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:
England squad announced at 2pm
Only about 3 hours until we find out England's squad for the World Cup
England World Cup squad announcement: Five key decisions Sarina Wiegman must make
This time last year, Sarina Wiegman’s plans were in place ahead of the Euros. The Lionesses manager had settled upon a core of players during her first season in charge and her squad announcement for the tournament featured few surprises. Once the Euros began, Wiegman was able to name the same starting line-up for all six matches, as England won their first major international tournament in 56 years at Wembley.
How the Lionesses could do with the same stability ahead of the World Cup. A year later, Wiegman will take England into a second major international tournament as one of the favourites, but with injuries and fitness concerns disrupting their preparations and forcing a rethink in some key areas of the team.
Now the domestic club season is over, Wiegman will name her 23-player squad for the World Cup today, with England’s opening game of the tournament against Haiti in Brisbane less than eight weeks away.
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
Predicting England Women’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane and who could miss out?
England manager Sarina Wiegman is set to name her squad for this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Lionesses will look to add to their Euros triumph with the game’s biggest prize.
Wiegman’s side will be among the favourites as England aim to win the World Cup for the first time, but the Lionesses have been rocked by the news that captain Leah Williamson has been ruled out of the tournament after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament.
Suddenly, the England manager could be without a core of players who started for the Lionesses at the Euros last summer, which puts pressure on having the right depth throughout the squad.
And with Wiegman naming her squad today following the end of the domestic season, time has run out for players on the fringes of Weigman’s plans to stake their claim.
So ahead of the World Cup, who’s on the plane to Australia and New Zealand, and who’s hasn’t done enough to make the squad?
Predicting England’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane?
Sarina Wiegman will only be able to take a squad of 23 players to Australia and New Zealand as the Lionesses aim to win the World Cup
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