How is the Lionesses Squad Changing and Why are Key Players Being Dropped?

As the Lionesses arrive at St Georges’ Park, they prepare for the first leg of their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece. With such an important competition at stake, it was important that Sarina chose her twenty-three players wisely and picked players based on their talent and club form, rather than familiarity. The ability to rotate the squad could be seen as an asset, as many players are either ageing, injured or not being played by their club.

A Fresh Face for the Lionesses?

Alexia “Lexi” Potter is no stranger to an England camp. She started her journey as a Lioness, coming through the youth camps ranging from Under-17 right through to the Under-23 level. At just twenty years old, she is proving to be one of the WSL’s most promising midfield prospects. Due to her level of quality at both club and youth international level, Wiegman decided to reward Potter with the natural next step in her career, saying "Her performances were just really good. We started following her closely last season and she got minutes over time.” The call-up should not only provide her with experience on some of the world’s largest international stages, but also show her club that she is able to put in a performance in unfamiliar surroundings, meaning that she should be able to strengthen her case and put herself in the pipeline for more opportunities to start when Sonia Bompastor is deciding her starting eleven.

Why Were Sarina’s “Super Subs” Left Out?

Famously, Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have been labelled the super-sub duo since their history-making UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph. However, this time round, the Lionesses’ manager showed that she is capable of tough love and prioritising those who have maintained better form in the opening stages of the league campaign. Wiegman’s decisions appear to be well justified, considering that Chloe Kelly is yet to play a full ninety minutes for Renée Slegers’ Arsenal side, and as for Toone, she has struggled to make any meaningful contributions to the start of Manchester United's season. With the competition to retain a position in the senior side increasing, it is starting to become more and more important that the manager keeps a close eye on club form too. Sarina Wiegman reiterated this in a press conference when she admitted, “The main reason [for them being left out of the squad] is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch.”

Whose Names Made it Back on the List?

Despite a few familiar faces missing from this camp, there are a few names that never seem to leave the initial list. These squad selections could show that the manager has built trust in her squad over the years and values them, as well as their playing style. A good example of this would be Arsenal centre-back Leah Williamson. This is because she was forced to withdraw from the previous camp due to an injury. Her return could be crucial in plenty of ways. For example, one of her strengths is that she has the ability to play an excellent long ball, which may help the Lionesses get on the counter if they’re struggling. It may also help her at club level with Arsenal, as they've struggled to get into games recently. The international break could be utilised as a so-called “reset” period because she will be in a new environment with different people.

Erica Meg Parkinson has been given another chance to show her quality by the England boss. After receiving her first senior call-up in March at just seventeen years old, she is now eighteen and plays across the pond for NWSL team North Carolina Courage, where she seems to be thriving. After leaving uncapped at the last camp, she will be aiming to get some minutes under her belt, as well as bring interesting elements to this England side. 

Overall, the changes to the squad show that we are beginning to move away from the Wiegman era as we know it, in order to welcome emerging young talents. However, this does not mean that experience is being pushed aside, with Leah Williamson’s return showing that established players still have an important role to play. The omission of Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly also highlights how important club form has become when it comes to selection, showing that previous success does not guarantee a place in the squad. With the Lionesses now preparing to face Greece, these changes will be put to the test, giving us an early indication of how this evolving squad can perform together.