Ahead of the October international break, Sarina Wiegman has announced her 23-player England squad for the Lionesses’ upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece.
The squad has already sparked plenty of debate among England supporters, with established internationals Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly among the notable absentees.
England will face Greece across two legs as they begin Round One of the UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs, having missed out on automatic qualification after finishing second in their group.
Potter Earns First England Call-Up
One of the biggest talking points from Wiegman’s selection is the inclusion of Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, who has earned her first senior England call-up.
The 20-year-old has impressed during the opening weeks of the season and has already made an impact for Chelsea across both the WSL and Champions League.
Potter has played 346 minutes for the Blues so far this campaign, starting three of their opening five league matches, while also making an appearance from the bench. She also scored her first goal of the season in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Birmingham City.
Her form has now been rewarded with a place in Wiegman’s senior squad, allowing her to make her international debut.
Potter is not the only young midfielder involved, with 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson also returning to the squad. Parkinson is still waiting to make her senior England debut after receiving her first call-up in April.
The pair’s inclusion represents another opportunity for Wiegman to introduce fresh options into an England midfield which already contains the experience of Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh.
There has also been plenty of excitement among Chelsea supporters at the prospect of Walsh and Potter working together for England, having already developed an understanding at club level.
Toone and Kelly Among Notable Absences
While Potter has been handed her opportunity, several established Lionesses have been left out.
Lotte Wubben-Moy, Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones, Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly are all absent from the squad, while Taylor Hinds remains out following an injury and a lack of regular playing time.
The decision to leave Toone and Kelly out is arguably the most significant, given their importance to England in recent years.
Wiegman has indicated that current performance levels and competition for places have played a role in her selection decisions, although Kelly’s representatives have also stated that the forward is currently unfit.
The limited amount of domestic football played by some of the omitted players is also notable.
After four WSL matches, Wubben-Moy has played 90 minutes, Clinton 141, Beever-Jones 107, Toone 300 and Kelly 142. Hinds has also played 90 minutes.
For Wiegman, the selection represents an opportunity to demand more from established players while rewarding those who have impressed at club level.
There had also been calls from supporters for other emerging players, including Issy Goodwin, Poppy Pattinson and Ruby Mace, to be given opportunities.
Roebuck Remains Absent
Ellie Roebuck is another notable omission after recently returning to training with Aston Villa.
The goalkeeper spent around four months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury and subsequently missed England’s June camp.
Having only recently returned to training, Roebuck is yet to make an appearance for Villa this season and has therefore not been included by Wiegman.
England’s goalkeeping options instead consist of Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse.
A Different Squad
There are several changes compared with the group selected for the June fixtures against Spain and Ukraine.
Keating and Roebuck both withdrew from the previous camp through injury, while Taylor Hinds and Leah Williamson were also ruled out.
Williamson’s absence was particularly significant, with the England captain unavailable for the heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain.
Wiegman subsequently made three defensive changes for the return fixture against Ukraine, bringing Maya Le Tissier, Jess Carter and Niamh Charles into the starting XI in place of Wubben-Moy, Greenwood and Bronze.
Esme Morgan was the only defender to start both games.
There was also a midfield change, with Laura Blinkilde Brown replacing Toone.
England responded emphatically against Ukraine, recording a 6-1 victory after the disappointment of the defeat in Spain. Earlier in the campaign, they had also beaten Iceland 2-0 and Spain 1-0 at Wembley.
Despite collecting 13 points from six matches, England’s five wins and one defeat were not enough to secure top spot.
The 4-0 defeat to Spain ultimately proved decisive, leaving England second in the group and forcing them into the play-offs.
Greece Stand In The Way
England now have two matches against Greece standing between them and the next stage of their route to Brazil 2027.
The Lionesses are currently fourth in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, while Greece sit 59th, but England cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Greece are attempting to reach their first Women’s World Cup and will have their own ambitions of making history during the play-offs.
For England, the expectation will be high after their European Championship success in 2025, but Wiegman’s squad must now navigate a different challenge from the one they originally anticipated.
The first leg will take place on Friday, October 9, at 5:30 pm BST at the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete, before the return fixture in England.
The squad selection has already generated plenty of discussion, particularly surrounding the absence of Toone and Kelly.
At the same time, Potter has been rewarded for her impressive start to the season, while Parkinson has another opportunity to make her senior debut.
With England needing to negotiate the play-offs to keep their World Cup hopes alive, Wiegman has made it clear that reputations alone will not guarantee a place in her squad.
The Greece fixtures will provide the first opportunity for the new-look group to prove that selection decision right.
