Arnold Clark Cup 2023 preview: 6 things to look out for
By Ali Rampling
The Arnold Clark Cup returns on Thursday for a second rendition of the invitational friendly tournament that instantly became a cult classic among fans when it debuted in 2022
Defending champions England will play South Korea, Italy and Belgium in a round-robin format as 2023 World Cup preparations ramp up.
The Lionesses' Arnold Clark Cup triumph last year provided a momentum boost ahead of their subsequent Euro 2022 campaign - so what could be in store this time around?
How will Sarina Wiegman experiment?
Last year's Arnold Clark Cup provided Sarina Wiegman with an opportunity to experiment against top opposition in preparation for Euro 2022 - and she has hinted the same could be the same this time.
"We know that this tournament will give us lots of information," the England boss said. "For us [it's] a good moment to try out lots of things and see different combinations of players."
The 2022 Arnold Clark Cup saw Wiegman try Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson in a midfield double pivot for the first time, working to great affect against Canada in their opening game, while Georgia Stanway was given a run out in an unorthodox number six role against Spain.
Millie Bright was famously thrown up front in the dying stages of England's final match against Germany as the Lionesses went in search of a goal - and the centre-back provided just that. Wiegman would go on to utilise this option in England's Euro 2022 quarter final against Spain, with Bright occupying the Spanish backline to help the Lionesses find a late equaliser.
Which fringe players will get an opportunity?
Sarina Wiegman famously didn't change her starting XI throughout Euro 2022. With three friendlies in the space of seven days, the Arnold Clark Cup, offers ample chance for Wiegman to use her full 26-player squad and give certain players more playing time than they have previously been afforded.
This includes youngsters Ebony Salmon, Katie Robinson and Jess Park, who have just a handful of caps between them and have all been restricted to substitute cameos thus far at senior level.
Meanwhile 32-year-old Laura Coombs last played for England in 2015, but has received her first call up in seven-and-a-half years after being a linchpin in the Man City midfield this season.
"I was surprised because it's been so long and I didn't really think about the international stage any more," Coombs said. "I was thinking I was going to get a break over the international break."
Maya Le Tissier has been capped once, starting at right-back against Norway in November before moving to centre-back for the final half an hour - the position where she has played all of her football during an impressive debut season at Manchester United.
Similarly, Katie Zelem is enjoying a top season with Manchester United, but has also largely been restricted to substitute cameos for the Lionesses. The United captain played the second 45 against Norway and, as one of a limited number of holding midfielders in the squad, could be utilised as a second option to the instrumental Keira Walsh.
England's goalkeeping situation
Four goalkeepers have been named in England's Arnold Clark Cup squad: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Sandy MacIver and Emily Ramsey.
Wiegman fielded a different goalkeeper in each of the three matches in last season's competition, and it will be interesting to see how the Lionesses boss opts to use the four over the course of this year's Arnold Clark Cup.
Earps has firmly established herself as England's number one over the last 18 months and is tellingly a finalist in the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper stakes, with Roebuck considered her understudy. MacIver is second choice to Roebuck at Manchester City but has been a regular in the England squad since Euro 2022, while Ramsey is enjoying a stellar season on loan at Everton from Manchester United. The Toffees stopper is the youngest of the four and the only uncapped player in the squad.
"There are four goalkeepers on this camp and three will be in the squad for the World Cup. It's a competition, realistically," Ramsey said. "I would love to be there but nothing can be taken for granted. Obviously, going away and playing in the WSL is the only thing that's going to ultimately push everyone to that level.”
World Cup preparation
Last year's ACC competition was seen as ideal Euros preparation for England; a rare opportunity to test themselves against three world class teams in the shape of Canada, Germany and Spain. The calibre of opposition is lower this time around, but is still geared towards prepping the Lionesses for a major tournament in the summer, with the 2023 World Cup kicking off in July.
England begin their Arnold Clark Cup campaign against South Korea. The world's 15th ranked side finished as runners up at last year's Asian Cup, and were beaten in the final by China - one of the three teams the Lionesses have been drawn against in the World Cup group stages.
"It's a little different to last year but there's still top 20 ranking teams," said Wiegman. "I think it's very good to play Korea Republic, because it's another culture from another continent, and that brings other things. I think we'd really like to play against an opponent like that because we get - not the same - but maybe a little similar opponent at the World Cup."
Post-Euros, England have had a difficult time against more defensively minded teams playing in a low block, after stuttering to draws against the Czech Republic and Norway. Arnold Clark Cup matches against Italy and Belgium could provide a similar test, and help the Lionesses learn how to break down defensively well-drilled sides.
"I think Italy has grown as a team very much, they're playing different styles of play which is good for us to practice against," Wiegman added. "And Belgium as we have seen in the Euros, did very well. They just lost against Sweden [in the quarter finals]. I think good opponents, they're really improving in their game."
The return of Ji So-yun
The popular Ji So-yun has been named in the South Korea squad for the Arnold Clark Cup, and will play her first games on English soil since she departed Chelsea last summer.
The midfielder is one of the WSL's all-time greats, and became one of the league's first international stars when she joined Chelsea in 2014. Ji was integral as the Blues grew into a European powerhouse, winning every domestic honour on offer before announcing her departure last season.
"I've never seen a player like Ji in the women's game," Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said of Ji. "She's left such a massive stamp on my heart."
The prestigious golden boot accolade
In an iconic moment in last season's Arnold Clark Cup, centre-back Millie Bright was thrust up front in the latter stages against Germany in England's final match as the Lionesses went in search of a winner. Bright netted that winner - a goal that brought her tally up to two for the tournament.
This drew the defender level with Spain's Ballon d'Or winning midfielder Alexia Putellas, and the pair posed together with the golden boot in Wolverhampton. It was textbook Arnold Clark.
"I did ask if she wanted to take it (the golden boot) and she politely said that I could keep it, being a defender," Bright later said.
Who will follow in the footsteps of Bright and Putellas in 2023?