by Harvey Todd (27/3/24)
Above: Leah Williamson holds the Euros trophy. Photo: BBC
Sarina Wiegman announced her squad for the Lionesses’ first two UEFA Euro 2025 qualifiers against Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
Captain Leah Williamson will link up with her England teammates for the first time since April 2023 following a spell out on the sidelines after an anterior cruciate ligament injury ruled her out of last year’s Women’s World Cup.
The Arsenal defender was originally selected for the February friendlies, but was forced to withdraw due to a minor hamstring injury.
Wiegman’s only other switch comes in the form of Maya Le Tissier, who is replaced by her Manchester United teammate Millie Turner – the latter came in during the February camp to step in due to the absence of Williamson.
The Lionesses will again be without Millie Bright who is recovering from a knee injury.
In the Middle of the Park
Above: Jess Park and Lauren Hemp celebrate. Photo: Manchester City
Jess Park, who scored two impressive goals in Saturday’s Manchester Derby, keeps her place in the senior squad and has a chance to claim a spot in the midfield this International window.
Wiegman watched on at the Etihad Stadium as the 22-year-old impeccably stepped into midfield in Jill Roord’s absence by bagging a late first half brace before strength, intelligence and a superb through ball to the feet of Kahdija Shaw helped City to a third immediately after the interval.
Park also assisted Lauren Hemp’s opener in Manchester City’s 4-1 victory away to Brighton and Hove Albion. In February, the City midfielder set up Shaw for an early match winner away to Women’s Super League title race rivals Chelsea in near identical fashion to her assist in the derby.
The Lionesses boss was complimentary of the midfielder in her press conference, Wiegman said:
“She’s doing well, she’s enjoying her game. I think she plays with a lot of joy and with a lot of freedom.
“She has had a lot of patience over the last year… she went to Everton [on loan] and came back then needed a little more patience.
“But she was ready to start when, unfortunately, Roord got injured and I think she’s doing a good job.”
Sarina Wiegman on Jess Park’s recent form.
The Squad in Full
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating.
The omnipresent Earps once again heads the goalkeepers alongside Manchester City’s Keating and Chelsea’s Hampton, who has kept three clean sheets from four since the previous International break.
Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Millie Turner, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
In defence there are few surprises as another ever-present in Bronze keeps her place in the squad as Barcelona’s Champions League defence rolls on. Chelsea duo Carter and Charles and Man City’s versatile pair Greenwood and Morgan are again called up. Finally, fresh from her first goal of the season for Arsenal there is space for Wubben-Moy.
Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh.
An unchanged midfield selection sees Clinton, who netted a goal on her senior debut against Austria, again selected. The aforementioned Park sees her recent run of form rewarded with another call up, alongside Kirby, Stanway, Toone and Walsh.
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead. Alessia Russo.
With plenty of competition at the top end of the pitch Wiegman definitely would have had some tough decisions to make. She has again, like in midfield, gone unchanged from February – no doubt to the disappointment of the likes of Nikita Parris and Beth England.
“If you look at the squad and you look at the competition up front, it is so tight and so competitive that I have to make choices.”
Wiegman on England’s firing forwards.
It was goals galore for the Lionesses in February, as Hemp, Daly, Mead and Russo all found themselves on the scoresheets. James will hope that she can take her impressive club form into the upcoming Euros qualifiers, with the 22-year-old netting in three of her last five fixtures for Chelsea in all competitions. Kelly will again provide an option out wide.
Wiegman’s side will face Sweden at Wembley Stadium on Friday 5th April before taking on Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday 9th April.
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