By Freya Hiscott (11/02/25)
Above: Sarina Wiegman at the England squad announcement press conference ahead of upcoming Nations League fixtures. Photo: Lionesses on X
England head coach Sarina Wiegman has announced her 24-player squad for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures in February against Spain and Portugal.
The exciting two fixtures begin with a trip to Algarve to face Portugal on Friday 21st February, before the European Champions return to Wembley to face World Champions Spain for the first time since their defeat in the Women’s World Cup Final in 2023. This fixture will take place on Wednesday 26th February.
The first notable change to the squad is the return of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Forward Nikita Parris. Parris has scored six goals since completing her move to Brighton in the Summer from former club Manchester United. This is the first time Parris will be joining the Lionesses since November 2022. Wiegman explains, “She is doing well and is in good form I want to see her in this environment and taking this opportunity.”
Some Key names missing in this month’s squad are Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp who are all missing out on a call up due to various knee injuries. Fran Kirby is also amongst the players who are out because of an injury, which she picked up in England’s last game at Wembley against the USA, but Wiegman reassures that “she is almost back.”
Chelsea duo Lauren James and Niamh Charles both return following injury, having not made an appearance for England since July and April of last year respectively. Wiegman exclaims that James “is in a good place and it is good to see her fit fresh and playing for club.” This squad also sees the return of Ella Toone, adding more attacking options to the squad, after missing out on the previous camp while rehabbing a calf injury that she suffered back in November.
When discussing the upcoming matches, Wiegman said: “These are two big games to start 2025. It is exciting that we have the chance to write a new chapter in our story months ahead, especially with the Euro’s this summer, but we will focus first on what is right in front of us which is a very important Nations League campaign.”
“I hope to win these fixtures as they will get us in the best position for the Euro’s and upcoming World Cup draws, but these are two very competitive games”.
Talking about the first away fixture of the year against Portugal Wiegman says: “I’m expecting a high-level game, and it is also good to experience a different environment for our first match abroad since last summer.”
Chloe Kelly has been left out of the squad due to a lack of game time at Manchester City before moving to Arsenal on loan in the January transfer window. When asked about her absence, Wiegman stated her reasoning being that “she hasn’t played enough,” although she reassures that “she is not out for the Euro’s, and once she gets minutes at Arsenal, it will be revisited.”
Young talent Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace also retained their places in the squad, having been called up to the senior team for the first time in November after having a positive first half of their season with their respective clubs.
“What we’ve seen is that it’s really valuable that we’re really closely aligned with the Under-23s,” she said. “We already have a lot of the young players in our squad, and of course, it’s all about quality, but many of them are in our squad now.”
After this February camp, England have more fixtures in their Nations League group before the Lionesses head to Switzerland in July, hoping to retain the European Championship title for the second tournament in a row.
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