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Leah Williamson has been selected to join the England team for the upcoming women’s Euros 2025 qualifiers against Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
In February, the Arsenal defender rejoined the national team after a nine-month absence due to a knee ligament injury. However, he later had to pull out of friendly matches against Austria and Italy due to a hamstring problem.
Fran Kirby, a player for Chelsea, has returned to play for the Lionesses after being absent in February due to a knee issue during the pre-Austria warm-up. Her club teammate Millie Bright is still recovering from an injury and will not be able to participate.
Unfortunately, Maya Le Tissier did not make the team this time. However, her teammate Millie Turner from Manchester United successfully defended her spot after being added to the team at the last minute in February. Turner replaced Williamson and made her debut against Italy.
Next summer, the winners of Euro 2022, England, will begin their attempt to qualify for the tournament in Switzerland. Their first match will be against Sweden at Wembley on the upcoming Friday, followed by a game against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin four days later. The group also includes France.
The coach, Sarina Wiegman, is eager for the upcoming challenge after her team’s impressive victories against Austria (7-2) and Italy (5-1) in their last games.
Williamson is a key part of the Lionesses set-up
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“There’s no time to waste,” Wiegman said in a statement from the Football Association. “February’s window showed who we are and where we want to go and we’ll look to continue that momentum from the minute we arrive at St. George’s Park next week.
“The group presents a difficult challenge, but also offers an exciting opportunity. These are high-stakes matches that will push us to our limits, and that’s exactly the type of competition we strive for.”
“We recognize that each team we compete against is a formidable nation and we understand that we must give our all in order to reach our objectives. We are prepared to face Sweden at Wembley.”
“I have many cherished memories at Wembley, which has been a significant venue for our team. It’s no surprise that we feel motivated when we compete there. The supporters have always been incredibly supportive and we know they can once again spur us on in our match against Sweden.”
The group of Lionesses selected to take on Sweden and Ireland:
The goalkeeper players are Mary Earps from Manchester United, Hannah Hampton from Chelsea, and Khiara Keating from Manchester City.
The backline includes Lucy Bronze from Barcelona, Jess Carter and Niamh Charles from Chelsea, Alex Greenwood and Esme Morgan from Manchester City, Millie Turner from Manchester United, and Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy from Arsenal.
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)
Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
The source is the independent.co.uk.
