Belgium vs England LIVE: Lionesses team news and updates

Belgium are able to call upon skipper Tessa Wullaert up front. It looks like a back five again for manager Elisabet Gunnarsdottir.

Belgium XI: Lichtfus; Janssens, Deloose, Tysiak, Cayman, Philtjens; Van Haevermaet, Teulings; Detruyer, Wullaert, Eurlings.

Right – there are starts for Nikita Parris and Aggie Beever-Jones, though Sarina Wiegman largely resists the urge to tinker elsewhere. Jess Park is preferred to Ella Toone in a creative midfield role.

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Walsh, Clinton; Mead, Park, Parris; Beever-Jones.

So with those issues in mind, will Sarina Wiegman consider this an ideal opportunity to rotate her Lionesses side? We should have team news shortly…

England defender Niamh Charles is narrowing her focus to prevent the Lionesses’ growing injury list from creeping into her own psyche less than three months out from Euro 2025.

With a congested calendar still ahead – including the conclusions of the Women’s Super League, FA Cup and Champions League campaigns – Chelsea full-back Charles agreed players can be tempted into worrying about becoming the next injury victim – and potentially missing out on England’s title defence this summer.

And then Alessia Russo followed Arsenal teammate Chloe Kelly in withdrawing from Sarina Wiegman’s squad:

All appeared well, then, for England on Friday – until some concerning injury news over the weekend. First to withdraw was Lauren James…

One goalscorer was perhaps more popular than any other for England, with Keira Walsh breaking her international duck at the 83rd attempt.

England really were very good at Ashton Gate on Friday, finding the exact sort of performance that they would have wanted as Euro 2025 looms larger into view:

A very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Women’s Nations League meeting between Belgium and England in Leuven. It was a tough night in Bristol for the visitors on Friday as the Lionesses showed their strength with a much-needed performance, but a few injury issues have since emerged for Sarina Wiegman. Can the Belgians take advantage back on home soil?

Kick off is at 7.30pm BST.