31/5/23
Above: WSL top scorer Rachel Daly’s selection as a striker was met with delight from the Impetus team of contributors. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
As England head coach Sarina Wiegman named her squad for the World Cup at Boldmere St. Michaels FC earlier this afternoon, 10 members of Impetus‘ writing and photography team gathered to discuss the selections.
Here’s what our team had to say:
FREYA WARD: I’m very happy with this (squad).
MARIELLA PREW: I think it’s unfortunate that Maya Le Tissier missed out as she’s been playing well for United, but she’s young, so she’ll definitely get her chance.
AIMEE LOGAN: So happy Jordan Nobbs has kept her spot and very, very happy with Bethany England and Rachel Daly up front.
MATTHEW APPLEBY: Le Tissier is the only one I’m shocked about. I could see the arguments for Steph Houghton being included – who would have missed out? But I thought Maya Le Tissier was nailed on to be in there.
BEN GILBY: Agree, I expected Le Tissier to be in there. I have a few concerns over the midfield – come the knockout stages, there needs to be an enforcer in there, and not sure there is one…
MARIELLA PREW: Who would have missed out for Le Tissier? I don’t know who to swap for her.
JAY PATEL: I would have picked Le Tissier over Jess Carter.
RACHEL COHEN: I would have selected Le Tissier over Lotte Wubben-Moy even though Lotte seems a lovely person.
ABI TICEHURST: Being a lovely person doesn’t win you a World Cup.
MARIELLA PREW: Lotte has been incredible for Arsenal over the last few months though.
ABI TICEHURST: Maya Le Tisser and Jess Park will both be on the plane to Australia anyway in case of injuries.
RACHEL COHEN: That’s why I would have got Le Tissier instead. Carter provides something different and we need full-backs, especially with Lucy Bronze returning.
EMMANUEL FAITH: Is Katie Robinson a better choice than Nikita Parris and Ebony Salmon?
BEN GILBY: For Parris yes, Salmon, not sure.
AIMEE LOGAN: Maybe Esme Morgan and Le Tissier were the two to decide between? Both the young ones maybe? Or even Zelem considering she didn’t make the last squad.
MARIELLA PREW: It’ll be interesting to see if Sarina Wiegman starts Russo or Daly. Personally, I’d start Daly and keep Russo as a super sub.
ABI TICEHURST: Absolutely the best option.
AIMEE LOGAN: Agree for sure. Daly should be starting in my opinion.
RACHEL COHEN: Obviously for me, the most exciting selection is Beth England. First EVER Spurs player in the squad! And massively deserved.
RUBY VINCE: One hundred percent agree. Beth England for England.
BEN GILBY: I had my fingers crossed for her, as I had a feeling she wouldn’t make it, but brilliant that she is.
RACHEL COHEN: Could not have done more – her stats are a goal per game (only 0.01 per 90 behind Daly).
ABI TICEHURST: A point of poignance is perhaps that our number nines have just over twice, in terms of domestic goals, the attacking prowess of the campaign prior to the Euros which could prove important when you consider the fine margins of some of the latter games last summer.
Laura Coombs is also an interesting addition…she’s incredibly under the radar I think and it’s been eight years since her last England call-up, she’s an important part of our ‘experience’ over youth selection.
Nobbs back in the side is a real excitement, looking forward to some cracking link-up between her and Keira Walsh hopefully!
Coming later – Freya Ward reports from the media conference with Sarina Wiegman at Boldmere St. Michaels FC and Suvadeep Biswas provides exclusive photography from the event.
Impetus kicks off our extensive World Cup coverage from mid-June with our nation previews of all the 32 competing countries before our team of contributors based worldwide cover the tournament, including 10 Impetus contributors based in Australia and New Zealand for the duration of the tournament.
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