England's Le Tissier dilemma and Fishlock signs off: Women's Football Weekly - podcast

The Lionesses' defensive woes continue to plague them, as they fell 2-1 to Brazil in their opening match of the Homecoming Series. The question on everyone's mind is, what position will Maya Le Tissier be playing? Her role was a point of contention among fans and pundits alike, with some suggesting she was best suited to the holding midfielder position.

The panel delved into this dilemma, questioning whether Le Tissier's skills and experience make her a better fit for a more defensive role. However, it remains to be seen if manager Sarina Wurst will stick with her or try out different formations in an effort to find the right balance.

On a separate note, Republic of Ireland edged closer to promotion to League A after beating Belgium, while Spain cruised past Sweden. For Wales, Jess Fishlock's impressive debut was bittersweet as she signed off from international football.

Germany has made a significant investment in women's football, committing €100m to the cause. Meanwhile, Fifpro's World XI selection list saw several notable omissions. We also caught up with Beth Fisher to discuss the legacy of Jess Fishlock and what the future holds for Rhian Wilkinson's Wales team.

Finally, we heard from fans around the world - Canada to New Zealand - sharing their thoughts on the latest developments in women's football. If you want to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and analysis, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

OMG I'm low-key worried about Maya Le Tissier tho... she played like a total wild card out there . I mean, part of me wants her to try out different positions to find the balance, but at the same time, I'm all for keeping things consistent . Sarina Wurst needs to figure it out ASAP! And omg, that Republic of Ireland win was CRAZY ! They're so close to promotion now! Can't wait to see what's next for Jess Fishlock - love her to bits

omg this le tissier thing is killing me i mean what's wrong with her? she's been playing left back and it's worked out so far but at the same time she does have some defensive skills tho... Sarina should just stick with what works, idk why they're making such a big deal about it lol

I'm loving how invested everyone is in Maya Le Tissier's position! It's like, she's got this amazing skillset that can totally work for either midfield or defense ...and honestly, who am I to decide? Maybe Sarina Wurst has a master plan and we just need to trust her instincts? That €100m investment by Germany sounds super exciting too! It's awesome to see more countries prioritizing women's football - let's keep the momentum going

I don't think holding midfielder is a bad fit for Maya Le Tissier . I mean, she's got so much experience under her belt, it makes sense she'd want to use that in the middle of the park. Plus, she's always been known for her passing range and vision... not really sure why she can't just be herself . Sarina Wurst knows what she's doing, right?

idk why sarina wurst is being so cagey about maya le tissier's position lol , fans are DYING over here! and can we talk about germany's €100m investment tho? like, that's a huge deal hope it pays off for them. i'm still hyped for the homecoming series but brazil was definitely a tough opponent . btw, did you see jess fishlock's debut? so bittersweet

OMG I KNOW RIGHT!!! MAYA LETISSIER IS SUCH A PROBLEM FOR THE LIONESSES!!! I MEAN THEY NEED TO GET HER PLAYING IN A ROLE THAT SUITS HER SKILLS OR ELSE SHE'LL BE STUCK ON THE BENCH FOREVER!!! SARINA WURST SHOULD REALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO FIGURE OUT HER POSITIONS AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT FORMATION SHE CHOOSES NEXT!!!

I'm so confused about this Maya Le Tissier thing ... Like, she seems like a super talented player, but if the Lionesses are having problems with defense, shouldn't they just stick with what works? I don't get why they're even questioning her role ️. Can someone explain to me what's going on? Is it just a bunch of people trying to figure out how to win games or something?

I'm so done with these Lionesses, can't they just get their defense together . Sarina Wurst needs to get real, if Maya Le Tissier is good enough for holding midfielder, why not give her a spot in the backline? It's like they're trying to be cautious or something, but we all know that's just code for 'we don't want to rock the boat'. Meanwhile, Germany's €100m investment in women's football is more than I'm willing to bet most of our current government is putting into public services...

The Lionesses are struggling with defense , especially with Maya Le Tissier . I think they need to figure out her role . Maybe holding midfielder would be a good fit? Sarina Wurst needs to find the right balance . Meanwhile, other teams are killing it Germany's investment in women's football is and I'm excited to see more growth!

I'm not buying into all the fuss about Maya Le Tissier's position . I mean, the girl's got skills and experience, yeah, but holding midfielder just because? She played wing back in her youth team days, she could bring that same energy to the full-back spot if needed. The manager's just trying too much to change up their formation, if you ask me . Give Le Tissier a chance, let her find her footing and don't overcomplicate things .

Maya Le Tissier's position is really puzzling me... I mean, she's got the skills, but does playing holding midfielder suit her style? It feels like a bit of a waste if she's not being utilized in a role that showcases her strengths . Sarina Wurst should definitely experiment with different formations to find what works best for her and the team. Maybe it's time to rethink the 4-3-3 setup and try something new?

"I think a person should not believe in an ism, he should investigate and protest against any such one-is- enough-for-me dogma..."

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s crazy how much money Germany is throwing at women’s football €100m is a lot of dough! I mean, I get that they want to support the sport, but £200k per player is insane ...I guess if you can afford it and you want to change the game then that's a different story . Anyway, I’m excited to see how this investment pays off for them and hopefully it brings more success to their team

omg i'm so hyped about germany's €100m investment in womens' footy that's like, super amazing! it shows they're serious about lifting their game and giving the ladies a chance to shine meanwhile, maya le tissier's position is still a total mystery do they stick with holding midfielder or try out different formations? either way, i'm all for innovation and finding that perfect balance ️ and btw, i love how fifpro's world xi selection list saw those notable omissions it's like, no one's above criticism!

I'm low-key shocked by how much pressure Maya Le Tissier is under right now It's like, she's already an amazing player but this whole holding midfielder debate has me going "girl needs a break" I mean don't get me wrong, Sarina Wurst is trying to figure out the perfect fit for her skills, but sometimes less is more, you know? Maybe it's time to give Maya a chance to just play her own game without all the added weight of expectations On a different note though, €100m from Germany on women's football is like, totally amazing I'm so down for any more investment that can help level the playing field and get more ladies' teams competing

omg can't believe those Lionesses they're still struggling with defense and now Maya Le Tissier is stuck in limbo should've been holding midfielder from the start imo sarina wurst needs to find that balance stat

omg i was literally watching the match with my bae and we both were like "what is sarina thinking" she left maya out there by herself like a sitting duck i mean i get it, she's trying to experiment with formations but honestly it feels like she's just winging it rn anyway, i'm loving the investment germany is putting into womens football tho! €100m is like, a lot of dosh let's see if it pays off

So the Lionesses are having a rough time with defense? Who wouldn't expect that from a team that just won the World Cup like 3 years ago? Maya Le Tissier is supposed to fix everything, right? It's not like it's a complex issue or anything. I mean, who knows what position she'll play next week? Will it be "mysterious" or "still undecided"?

On a more serious note, the fact that Germany is pouring €100m into women's football is kinda awesome. Maybe we can finally get some decent equipment and training facilities around here instead of playing with inferior gear all the time .

Also, Jess Fishlock's departure from Wales is bittersweet because... well, it's always sad to see someone leave your team . But I'm sure Rhian Wilkinson's got this covered. They're like that one aunt who's still trying to make you feel better after a breakup .

The Lionesses' defensive struggles are a pressing concern, and it's intriguing that Maya Le Tissier's position is being scrutinized so intensely. I think her versatility as a player would make her an excellent candidate for a more defensive role, but it ultimately depends on the team's overall strategy and Wurst's tactical acumen .

It's also worth noting that Republic of Ireland's win over Belgium suggests they're making significant strides in their quest for promotion to League A. The investment Germany has put into women's football is commendable, and I'm excited to see how it will impact the sport globally ️.

I do think it's a bit surprising to see several notable omissions from Fifpro's World XI selection list, but that's often the nature of these types of decisions. The more pressing question for me is what this means for Le Tissier and Wurst's coaching style going forward