According to reports ‘Lionesses’ Keira Walsh and Beth England to Sit Out Two Nations League Games’ England’s Women’s World Cup runners-up, Keira Walsh and Beth England, will be absent from the squad for the upcoming two Nations League matches due to injuries.
Sarina Wiegman has largely retained the core of the World Cup squad for their games against Scotland on September 22 in Sunderland and the Netherlands on September 26 in Utrecht.
The 24-player squad includes defender Maya Le Tissier and midfielders Lucy Staniforth and Jess Park, while Beth Mead, the golden boot winner at Euro 2022, will not be available.
England is placed in a group with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Scotland in League A, with the group winners advancing to the semi-finals in February.
Wiegman commented in a media release on Wednesday, “By the time we play our first game, it will be little more than a month since the World Cup final. We have had little time to reflect on all we have achieved so far this year. Instead, we will have to make sure the players are fresh enough and ready to perform straight away if we want to go far in another competition.”
England’s participation in the Nations League offers a chance to qualify Team GB for their third Olympics, following their appearances in the 2012 and 2020 Tokyo Games.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Elle Roebuck.
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Maya Le Tissier; Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Midfielders: Laura Coombs, Jordan Nobbs, Jess Park, Lucy Staniforth, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem.
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Katie Robinson.
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Interesting Facts About The Lionesses National Team
Here are some interesting facts about the England women’s national football team, also known as the Lionesses:
- The team was founded in 1972 and played its first international match against Scotland in the same year.
- The Lionesses have qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup six times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1995, 2007, and 2011, finishing fourth in 2019, and third in 2015. They reached the final for the first time in 2023, ultimately finishing as runners-up.
- The team has also won the UEFA Women’s Championship once, in 2022.
- The Lionesses are currently ranked third in the world by FIFA.
- The team’s most capped player is Fara Williams, who has 172 appearances.
- The team’s all-time leading scorer is Ellen White, with 52 goals.
- The team’s current captain is Leah Williamson.
- The team’s head coach is Sarina Wiegman.
- The Lionesses are one of the most popular and successful women’s football teams in the world.