Mead biggest of five huge World Cup calls
All eyes will be on England manager Sarina Wiegman as she names her 23- player World Cup squad this afternoon — 50 days before the tournament begins in australia and new Zealand.
Wiegman will announce her final squad at community club Boldmere St Michaels at 2pm and it is expected she will also name around five stand-by players.
a raft of injuries to key players, including captain leah Williamson, has given the lionesses’ boss some dilemmas over the last few months. With England looking to follow-up their Euro 2022 success down Under, Mail Sport takes a look at the five big decisions facing their manager.
DOES WIEGMAN TAKE A PUNT ON BETH?
IT has been six months since arsenal forward Beth Mead tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Wiegman said in March that she would need a ‘miracle’ to make the World Cup and while it seems Mead has become resigned to not being fit in time, she has not given up hope.
The forward won the golden Boot at the Euros and was in fantastic form for arsenal when she suffered the injury. She is back running and ahead of schedule in her recovery but there are doubts over whether she would be match-fit in time for England’s first game.
Had FIFA allowed managers to name a bigger squad of 26, Wiegman would likely have included Mead on the off chance she could have played 10 or 15 minutes if needed. But it is unlikely she will risk her in a 23-player squad.
WHO TAKES THE FINAL GOALKEEPER SPOT?
WITH Mary Earps set to be the no 1 and Ellie Roebuck the first back-up choice, it’s likely to be either Hannah Hampton or Emily Ramsey for the third spot.
Hampton was part of the Euro 2022 squad but was dropped from the next three camps before a recall in april.
Ramsey, who spent the season on loan at Everton from Manchester United, was given her first call-up in February but had to withdraw through injury and does not have a senior cap.
WHO FILLS THE DEFENSIVE VOID?
WILLIAMSON’S injury means alex greenwood will likely play alongside Millie Bright at centre back, but that would mean playing a right-footed player at left back. greenwood is the only recognised left- footed player Wiegman has picked in defence. The other options in that area — Jess Carter, niamh Charles and Esme Morgan, are all right-footed. Rachel daly, who played left back during the Euros, is now primarily a forward for Wiegman.
One option could be to bring back former captain Steph Houghton to partner Bright, allowing greenwood to play left back. The 35- year- old is the most experienced option available to Wiegman but the pair’s relationship has been fragile since Houghton was left out of the Euros squad last summer.
YOUTH OR EXPERIENCE?
THERE are a couple of places in the forward areas that could go to trusted and experienced players or to promising youngsters.
Bethany England and nikita Parris were both members of the Euros-winning squad but have been in and out of the set-up since. England has not been picked since September but finished the season with more goals than alessia Russo after a January move to Tottenham.
Parris, meanwhile, finished the campaign strongly for Manchester United and is a well-liked member of the squad.
But both Parris and England could miss out for young Brighton winger Katie Robinson. The 20-year- old managed six assists and four goals for the Seagulls and has been in Wiegman’s last three squads, so is clearly a player the England boss admires.
MIDFIELD COVER?
KEIRa Walsh and georgia Stanway will be the starting central midfielders for England but Wiegman must decide on cover.
Manchester City’s laura Coombs seems to have moved ahead of United captain Katie Zelem in the last few months. Coombs received her first call-up since 2018 back in February and was named in the last squad in april, while Zelem was dropped.
Both have different qualities. Coombs is a tidier player who can also burst forward and score. Zelem, meanwhile, is stronger and harder to knock off the ball and is one of the best set-piece takers in the WSl.
aston Villa’s Jordan nobbs is a more attack-minded midfielder and is likely to be the back-up no 10 choice to Ella Toone. Jess Park is also an option there.