England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025

England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025 Sarina Wiegman sent a clear message to two of England’s biggest names on Tuesday and – in doing so, irrespective of reputations – fired the same warning to every player: perform for your club or you will not go to the World Cup. Wiegman was unequivocal with her reasoning for leaving Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of her squad for October’s playoff against Greece. Her straight-to-the-point and typically honest style made it inescapably clear, when she said: “The main reason is that I think the levels weren’t what I expect from them on the pitch.” Continue reading...

England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025

England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025

England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025 Sarina Wiegman sent a clear message to two of England’s biggest names on Tuesday and – in doing so, irrespective of reputations – fired the same warning to every player: perform for your club or you will not go to the World Cup. Wiegman was unequivocal with her reasoning for leaving Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of her squad for October’s playoff against Greece. Her straight-to-the-point and typically honest style made it inescapably clear, when she said: “The main reason is that I think the levels weren’t what I expect from them on the pitch.” Continue reading...

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England’s coach has given a wake-up call to her whole squad by leaving out two heroes of 2022 and 2025

Lexi Potter, the Chelsea midfielder, has received her first senior England call-up for the Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece

Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone misses out on selection for England's Women's World Cup qualifying matches this month.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has named a 23-player squad for next month’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece, with Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly both missing out. Kelly has yet to complete 90 minutes for Arsenal this season and has not started a game. The last time she was not called up by England was February 2025. Midfielder Toone has also missed out on a place despite starting three of United's Women's Super League fixtures, although she did not feature in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on September 19.

England Women's manager Sarina Wiegman has left Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of the squad for the European Qualifiers playoffs due to declining performance. While urging them to improve at their clubs, 20-year-old Lexi Potter received her first call-up, and injured captain Leah Williamson returned to the squad as England prepares to face Greece for a spot in next summer's Brazil World Cup.

Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone are Lionesses icons and have been key figures of the team's success under Sarina Wiegman, but neither have been included in the squad ahead of England's crucial Women's Worl...

England left Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone out of the squad to face Greece. A clerk scored them on six canteen-yard stations and called the misses a lost campaign. Lexi Potter went clear, and the World Cup playoff was written up as optional cardio.

Meanwhile, there is a first senior call-up for Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, 20, who has impressed alongside England's Keira Walsh in the Women's Super League. She has started three of Chelsea's opening four matches and was a standout performer in their 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday. "Her performances were just really good. We started following her closely last season and she got minutes over time," said Wiegman.

And these are welcome changes. Potter and Parkinson are two really exciting young players who are playing really well for their clubs and represent the long-term future of the Lionesses. They deserve to be involved. Similar can be said of Freya Godfrey, the 21-year-old forward who has kept her place while someone as notable as Kelly has dropped out. There are others looking to follow them into the squad, too.

Sarina Wiegman has left out Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from her latest Lionesses squad ahead of the international break.

* Chelsea’s Lexi Potter gets first call-up to face Greece * Leah Williamson back after injury for World Cup playoff Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have been dropped from England’s squad because of their performance levels by Sarina Wiegman, who has given a first call-up to the 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter. Toone and Kelly have played key roles in England’s run of three consecutive major tournament finals but Wiegman made clear on Tuesday, when announcing her selection for the Women’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece, that she wants to see more from them for their clubs. Continue reading...