England Women’s World Cup LIVE: Sarina Wiegman confirms new Lionesses captain after announcing squad
Sarina Wiegman has confirmed her 23-player squad for this summer’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand and says Millie Bright will captain the Lionesses
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Your support makes all the difference.Beth Mead has missed out on England’s Women’s World Cup squad after running out of time in her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze have both been selected in Sarina Wiegman’s 23-player group despite recent fitness concerns.
Bethany England has been rewarded with a recall after her excellent form since joining Tottenham Hotspur, where the striker scored 12 goals in as many Women’s Super League appearances, but among the surprise omissions was Manchester United defender Maya Le Tissier - who has been named on the standby list.
With captain Leah Williamson and Euros winner Fran Kirby already ruled out of the World Cup, the Lionesses have been boosted by the availability of experienced defenders Bright and Bronze. Wiegman confirmed that Bright, the Chelsea centre-back, will captain England in Williamson’s absence.
Wiegman wanted to give Mead every chance of making the World Cup and although the Arsenal star returned to light training in recent weeks, the Lionesses manager was not prepared to take a risk on her fitness with England well-stocked in attacking positions.
“From an early stage we said we were not willing to take the risk to push her and risk injuring her again,” Wiegman said as England’s squad was announced. “We wanted to be smart and not to be naive.”
Follow live reaction and analysis from the squad announcement:
Five key decisions Sarina Wiegman must make
Is Beth Mead fit enough after her ACL injury? Who comes in for absent captain Leah Williamson? These and more we’ll find out the answers to in less than an hour and they will have been some of the worries keeping the boss up at night of late.
Here are some of the biggest questions Wiegman has to answer as the England manager names her squad for Australia and New Zealand.
The key questions facing England ahead of Women’s World Cup squad announcement
The Lionesses will name their 23-player squad for the Women’s World Cup today with their opening game of the tournament less than eight weeks away
Sarina Wiegman to explain her squad choices
After the squad is revealed at 2pm, Sarina Wiegman will talk to the press to explain her decisions.
Carly Telford hopes adversity can galvanise England at the World Cup
Former England goalkeeper Carly Telford believes the injuries that have struck the Lionesses can inspire Sarina Wiegman’s side at this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
England will head to Australia and New Zealand as one of the favourites, but their hopes have been hit by serious injuries that have ruled out captain Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby, while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, and Millie Bright also face a race against a time to be fit in time.
The loss of key players could derail many of Wiegman’s plans for the tournament but Telford believes it will bring together those who do make the trip.
“As much as they might be team-mates or enemies in the Super League, a lot of them are friends, and watching your friends get hurt, you know how short a football career is and how few tournaments you might get to go to,” Telford said.
“It is hurtful when you see team-mates go down but it can inspire them as they will want to play for the girls who are missing it, and they will use it as motivation.”
Carly Telford hopes adversity can galvanise England at the World Cup
The European Champions have been hit by injuries.
Beth Mead’s ACL recovery ‘ahead of schedule’
England forward Beth Mead says she is still hopeful of being fit for the World Cup and is “ahead of schedule” in her recovery from an ACL injury.
Mead ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament playing for Arsenal in November and Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman said last month that it would be a “miracle” if she makes her squad for Australia and New Zealand.
But Mead has returned to light training with Arsenal ahead of the July tournament and said she is determined to give herself every chance of making the 23-player squad.
“The injury’s okay,” Mead told Sky Sports News as she picked up her MBE for her role in England’s Euro 2022 win last summer. “I’m a good five months in and back on the pitch and kicking a ball again, feeling good, ahead of schedule. That’s all I can do that’s in my control right now."
Beth Mead’s ACL recovery ‘ahead of schedule’
The Arsenal winger has returned to training and remains hopeful of being fit to make Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup squad
Ella Toone upbeat on England’s chances at World Cup despite injury setbacks
Ella Toone has stressed England are set to head into this summer’s World Cup still well-equipped to prosper despite the injury setbacks that have been “really difficult to take”.
Skipper Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have been ruled out of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand by injuries, while Beth Mead, who claimed the Golden Boot and player of the tournament award when the team won the Euros last year, may also be missing.
Toone, scorer of the opener in the 2-1 victory over Germany after extra-time that clinched the trophy at Wembley, said: “The injuries are really difficult to take.
“No-one ever wants to see team-mates and other players have bad injuries like that. So it’s been difficult, and players that are a massive part of our squad.
“But we have to focus on what we have, and that is so much talent within the squad. We have young girls coming up now into the squad who have unbelievable talent."
Ella Toone upbeat on England’s chances at World Cup despite injury setbacks
Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby have been ruled out of the tournament and Beth Mead is also a doubt.
England star Leah Williamson: Most female footballers still need back-up careers
England footballer Leah Williamson has spoken about the importance of sportswomen having another qualification in their “locker”, as she said the sport needs more women in positions of power.
It comes as the Lionesses and Arsenal defender has been ruled out of the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after suffering a knee injury and undergoing surgery.
Williamson, who has been training to be an accountant alongside her football career, said that pursuing a different qualification started off as an “insurance policy” for herself.
She told PA: “Originally, when I started it, women’s football wasn’t as secure as it is now.
“I started it as a bit of an insurance policy for me to take the pressure off football, so if it didn’t work out I have something else.”
England star Leah Williamson: Most female footballers still need back-up careers
The Lionesses defender said training to be an accountant and business ventures help her prepare for life after football.
Predicted England’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Hannah Hampton
Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Esme Morgan, Maya Le Tissier
Midfielders: Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Jordan Nobbs, Laura Coombs, Katie Zelem
Forwards: Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Katie Robinson, Rachel Daly
Making World Cup squad would be ‘stuff of dreams’, says Man City’s Laura Coombs
Laura Coombs says it would be “the stuff of dreams” if her England renaissance continues with a place in the squad for this summer’s World Cup.
The Manchester City midfielder, 32, returned to the international fold when she was called up by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman in February.
That was her first involvement since a training camp in 2020 under Phil Neville, and she had not played for her country since winning the two caps she had to her name in 2015 under Mark Sampson.
Coombs subsequently played twice at the Arnold Clark Cup and was then included in Wiegman’s squad for April’s matches against Brazil and Australia, for which she was an unused substitute.
On the possibility of making the next squad, for the European champions’ World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand, Coombs said: “It would be the stuff of dreams to be honest."
Making World Cup squad would be ‘stuff of dreams’, says Man City’s Laura Coombs
Coombs has earned an unexpected return to the international this year.
What time is England’s Women’s World Cup squad announcement?
England will reach a key point in their World Cup preparations as Sarina Wiegman names her 23-player squad for Australia and New Zealand today.
The Lionesses manager faces a number of big decisions after losing several key players in the build-up to the tournament, including captain Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby.
Wiegman must also decide whether to take a risk on the fitness of Euros golden boot winner Beth Mead, while senior players Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are recovering from injuries as well.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of England’s World Cup announcement.
What time is England’s Women’s World Cup squad announcement?
Sarina Wiegman has several big decisions to make as the Lionesses name their squad of 23
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