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          Group F team preview: England

          Forward Eniola Aluko has appeared in three European Championships, two World Cups and the Olympics, and will be called on for goals in Canada. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
          • Graham Hays, ESPN.comMay 28, 2015, 11:03 AM ET
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              Graham Hays covers college sports for espnW, including softball and soccer. Hays began with ESPN in 1999.
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          Group F: France | England | Colombia | Mexico

          England is hoping to advance past the Women's World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the program's history.

          The journey

          For the first time in three tries, England took all possible points from its qualifying group (it reached the first of its four World Cup appearances in 1995 via the European Championship). This time around, England tied for the third-best goal differential in UEFA qualifying with France, which it will face in its World Cup opener on June 9.

          Taking control

          Midfielder Jill Scott created many opportunities for England at the 2011 Women's World Cup. She had 28 successful tackles, 18 more than anyone else on the roster.

          The rep

          In their previous trips to the World Cup, the English have been good enough to get to the knockout stage, but a disappointment in those big moments. That's the squad we saw in a 3-0 loss against Germany in a November friendly in front of 45,619 fans at Wembley Stadium. But the current team is also known for a talented front six that can press opponents and score goals. That's the England group that posted a 4-0 win versus Sweden in another 2014 friendly.

          Projected formation

          England is expected to go with a 4-2-3-1 lineup:

          The question

          Is there life after Kelly Smith? The veteran forward's retirement from international football confirms a new era for the team. Can a group of playmakers in or near their primes -- Eniola Aluko, Toni Duggan and Lianne Sanderson, to name a few -- fill the void?

          World Cup history

          A look at how England has fared in previous tournaments:

          Group-stage schedule

          England's first two matches will be played at Moncton Stadium, while the third will be held at Olympic Stadium in Montreal:

          • June 9: France, 1 p.m. ET
          • June 13: Mexico, 4 p.m. ET
          • June 17: Colombia, 4 p.m. ET

          Foudy's take

          Julie Foudy

          I see England coming out second in Group F, and that would mean a much friendlier run than what awaits the group's winner. It would most likely match up England against Norway, and then either a third-place winner or Group A matchup (both of whom are beatable) for the quarterfinals. The question is, will France be so concerned with its path as the group winner that it opts for second place in this group? It's a dangerous game to play, but not unprecedented. France and England face off first in the Cup; if that game is a draw, the rest of group play could get interesting.

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