Georgia Stanway Urges England To Reinvent Themselves Before Euro 2025

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Georgia Stanway believes that England's national team will inevitably face challenges after their recent successes and must adapt to maintain their competitive edge. The Lionesses enjoyed a 30-game unbeaten streak under Sarina Wiegman, but experienced their first loss in April last year. Despite winning Euro 2022 and reaching the Women's World Cup final in Australia, recent performances have been inconsistent.

Their Nations League campaign was disappointing, resulting in Team GB missing out on the Paris Olympics qualification. A 4-3 loss to Germany, under new manager Christian Wuck, highlighted the progress of other European teams. Stanway, who scored twice at Wembley recently, acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining high consistency levels but stressed the importance of being tough to beat.

"When the expectation is continuous we are probably not able to live up to it. I think it's inevitable that at some point you are going to plateau," said Stanway. She noted that after four years with Sarina Wiegman, teams might start figuring them out. This requires England to reinvent themselves by tweaking tactics and staying ahead of opponents.

England will play South Africa in a friendly on Tuesday, marking their first home encounter with this team. The Lionesses have an impressive record when hosting new opponents, winning 19 out of 21 games, drawing one and losing one. They scored 96 goals while conceding only four during these matches.

This game presents a chance for England to avoid going three matches without a win under Wiegman for the second time. Stanway and her teammates aim to rectify recent setbacks by focusing on performance rather than just results.

Adapting to Evolving Competition

Stanway reflected on the Germany match as a learning opportunity despite not controlling the game. She emphasised that external perceptions often equate good games with wins, but England needs to focus on performance improvement.

"Facing adversities is normal," she added. Playing for England demands high standards and emotional consistency while setting an example for others. The team has lost several key figures recently, making leadership development crucial for younger players like herself, Ella Toone, and Alessia Russo.

Stanway acknowledged her own growth journey: "We're not experienced leaders yet but I'm only 25. I'm also trying to learn every day." As England continues its journey, adapting strategies and nurturing emerging talent will be essential for sustained success.