What's happened
England manager Sarina Wiegman has left Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of a playoff squad, saying their levels on the pitch have not matched expectations. She still believes in them and says they can do better, while naming Lexi Potter and Freya Godfrey among new call-ups ahead of October’s World Cup qualifying playoff vs Greece.
What's behind the headline?
Key angles
- Wiegman’s approach is based on current form, not past glories, signaling a focus on building for the World Cup cycle ahead.
- The inclusion of Lexi Potter and Freya Godfrey reflects a push to inject pace and technical variety from Chelsea and London City Lionesses respectively.
- Williamson’s return adds leadership, while Beever-Jones misses out, indicating a deeper squad evaluation.
What this means for readers
- England’s path to qualification remains competitive, with Greece posing a test in October.
- Toone and Kelly’s omissions could serve as motivation to rebound with club form, while remaining in contention for future call-ups if performances improve.
Forecast
- If Potter and Godfrey replicate club form, England’s attack could gain speed and creativity, sharpening options for Wiegman ahead of the next round of fixtures.
How we got here
Wiegman has consistently revised England’s squads to balance proven winners with younger talents. This shift follows a season where Toone and Kelly have struggled for form, while Kelly has battled a hamstring issue. The expansion of the pool includes debuts for Parkinson and Godfrey.
Our analysis
The Guardian reports on Wiegman’s comments, highlighting the emphasis on current form over past achievements; BBC Sport confirms the same points with additional quotes and the captain’s return. Both cite Chelsea’s Lexi Potter and other new calls as part of an updated squad strategy.
Go deeper
- Will Toone and Kelly regain form and force a recall?
- How will Potter and Godfrey influence England’s tactical setup?
- What does Williamson’s return mean for the defence ahead of Greece?
More on these topics
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England - Country of the United Kingdom
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by
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Greece - Country in the Balkans
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation's capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
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Ella Toone - English association football player
Ella Ann Toone (born 2 September 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Women's Super League club Manchester United and the England national team. She represented England from under-17 to under-21, scoring her first Euro goal against Spain in 2022, with another against Germany in the Euro 2022 final, helping the team to win the European Championship. Toone started her senior career at Blackburn Rovers in 2013, later joining Manchester City and winning the WSL in 2016. Since joining United in 2018, she has become their top scorer with most appearances for the club, has been described as a household name, as well as a key player by manager Marc Skinner. In August 2023, Toone scored her first World Cup goal against Australia in the semi-final, becoming the first England footballer to score in a quarter-final, semi-final and final of a major tournament.
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Sarina Wiegman - Dutch footballer
Sarina Wiegman RON, also known as Sarina Wiegman-Glotzbach, is a Dutch former footballer and current head coach of the Netherlands women's national football team. She played as a central midfielder and, later in her career, as a defender. In 2001, she bec
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Chloe Kelly - Footballer
Chloe Maggie Kelly is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester City in the FA WSL and the England national team. She previously played for Arsenal and Everton and represented England on the under-17, under-19 and under-20 national teams
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Arsenal F.C. - Football club
Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England, that plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.
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Chelsea Football Club - Football club
Chelsea Football Club are an English professional football club based in Fulham, London. Founded in 1905, the club competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football.