After an unconvincing 1-0 victory against Austria, England kicked into gear at Euro 2022 and racked up 8-0 and 5-0 wins against Norway and Northern Ireland respectively.The Lionesses are now well and truly roaring, and face a quarter-final encounter against Spain on Wednesday.Manager Sarina Wiegman may be recovering from COVID-19, but that will not have stopped her from pondering the starting line-up for her side’s first knockout match. With so many players performing well, the task is not an enviable one.One of the biggest debates is centred around England’s attack – who should start up-front?Ellen White has been a mainstay for the Lionesses for many years now – she is the team’s all-time leading goalscorer – but her place in the starting line-up is increasingly under threat from Alessia Russo.GiveMeSport Women makes the argument that it should be Russo who starts against Spain, in place of White.England star Alessia Russo

Why Alessia Russo should start for England at Euro 2022

Don’t be mistaken, White has enjoyed a fantastic tournament so far. The 33-year-old was one of England’s standout players as they romped to victory against Norway, scoring two goals.

According to FotMob, she was the second-best player on the pitch with a rating of 9.0, behind only hat-trick hero Beth Mead.

Leah Williamson graphic

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But White was less impressive against Northern Ireland, struggling to break through the opposition’s resolute defence. She had just one shot compared to the six she had against Norway, and was hauled off at half-time.

On came Russo, who made a real claim for a place in the starting line-up. The 23-year-old scored two goals, with her second evoking comparisons to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.

She finished the match with a FotMob rating of 8.8, with only Mead earning a higher rating.

Can Russo exploit Spain’s weaknesses?

With Russo up top, England will find it easier to exploit the weaknesses in a talented Spanish side.

Spain will likely enjoy the majority of possession, and as they work their way up the pitch, their defence moves up too. Playing with such a high line leaves the side exposed at the back, and susceptible to a counter-attack.

This will certainly be exploited by England’s pacy wingers, Lauren Hemp and Mead, but there needs to be someone in the middle to put away their crosses.

Ellen White and Alessia Russo

With no disrespect to White intended, Russo is more agile and pacy, allowing her to keep up with counter-attacks.

She is also more of an aerial threat. In fact, six of Russo’s seven goals for England have been headers.

If Hemp and Mead are going to be exploiting Spain’s high back line and whipping crosses into the box, an established aerial presence is needed.

Yes, Russo has worked as an impact substitute, but what happens if England fall behind and there's no time for her to have an influence on the match? Surely it's better to start with the most effective starting XI.

It is a tricky decision for Wiegman – should she stick with the trusted White, or take a risk with Russo?

One thing’s for sure, the Dutchwoman is known for being unsentimental – she will make a decision based on what’s right for the team.

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