Midfielder’s three goals illustrate the different attributes that have made her the player she is today
England laid down a marker at Wembley on Saturday evening as they waltzed to victory over China with a scintillating show of attacking force. Among the many eye-catching performances, Georgia Stanway stood out, joining Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones by becoming the third Lioness to score a hat-trick at Wembley. Her three goals and assist formed part of a midfield display that was right up there with the best the national stadium has witnessed over the years.
The 26-year-old has been one of the first names on Sarina Wiegman’s team sheet since the Dutchwoman took over as manager in 2021. Famous for her long-range finishing and tenacious tackling, she is emblematic of the fight and quality that this England team possess. When in top form, she and Keira Walsh form one of the best midfield partnerships out there, complementing each other’s attributes. She is one of the leaders of this team, unafraid to stand up and be counted on and off the pitch when things go wrong and at the core of their success when they go right.
By her own admission, Stanway is “not known for scoring goals at the moment” but against the Asian Cup holders, she was given the freedom to bring all her attacking qualities to the fore. This performance was all about that side of her game – her vision, her innate habit of finding the spaces inside the box and her instinct for finding the net. Each of her three finishes illustrated different attributes that have made her the player she is today.
