Column: England and Sarina Wiegman set to kick off 2023
Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman will name her first squad of the year at 4pm on Tuesday. Who could be in? Who could be out? And how much does this squad mean looking towards the 2023 World Cup?
4pm on Tuesday afternoon officially marks the start of another international year for England as head coach Sarina Wiegman announces her first squad of 2023.
The Lionesses will face Belgium, Italy and Korea Republic as they look to defend the Arnold Clark Cup in its second edition, but in reality, the squad announcement marks the first pin on the road to the summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The depth available to Wiegman right now is at an all-time high, with players returning from injury and young players angling for an opportunity through current form in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
But this is about what Wiegman will do, and she’s not a particularly difficult head coach to read and it would be unwise to expect many changes from the previous camp in November.
And why should there be? A large core of the squad announced later today will be the ones who won the European Championships last July, and given Wiegman is yet to lose a single game in charge of the Lionesses, there’s very little justification for wholesale changes as she now tailors and tweaks the final pieces of her next jigsaw as July moves ever closer.
There are now just 164 days until the tournament kicks off in Sydney, so who is likely on the coach to Milton Keynes, Coventry and Bristol over the next two weeks, and more importantly, the long-haul flight to Australia come the summer?
The caveat to all of the below is there is no strict rule limiting England to 23 players for the Arnold Clark Cup, a maximum of 26 could be called up, while Wiegman relied on 24 in last year’s edition before Lotte Wubben-Moy pulled out.
Goalkeepers
Given there can only be three, this is usually one of the easier positions to predict. Mary Earps is nailed on as the current number one and FIFA Best nominee and right now there’s little reason to believe she won’t keep that role heading into the summer given her form with Manchester United.
Ellie Roebuck should also be safe having started 10 of Manchester City’s 12 games this season, and while her teammate Sandy MacIver will also hope to be in the squad, the third spot is as ever less clear cut. MacIver got the nod over Hannah Hampton in November as Wiegman bluntly admitted Hampton had some “personal things” to sort out, and Hampton hasn’t regularly held down the number one spot at club level either.
Could Emily Ramsey offer a curve ball? Again, not been a complete regular having started 50% of Everton’s WSL matches, but she’s been in good form when between the sticks. If there’s anything we know about Wiegman, it’s that she prefers consistency and changing as little as possible, so there’s a solid chance MacIver will get the nod.
Defenders
This may prove the trickiest area for Wiegman to select from given the sheer depth of player available at the back, and the amount who are versatile enough to offer options not just in other defensive roles, but in completely different areas of the pitch too.
Again, there are a few here who are almost certainly nailed on, namely the starting back four from last summer’s Euros success – Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, captain Leah Williamson and Rachel Daly, the latter of whom also offers an option up front where she’s been in excellent form for Aston Villa.
Alex Greenwood has also been a constant in the squad and a constant for Manchester City this season, so there’s no reason to think she won’t be in there too.
Then it gets a bit more complicated. Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles and Esme Morgan have all been regulars recently and while not being ever-presents for their respective clubs, they’ve been as good as.
Their chances though are complicated by not just the emergence of Maya Le Tissier after her first senior call-up, but also the good form of Gabby George, who has plenty of international experience and is coming off the back of winning player of the month for January in the WSL.
Then there’s Jess Carter, part of the Euro 2022 squad but dropped out in November and only has three league starts this season. At the moment it seems unlikely Carter will make it given the competition, and the same very much goes for Demi Stokes.
Could Lucy Parker be a dark horse? She has only just returned from injury, but her call-up in November shows Wiegman clearly likes her, and now she’s back fit might she be tempted to bring her straight back in? If not, her defensive partner Grace Fisk has been a constant presence for West Ham and already has experience with the national team.
If there are to be any potential surprises, and it’s unlikely given some of the high-profile names who simply won’t make it due to the level of defenders available, Manchester United’s Hannah Blundell and Millie Turner could be options, but neither have enjoyed much of a look in under the current boss who was at Leigh Sports Village to watch United on Sunday.
Carla Ward has often made a plea for Danielle Turner and Sarah Mayling and both have been in good form, as has Maz Pacheco, in a solid Villa side this season, but again, any of the three would prove a surprise inclusion given the numbers ahead of them.
Midfielders
This is where the script flips, because while there is plenty of depth at the back, the story isn’t quite as similar in the middle of the park, and hasn’t been for some time.
It’s a worry for many England fans about what happens if a key midfielder picks up an injury, and once again it looks like it will be the lightest area of the squad when it comes to numbers.
Keira Walsh will be there now she seems to have overcome the slight injury issue at Barcelona, as will Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, possibly the three making up England’s starting midfield when looking at a full strength starting eleven.
Katie Zelem, while not getting much game time, has been a regular in Wiegman’s squads, while Fran Kirby’s six goals and general impressive performances when fit should be more than enough to secure her spot despite only starting five league games so far this season.
Jess Park is classed as a midfielder in the England squad, though often used further forward, and despite plenty of options in attack, it would be disappointing if Park isn’t now a regular in the squads moving into the future.
The youngster has been superb on loan at Everton and flourished with regular football, and she shone on her England debut at the end of last year.
Wiegman has often gone without big numbers in the middle so this may be all we see, though the experienced options of either Jordan Nobbs or Lucy Staniforth could provide necessary depth if needed.
Both switched to Aston Villa in January for regular game time but whether it’s too soon for Wiegman to make a fair judgement on their performances remains to be seen. Don’t be surprised if neither are in the squad to make room for numbers at the back and in attack.
Curve balls? Laura Coombs has been in excellent form for Manchester City and would deserve a chance, while Ashleigh Neville has scored three goals and got two assists playing a higher role than normal with Tottenham. Neville turns 30 in April and it’s rare to see someone called up for the first time this late into their career, but who knows?
Forwards
This is where it gets a little complicated, because it’s possibly the most exciting area of the squad for England right now. But, numbers wise Wiegman will be stuck somewhere in the middle, with not quite as much depth as the defence, but a lot more on offer than the midfield.
One change from November is certain, the absence of Ballon d’Or runner-up Beth Mead due to her ACL injury, but if there is one area of the pitch England can take a long-term injury, it might be out on the wings.
Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo are almost certainly nailed on selections, as now should be Lauren James who has worked her way in and maintained a fantastic level for Chelsea, even as recently as her superb solo goal vs Tottenham at the weekend.
Then there’s a few question marks. Nikita Parris has been an almost constant presence under Wiegman for her work rate, experience and tenacity. Her form has blown hot and cold since joining Manchester United, but with Mead out it would be no surprise to see Parris maintain her spot.
Then there’s a spot for another number nine. My own personal view has always been that Ebony Salmon’s unique skillset offers something completely different to England and I hope she goes to the World Cup, but she’s in pre-season at the moment and has little game time recently, so that may open the door for Beth England.
Like Nobbs and Staniforth, the striker went in search of regular game time in January, but like Nobbs and Staniforth it may still yet prove too early for Wiegman to have made a proper judgement on England, despite two goals in her first two league games for Tottenham.
Then there’s Katie Robinson, who has two goals and two assists for a struggling Brighton side this season and has definitely caught the eye of Wiegman on more than one occasion. She could still be in with a shout, but it also feels like she may have been overtaken in the pecking order.
It's unlikely there’s any curve balls in this department, but Aggie Beever-Jones has shone brightly when called upon by Everton. She’s still young and not starting regularly in the league and it’s unlikely the call will come just yet, but she’s one to keep an eye on.
WFC’s Predicted Squad
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Sandy MacIver
Defenders: Alex Greenwood, Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles, Esme Morgan, Gabby George, Maya Le Tissier
Midfielders: Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem, Fran Kirby, Jess Park
Forwards: Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Nikita Parris, Lauren James, Beth England, Katie Robinson