England Women’s squad: The full 23-player line-up for World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg
Sarina Wiegman has named her first England squad since this summer’s successful European Championship campaign for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg.
Wiegman has been forced into changes with all-time leading goalscorer Ellen White, 33, and second-most capped player ever Jill Scott, 35, both announcing their retirement after winning the Euros.
Other notable absentees from the squad are Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time goal secured the historic 2-1 win against Germany in July’s final, and influential playmaker Fran Kirby, due to injuries.
Wiegman has brought Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs back into the squad after she missed the Euros due to injury, while Katie Zelem is also recalled after being omitted from the final 23-player squad this summer.
Manchester City goalkeeper Sandy Maciver replaces Aston Villa’s Hannah Hampton as one of three goalkeepers included and there are changes in attack too with Houston Dash forward Ebony Salmon and the uncapped Lauren James selected.
Sarina Wiegman said: “It only feels like yesterday since we were celebrating at Wembley, but we have to get straight back to business. We have a big target in front of us this month to book our place at the World Cup, and we have to set aside our amazing memories of this summer for the moment.
“We have lost four players in midfield and forward positions so I am pleased we can turn to experience in Katie and Jordan along with two for the future in Lauren and Ebony.
“When we can, it is important to give opportunities to our promising younger players in this environment, and for them to experience what is expected in the senior set-up both on and off the pitch. This includes Sandy MacIver who just missed out on the Euro.”
Analysis: White should be talked about in the same way as Rooney
By Kat Lucas
A European champion and the Lionesses’ greatest ever goalscorer, Ellen White ends her career as a legend of the women’s game. Curiously, she has bowed out just one goal shy of Wayne Rooney’s unmatched tally for England.
The comparisons with Rooney, who scored 53 goals to White’s 52, will never satisfy some onlookers. They took place in entirely different spheres, and as the perennial detractors will be keen to point out, White’s tally began before the mass professionalisation of women’s football.
As White put it herself, she is now making way for the “next generation”.
“You don’t have to be the best at something to make your dreams come true, just look at me. Hard work, dedication, passion and love for what you do are a great recipe. Don’t ever let someone tell you ‘you can’t do something or achieve your dreams’. I was once told I couldn’t play for the boys’ team and I would never play for England. Now I am retiring having made 113 caps with 52 goals for England and a European champion.”
And if we are to talk about influence, how many boys who would otherwise never have kicked a ball took up football because of Rooney or Kane? The Manchester City forward is part of a unique Lionesses set-up who, within days of lifting the European Championship, set about campaigning for girls’ football to be added to the national curriculum.
In no way does it lessen what Rooney and Kane have done – but for that alone, White deserves to be talked about in the same breath as them.
On the absences of Kelly and Kirby, Wiegman added: “Chloe, it’s just a small thing but it’s too early to bring her in and to let her play. She needs a little bit more time but it’s not too bad.
“And Fran she has a foot injury which takes a little more time. I think she’ll be alright but again this is too short and she hasn’t had that much training at all so she just needs a little bit more time, this just comes too early.”
England will play against Austria in Wiener Neustadt on Saturday 3 September before hosting Luxembourg in Stoke at the Bet 365 Stadium on Tuesday 6 September.
Wiegman’s squad only needs a point from those two games to seal qualification to next summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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