With the Lionesses kicking off their defence of their Euros crown exactly one month today, let’s take a look at who Sarina Wiegman has included in her 23-player squad and preview the tournament ahead for England.
Today at 2 pm (BST), Sarina Wiegman named her squad for the upcoming Euros in Switzerland. The team in full is listed and pictured below:
Goalkeepers:
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating, (Manchester City) and Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride).
Defenders:
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Niamh Charles, (Chelsea) and Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd).
Midfielders:
Ella Toone (Man Utd), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea), Grace Clinton, (Man Utd) and Jess Park (Man City).
Forwards:
Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Michelle Agyemang (Brighton, on loan from Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), and Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea).
Standby list
Sophie Baggaley (Brighton), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Man City), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), and Lucy Parker (Aston Villa).
Not a lot of experienced players, but it’s still stacked full of talent
The team is lacking a lot of experienced tournament players, such as Millie Bright, who pulled out of selection yesterday due to suffering from burnout and mental health issues. Mary Earps and Fran Kirby are also missing as they both surprisingly announced their retirements from international football over the past week. And from the previous Euros-winning squad in 2022, Ellen White, Jill Scott, and Rachel Daly have all retired too.
However, Wiegmans’ squad is still full of talent and quality. Arsenal women, who won the Champions League last month, have five players featuring, including star striker Alessia Russo, Beth Mead, and, of course, the winning Euros captain from 2022, Leah Williamson.
The Lionesses squad is also full of many talented youngsters who’ve shone in the WSL this season, including Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever Jones, Jess Park, and 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang.
Experienced and big game Lionesses such as Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, and Ella Toone have made the squad and will no doubt prove to be big characters going into this tournament for Wiegman alongside captain Williamson.
The only real surprise coming out of the squad is that Lauren James has been included. The Chelsea forward has been out injured for a long period, and it was questionable whether she’d make the cut, but the forward has been working hard on her recovery and fitness, and is ready to go in July, which will be a massive boost as she is another big game player. The main surprises came more so from Earps, Kirby, and Bright before the squad announcement even happened, and the fact Nikita Parris failed to make the squad, her experience may have been vital over someone like Michelle Agyemang.
Key players – Grace Clinton and Lauren Hemp
Lauren Hemp can once again be key to the Lionesses this summer, after returning from injury to the side for the Nations League games against Spain and Portugal, she got some vital minutes under her belt. Her pace, skills, and goal-scoring threat could be pivotal to England right from the off in Switzerland. In the last Euros and the World Cup in 2023 we saw just how talented the 24-year-old Manchester City winger is, she can always pop up with a brilliant assist or goal on the big stage and Wiegman will be hoping for more of the same. Providing she’s fit enough, she will surely be one of the first names on the teamsheet. In the group stages against the likes of France and Holland, Wiegman will be hoping Hemp can use her pace to drive England forward and relieve some pressure that will no doubt be on the defenders.
Grace Clinton is one of those talented youngsters I mentioned above. She has no major tournament experience as she only made her senior debut back in February last year, however, she has had an incredible season again with Manchester United. She played in 21 of her side’s 22 league games and scored 8 goals. The 22-year-old midfielder is physical, strong, and can also pop up with a goal or two when required. Her heading ability is top-class. Clinton has stepped into the Lionesses’ midfield with ease over the last few months while Georgia Stanway recovered from injury. I’m sure Clinton will be pushing to be in that starting 11 alongside veterans Keira Walsh and Stanway this summer. Her strength and power could be good against France and Holland in the group stages, as they are both strong sides themselves, and her ability to carry the ball forward can also be vital for her team as well.
A very tough summer ahead, but they’ve got the talent to go all the way
It’s hard to predict how the Lionesses are going to get on out in Switzerland this summer, if form from their recent games is anything to go by, scoring goals isn’t the problem. The biggest problem seems to be when they come under pressure defensively. Against Spain on Tuesday, the squad looked like they didn’t know what to do in possession; they constantly tried to play out from the back and kept getting caught out a lot, and when they didn’t have the ball, they had to withstand a lot of pressure. But, they have one more friendly against Jamaica before they begin the tournament on the 5th July against France. Wiegman will be looking to solve this problem as quickly as possible to get them fully ready to go.
It’s certainly going to be a very tough summer ahead due to the lack of experience however, this squad is stacked full of talented players all across the pitch and if they all play how they’ve played for their respective clubs this season and can strike up a good team relationship, the Lionesses could make yet another final and maybe bring it home for a second Euros running…
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