After the summer of football we have just witnessed the next England squad announcement was always going to be an interesting one, was it going to be all the same players? Was it going to have some comebacks involved? Well thanks to a few varying factors the squad announcement for England's World Cup qualifiers is looking a bit different to what it did for the Euros and to be honest the new faces coming in just goes to show the quality of options available to Sarina Wiegman. Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly are unfortunately out due to injury and the retirements of legends Ellen White & Jill Scott means, 4 attacking/midfield positions have opened up to those who maybe just missed out on the Euro squad due to injuries etc last season. The 4 slots have been taken up by some quality replacements and it is a chance for them to get their names back out there on the international stage as the World Cup is fast approaching. The most surprising one for me though is Hannah Hampton missing out for Sandy MacIver, something I am not too sure about as Hampton has shown at Aston Villa just how useful she can be but if it is due to personal reasons it is nice to see Wiegman giving the player the time she needs rather than dragging her in to sit on a bench.
So here is a look at the squad that Sarina Wiegman has put together for the first camp back after the Euros whilst England are chasing qualification for the 2023 World Cup and our thoughts on each selection...
Mary Earps - I think it is going to be hard to drop Earps from the squad after her performances lately, she really has cemented herself as Englands number 1 and I don't see that changing unless she picks up an injury (please don't get injured Mary). She played fantastically lately and I am really looking forward to seeing more of her during these next two few games and going into the new season.
Sandy MacIver - This was a strange one for me but apparently Hampton has missed out due to personal reasons so it makes a bit more sense now. Man City's new recruit will surely be using this camp as an opportunity to make an impression on Wiegman but also on her new team Man City. I am not sure if she will get much game time but the extra bit of camp experience will definitely be beneficial for her.
Ellie Roebuck - Roebuck is once again called up for international action and I can see her being the second choice 'keeper and if Wiegman decides to rest Earps for any of the upcoming games I can imagine it would be Roebuck that we see taking her place in goal. This camp will be a good warm up going into the new season too even if she doesn't get any game time.
Millie Bright - Bright definitely played her best games in an England shirt during the Euros so I am sure only injury could have kept her out of this squad. I wouldn't be surprised if she was one of the first names picked after what we saw this summer. I am a big fan of Bright and her defensive ability and also what she can do going forward too so again I am really looking forward to seeing her during these games, could we see some great tackles and great goals?
Lucy Bronze - of course one of the best right backs in the world is called up once again and I am glad as it means a few more opportunities to watch her play, something I am going to miss now she has moved to Barcelona. Bronze just doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon and those attacking runs are always going to be a big benefit for England especially with qualification on the line.
Jess Carter - Carter stood out to me for Chelsea last season and her efforts for her club didn't go unnoticed as she found her way into the Euro squad. Unfortunately she didn't get much game time in the tournament but when you are the same position as Bronze it is always going to be a tough time getting picked as first choice. Carter has clearly done something right though as she has found herself called up for these qualifiers and I am hoping to see Bronze get a bit of a rest even if just for half of a game so that we can see just what Carter is capable of.
Rachel Daly - Daly really stood out to me during the Euros and I think she played particularly well in the left back position when back in Houston she was more of an attacking player. I am glad we are finally getting to see Daly shine in an England shirt rather than sitting on the bench as her quality on and off the ball is fantastic, she really has made that position her own now.
Alex Greenwood - Greenwood is a pretty versatile player these days with the ability to play as either a centre back or left back. Unfortunately though she has spent most of the time on the bench these days due to the strength in those two positions, it is always great to see her called up for England duty though and I am really hoping she gets some minutes over the next few games as again it is always great to see her play.
Demi Stokes - Stokes has found herself on the bench for England a lot recently but that left back spot is one that is fiercely contested for and I am not surprised we aren't seeing as much of her as we used to. With Daly and Greenwood also in this squad I can't see much game time for Stokes but the extra training could help keep her in contention for other camps as the world cup approaches. The left back spot is where I thought we looked weak in previous years but lately it is the most competed spot with a lot of talent to pick from.
Leah Williamson - Captain fantastic, Williamson is still only a young player but she is leading her country brilliantly and I can't to see her career progress both at club and international level. Her and Bright have formed a fantastic partnership in the back line and I don't know about you but I always feel like the ball is in safe hands when she has it. Not only is she a brilliant defender but her pin point passes are something else England will benefit from as they chase World Cup qualification and her ability to read the game and stay composed is the perfect addition to the England camp. I think we will be seeing Williamson on the call up sheet for many more years.
Lotte Wubben-Moy - Unfortunately we haven't seen too much of Wubben-Moy in an England shirt yet due to the other players that play in her position but just like with other fringe players these camps are a great chance to gain extra experience and there is a possibility she might get some game time to give others a rest and things crossed we do get to see her as she has impressed me in the games I have seen her play in.
Jordan Nobbs - The name I was searching for when the announcement was made... Jordan Nobbs, Jordan has been so unlucky with injuries in the past but she has worked hard to bounce back from her latest setback and I can't wait to see her in the England shirt once more. With Scott retired this is a really big chance for Nobbs to step up and become a regular call up and I just hope she has a good year with England and stays fit as I would like to think this is the first step of her getting that World Cup call up.
Georgia Stanway - Stanway is proving to be a pivotal player for England and I am totally here for that as for such a young player she holds a lot of promise. We have seen some amazing performances from Stanway since her England debut and I think we still have the best to come which I am definitely looking forward to. With Scott now retired I think her place in the middle of the field is going to be a place she really makes her own and these next few games are a big chance to remind everyone what she is capable of.
Ella Toone - Toone has made herself a household name over the summer and I am glad she has been called up once again as the young Man Utd player is absolutely brilliant. Her ability to read the play and be in the right place at the right time is fantastic and her pace can really cause issues for the opposition. She was one of a handful of super subs in the summer but are we going to see her get a few starts in the next few games? It would be great if we did.
Keira Walsh - The most overlooked midfielder is called up for England once again and I am really hoping she is going to start getting some recognition for her hard work very soon as honestly I think without her we wouldn't have won the Euros. Walsh goes by unnoticed yet it is her passes and awareness that gets England into those dangerous positions in the first place, she can play the team out of trouble and create chances with short passes or long pin point balls and she will be a big part of England's World Cup push and this camp is just the beginning.
Katie Zelem - The Manchester United captain is back in the England squad and it is another well deserved call up. I think if Scott hadn't been available for the Euros we would have seen Zelem at the tournament especially as she was at some of the camps before the final squad was announced. Now is her chance to shine in an England shirt though and show why she should be getting called up regularly as we approach the World Cup and fingers crossed she gets some minutes in this camp and future ones.
Beth England - I was a bit gutted when England didn't play any of the Euros but that big tournament is definitely going to come in handy for the future. I am hoping that with White retired we might get to see a bit more of England as an attacking option for her country but she is definitely up against tough competition. I hope we get to see what she can bring to the England squad this camp.
Lauren Hemp - The Hemp and Daly connection on the left seems to be working really well and I am hoping to see this continue into this camp and these qualifiers as the more they play together the stronger that connection gets. Hemp is an absolutely fantastic player who causes a lot of issues for the opposition and it is scary to think how young she is and how many years she has got left in her, she is still only just starting but has already caught everyone's attention for all the right reasons. fingers crossed for a few more Hemp goals this camp.
Lauren James - It is nice to see James back in the England squad, back when she was playing regularly at Manchester United I really enjoyed what I saw from her then she moved to Chelsea where she hasn't had as much game time as she should do but with the quality of players she is training with daily I think adding in this camp the experience is going to shape her into an even better player than she already is. I am not too sure how much game time she is going to get but hopefully this is just the start of more regular call ups.
Beth Mead - Mead has had a fantastic time under Wiegman's watchful eye and I am looking forward to seeing if she can add to her England goal tally in these upcoming fixtures. She really has stood out and made her name for herself lately and I am really hoping that this continues into these qualifiers, if she plays like she did in the Euros then we are definitely in for a treat.
Nikita Parris - Parris is looking to get herself back in the starting line up and off the bench whilst also putting her name out there for her new club Manchester United so I am looking forward to seeing how well she performs at this camp. With the talent in the camps these days it is going to be hard for anyone to break into being a starter without a player getting injured but if Parris gets playing like she did pre Lyon I think we could see her increase her England camps.
Alessia Russo - I am sure Russo was one of the first names down on this list after her spectacular performances in the Euros but with White now retired we could be calling on her starting the games more often but how is she going to react to that? She was used as a super sub all tournament but being a starter could be totally different but with Russo's footballing ability I am sure she will have an impact in these qualifiers whether she is a starter or a substitute and I am looking forward to seeing more goals from her as I am sure she will be on the score sheet at least once in these next 2 games.
Ebony Salmon - Since moving to the NWSL things have been a bit quiet on the Ebony Salmon front however, since her recent move to Houston Dash her name is becoming more and more popular as she is scoring for the fun of it. With injuries to Kirby and Kelly it is a chance for Salmon to step in and show Wiegman what she could utilise in future camps and tournaments. Even if she doesn't get much game time the camp experience is going to be useful as with her still being so young this camp is just the beginning for her really and if she trains like she's played in the States no-one will be forgetting her name in a hurry.
So that is how the squad is looking for the upcoming camp, again it shows just how many great options Sarina has available to fall back on to cover for injuries and I am really hoping this is a chance for Nobbs to get back in the running for a World Cup squad space (please stay injury free this season Jordan) as she is a player who deserves another chance at glory after suffering so many set backs in the run up to other major tournaments in the past.
I have to say though it is going to take some getting used to seeing these announcements without Jill and Ellen included, those retirements have definitely hit home hard and the legends are going to be missed but it is time for others to step up and show us what Ellen and Jill have taught them, they are definitely big shoes to fill though. I am looking forward to this camp and seeing how the team plays together and surely we will secure qualification to next years World Cup.
What do you think to the squad Wiegman has picked for the next few games?