It’s almost exactly a month until England’s first game against France at the European Championship this summer and we are finally a little more than 24 hours away from knowing who will make up the Lionesses’ title-defence squad.
Despite the surprising shake-up after Mary Earps retired from international football following the news that Hannah Hampton would get the No 1 role this summer, head coach Sarina Wiegman is still steadying the ship. Consistency is a crucial pillar for the Dutch coach, who isn’t afraid of making tough decisions in tournaments, especially as another notable name, Fran Kirby, calls time on her international career after being told she’d be left off the squad as well.
With the final UEFA Nations League match before Euro 2025 behind them, it’s time for our writers to pick their squads before Thursday’s announcement. While some clear themes are emerging, there are a few must-haves that spark debate around the edges…
Charlotte Harpur — James and Walsh are must-picks
The biggest question mark is whether Millie Bright will return to the squad after withdrawing last week, citing mental and physical fatigue. Wiegman said on Tuesday evening that the situation remains the same and they will have to have “that conversation” before Thursday’s squad announcement.
If Bright is available, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Maya Le Tissier drop out of the squad. However, the latter’s substitute appearance for Lucy Bronze against Portugal suggests Wiegman sees her as a reliable backup option.
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I would take Michelle Agyemang because the teenager is an unknown quantity who could disrupt opponents’ backline. However, I doubt Wiegman will do that, as she already has two centre forwards in Alessia Russo and Aggie Beever-Jones, as well as Lauren Hemp, who can adapt when necessary.
Laura Blindkilde Brown gets the nod following Kirby’s abrupt retirement Tuesday night after Wiegman told her she was unlikely to make the squad. I would take Lauren James even if she has not played since April, and Wiegman seemed positive about her fitness after the 2-1 defeat to Spain. She brings a sense of unpredictability like no-one else and can make something happen out of nothing.
James’ presence alone is a concern to the opposition as she makes them think. Her two-footedness makes her a versatile option for Wiegman as she can pop up in pockets across the front line. England has depth in the No 10 role with Toone, Clinton or Park, but no one can replicate James’ talent.
A healthy Lauren James is a game-changer for England (Barrington Coombs/Getty Images)
Keira Walsh, the metronomic midfielder who makes things tick for England, is the other must-pick. Recently, we have seen teams mark her out of the game, nullifying her ball-playing skills. The problem for England is that there is no obvious replacement for her. Georgia Stanway could drop into the single pivot, likewise Leah Williamson could push up, but it is neither player’s natural position. England without Walsh causes a reshuffling of the pack, which significantly depreciates their quality.
Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders (7): Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)
Midfielders (6): Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards (7): Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
Megan Feringa — A close call between taking Wubben-Moy or Agyemang
If UEFA expanded the squad capacity from 23 to 26, as they did with the men’s tournament last summer, this conversation would become a lot less controversial. But I’ll go for just 23 players (and maybe a bonus). At this point, the core of the squad picks itself. Thankfully, one of Wiegman’s biggest nagging questions has already been resolved after goalkeeper Earps opted to hang up her gloves.
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My biggest quandary is over Wubben-Moy. I feel the Arsenal defender has been unlucky not to feature more under Wiegman. She’s one of England’s best centre-backs, but injuries coupled with the versatility of Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Le Tissier (who Wiegman sees more as a full-back) drop Wubben-Moy down the pecking order.
She was drafted in to replace Bright after the Chelsea captain refrained from joining the most recent England camp, citing a need to “value herself”. If Wubben-Moy is included, the list of defenders (including full-backs) stretches to nine and potentially means the exclusion of an extra attacker. That attacker for me is Agyemang. This isn’t just because she scored 41 seconds into her international debut against Belgium (what a goal, by the way), but because of the context. The 19-year-old Arsenal striker was called in as an injury replacement for Alessia Russo.
England are very short of options behind Russo at No 9 and Agyemang clearly has something special. What better place for a young English talent to flaunt it than a major tournament?
I’ve dithered over this decision for weeks, but I think Agyemang comes in before Wubben-Moy.
Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse
Defenders (8): Millie Bright, Leah Williamson, Jess Carter, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Alex Greenwood, Lucy Bronze, Niamh Charles
Midfielders (4): Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone
Forwards (8): Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Jess Park, Beth Mead, Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang
Waiting in the wings (1): Lotte Wubben-Moy
Michael Cox — Wiegman’s focus on dressing-room chemistry
Realistically, there aren’t many debates to be had about England’s optimal squad. Wiegman always makes her intentions clear about the first XI (as Earps has found out) and she’s determined for her backups to be “good travellers” who are good for squad harmony rather than necessarily the best players (as Steph Houghton found out three years ago).
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The real question is about the allocation of players in each position. Do you want eight defenders and two strikers, meaning two players for each position, or seven and three? Wiegman’s willingness to play Lauren Hemp up top means you could consider her England’s third striker and elect for eight defenders. However, I think Agyemang’s instant impact on her debut against Belgium means she deserves inclusion, particularly as that goal came from a hopeful cross into the box, indicating she could be a useful Plan B (or C).
I would have had Kirby in my squad, but since she has announced her international retirement, I’ll take Missy Bo Kearns. England probably need another deep midfield option, even if she struggled in a tough debut appearance from the bench against Spain on Tuesday. I’d also go for Morgan over Le Tissier and Wubben-Moy, although there’s really not much in it; these players probably won’t play and I agree with Wiegman’s stance of just selecting the best for the group dynamic. Morgan seems like the epitome of what you want in that respect. This assumes that Bright will be available. If not, it would make sense to go for Le Tissier, bearing in mind Wiegman’s (slightly curious) history of using her as a stand-in right-back.
Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse
Defenders (7): Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Niamh Charles, Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan
Midfielders (6): Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Jess Park, Missy Bo Kearns
Forwards (7): Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang
Ali Rampling — Risk availability and bring James
Just to drive the point home, most of the squad picks itself considering the consistency of Wiegman’s selections over the past year. One of the biggest debates is whether to gamble and take Lauren James given she is still recovering from a hamstring injury and may not be able to feature at the beginning of the tournament.
There are few players I would make this concession for, but James is a game-changer and offers something unique. In a 23-player squad, I’m willing to risk it for the potential match-winning ability she could bring for the latter stages of the tournament.
England are light in midfield, particularly in the No 4 and 8 roles. What happens if Walsh is unavailable is the conundrum no one wants to look directly in the eye. With the reliance on Walsh and with Georgia Stanway returning from a lengthy injury layoff, I’ve gone with bulking out the defensive options and potentially enabling Leah Williamson to step into midfield if needed — the England captain was initially listed as a midfielder at Euro 2022 and wore the No 8 shirt, having been deployed alongside Walsh in the build up to the tournament. Wiegman still seems to be figuring out her strongest back four and the majority of the players selected can play in multiple positions across the defence.
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Aggie Beever-Jones and Michelle Agyemang get the nod ahead of Nikita Parris as the second and third-choice strikers behind Alessia Russo after impressive showings in recent Nations League outings. I’ve risked it and just named three out-and-out strikers, but that’s four with Hemp (and five with Bright).
Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, Anna Moorhouse
Defenders (8): Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Maya Le Tissier, Leah Williamson
Midfielders (5): Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, Jess Park
Forwards (7): Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo, Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang
(Top photo: Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
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