England Women’s World Cup squad LIVE! Confirmed list, Sarina Wiegman announcement and Lionesses updates

Evening Standard

·31 May 2023

England Women’s World Cup squad LIVE! Confirmed list, Sarina Wiegman announcement and Lionesses updates

E

ngland manager Sarina Wiegman has completed the difficult task of selecting her 23-player squad for the Women’s World Cup amid a raft of injuries to key players.

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The Dutch manager unveiled her selection on Wednesday, 50 days before the World Cup kicks off on July 20. There is a return for striker Bethany England while defender Millie Bright is included despite a recent injury.

The Lionesses, who won bronze in 2015 and were fourth four years ago in France, begin their World Cup campaign on July 22 against Haiti in Brisbane. They also have Denmark and China in Group D.

The European champions have been rocked by a number of serious injuries, sidelining captain Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby among others and creating significant selection dilemmas for Wiegman.

Bethany England has been included in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup, while Beth Mead misses out.

Striker England, who has not been involved for her country since last September, is recalled after scoring 12 Women’s Super League goals for Tottenham since joining them from Chelsea in January.

But there is no return for Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament Mead, having lost her battle against time after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze, also sidelined of late, do feature in a 23-player list from which skipper Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby had already been ruled out due to injury.

Jordan Nobbs is included as well, despite sustaining an injury in Aston Villa’s penultimate game of the season, Katie Zelem has been brought back after not making the last squad in April and there is no recall for Williamson’s predecessor as captain Steph Houghton.

Jess Park, Maya Le Tissier and Emily Ramsey have been named on standby.

Wiegman’s European champions get their campaign at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand under way by facing Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 and will also take on Denmark and China in Group D.

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England have confirmed their squad for the Women’s World Cup later this summer.

Sarina Wiegman has given her verdicts on the likes of Bethany England and Millie Bright, who have made the 23-player selection, and Beth Mead, who has not.

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Sarina Wiegman on captain Millie Bright

“I haven’t told her she will be the captain that is how we have been all the time. We have just talked about football. She was selected and where she is at right now. We haven’t really spoken about that yet.”

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Sarina Wiegman speaks

“The last week was a little stressful we had to make hard decision, it’s nice for the ones that are in and not nice for those who aren’t.

“Lucy Bronze is fit and is fully in training, Millie Bright is in a good place and positive she is still building but it looks good.”

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Standby list

Ramsey

Park

Le Tissier

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Rewarded

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No place for Beth Mead

Arsenal forward Beth Mead has been left out of England’s World Cup squad after failing to get fit in time.

Mead injured her knee in November of last year and always faced a fight to be fit for this summer’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand after undergoing surgery.

England boss Sarina Wiegman said in March that Mead needed a “miracle” to be fit for the World Cup and she has been left out of the squad.

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