England boss Sarina Wiegman vowed to experiment during the Arnold Clark Cup - and she will be pleased with the results.
The Lionesses cruised to a 6-1 victory over Belgium on Wednesday night to triumph in the invitational tournament for a second successive year after winning all three of their games.
England’s unbeaten run now stands at 29 matches but Wiegman will know that far greater tests lie ahead, with the World Cup just five months away.
Her side made light work of Belgium, Italy and South Korea over the past week - scoring 12 goals and conceding just two.
Brazil and Australia in April will be tougher opponents and a clearer indication of where England are as they bid to follow up European success with World Cup glory.
Wiegman, however, will be buoyed with the way her side have evolved since the Euros, shifting from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 formation.
Fran Kirby missed the Arnold Clark Cup due to a knee problem and in her absence Wiegman played without a No10.
Instead, England used Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway as two No8s in front of Keira Walsh. It created a balanced midfield, with Stanway and Toone’s energy complimenting Walsh’s control.
Kirby was not the only Euro 2022 hero missing. Beth Mead has been out since November due to a knee problem.
She faces a race to be fit for the World Cup, but if Mead is out then Lauren James has shown this week that she is a candidate to step up.
On the opposite flank, Chloe Kelly looks back to her best after dipping in form following her winning goal in the final of Euro 2022. She finished as top scorer in the Arnold Clark Cup, netting two on Wednesday to take her tally for the competition to three.
At left-back, Alex Greenwood has bounced back from losing her place just before the Euros to establish herself as first-choice.
That has allowed Rachel Daly, the top scorer in this season’s Women’s Super League (WSL), to play up front and provide competition for Alessia Russo. Wiegman insists she does not know her best XI yet. It is easy to see why.
