson made her debut in the second half. <\/p>\n
The back four in the starting XI had fewer than 100 caps combined – with captain Leah Williamson earning 65 of them – as Maya Le Tissier was at right-back over Lucy Bronze, while Taylor Hinds started her third game in four matches at left-back.<\/p>\n
In-form Jess Park was playing out wide, as she has done for Manchester United so impressively this season, rather than in midfield where Wiegman has often used her.<\/p>\n
It was uncharacteristically experimental from Wiegman considering this was their first competitive fixture since Euro 2025 and it took time to take shape.<\/p>\n
England had 40 touches in the opposition box and 85% of the possession in the first half, but failed to score from their 15 efforts on goal.<\/p>\n
The tempo had dropped, Ukraine were defending well and England’s hopes of flying out of the blocks had not materialised. <\/p>\n
“They didn’t quite figure it out in the first half. They were a little bit stunned about what to do,” ex-England midfielder Fran Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live Extra.<\/p>\n
“Ukraine defended really well. They were really tight between the lines and they made it very difficult for England. <\/p>\n
“They needed to have a little bit more composure in the box instead of crossing it for the sake of crossing it. <\/p>\n
“The second half showed that they learned from the first half in terms of what wasn’t working.”<\/p>\n
With a side stacked full of quality, the two-time European champions responded in the second half.<\/p>\n
Arsenal striker Alessia Russo netted two goals in four minutes to put England in control, before a double from Georgia Stanway took them out of Ukraine’s reach.<\/p>\n
Wiegman’s “clear win” was confirmed when Park also scored twice later on.<\/p>\n
“I think it took us the first half to break them down. We were still very good in the first half. They were defensively solid,” said Russo afterwards.<\/p>\n
“When the spaces opened, we took our chances. I wouldn’t say it was relief [when we scored]. We knew we had the quality in us and it was just executing it.<\/p>\n
“It was finding the final moment, the final pass and the final shot. You saw that in the second half.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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