Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has expressed strong disapproval of England manager Sarina Wiegman's tactical choice during the Women's European Championship final against Spain in Basel.
The pundit questioned the decision to field Lauren James from the beginning despite her carrying an ankle problem.
Speaking on ITV, Wright labelled the selection a "massive risk" and "massive mistake", arguing that the manager had essentially squandered a substitution opportunity.
His criticism centred on the gamble of starting a player who was clearly not fully fit for such a crucial match.
ITV
|Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has expressed strong disapproval of England manager Sarina Wiegman's tactical choice during the Women's European Championship final against Spain in Basel
The former England international was particularly perplexed by the tactical deployment, suggesting that James's physical limitations made her unsuitable for the demanding role she was given.
Wright's concerns extended beyond the fitness issue to the specific positioning of James on the left flank. The pundit had previously advocated for deploying her centrally, making her assignment to the left wing even more puzzling.
The tactical setup required James to track back against Spain's attacking threats, including Ona Batlle and Aitana Bonmati.
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|Lauren James was clearly unfit as she played for England against Spain in the final of Euro 2025
Wright emphasised the difficulty of fulfilling these defensive duties whilst carrying an injury, particularly when facing such technically gifted opponents.
"She’s obviously not right and not only that, she’s put her on the other side. I said she should have been in the centre, not on the left side!" he said on ITV.
"Having to chase back Ona Batlle and chase back Aitana Bonmati when you’re half fit. I think that’s a massive mistake."
James's struggles became evident early in the match, and she was withdrawn after just 40 minutes.
Chloe Kelly came on as her replacement, marking an unusually early change in such a significant fixture.
The timing of the substitution proved particularly unfortunate as Spain had already taken the lead by that point. Mariona Caldentey found the net with a header in the 25th minute, capitalising on excellent work from the right flank.
Significantly, the opening goal originated from the very area James had been tasked with defending.
Batlle supplied the crucial assist for Caldentey's strike, exploiting the space down Spain's right side where the injured England player had been struggling to cope with her defensive responsibilities.
England's fortunes shifted following the tactical adjustment, with Kelly making an immediate impact from her position on the left wing.
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|Chloe Kelly replaced Lauren James during the final of Euro 2025 between England and Spain
The substitute demonstrated her quality in the 57th minute, delivering a superb inswinging cross that found its target in the penalty area.
Alessia Russo met Kelly's precise delivery with an accomplished header, restoring parity for the Lionesses and reinvigorating their challenge against the tournament favourites.