Lionesses Win in Greece Fails to Resolve England’s No. 10 Question

Jess Park’s competitive debut has further complicated the ongoing discussion regarding Sarina Wiegman’s preferred choice for the No. 10 role.

Park is merely one of several viable candidates, among them Chelsea’s Lauren James, who was entrusted with a liberated creative mandate during the match against Greece.

James displayed occasional brilliance, casually lofting the ball over Greek goalkeeper Fafailia Petaloti from 30 yards early in the first half, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Further alternatives include Manchester City’s Grace Clinton and Manchester United’s Ella Toone, both recently recalled to address injury absences, while Aston Villa’s Lucia Kendall was omitted from the squad.

Laura Blindkilde Brown also lined up in that midfield slot alongside James in Crete, though the role has previously been filled by both Beth Mead and Park.

Identifying the right player for this position proved challenging for Wiegman heading into Euro 2025, and over a year later, the question regarding England’s best No. 10 remains unresolved.

“There is significant competition for that position, offering us numerous options among players with varying qualities,” Wiegman stated.

“You might view it as an open question, but I see it as an abundance of possibilities. Today we utilized two, and occasionally three, number 10s. James was one of them.”

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